Buddy Questions

[Etruscan_Toad]

Afternoon all,

I'm looking to buddy up, ideally with someone experienced. I appreciate that can be a lot to ask of someone but I'm putting in a lot of time and research into the hobby and am keen to learn more. I have spent around 6-7 hours detecting on each the 4 outings I have been on so far (currently doing a course in short course in Archaeology too). Assuming the landowners are ok with it, I can hopefully offer a permission in return.

I am based in London so obviously happy to travel but perhaps not to Land's End! I have 2 permissions so far:

Land in West Sussex (ancient woodland and pasture with much evidence of ancient human activity). Flint/chalk soil. Been here 3 times and turned up mostly iron trash just learning the ropes but it does feel like there's something waiting to be discovered there (or is that what we all tell ourselves of every site??)

Also a field in Hampshire-approx 45 acres, ploughed some time back with about 1/3 of the field being tall grass-the soil is an utter Profanity-Filtered; very flinty and there are two phone masts in the bottom of the field by the entrance. I did some research and 2 Bronze Age axe heads were found in the woods bordering an adjacent field (plenty of Roman sites just south too). The landowner does have other fields which are currently unavailable and I am hoping in future to be able to detect on other fields.

I'm not sure how this works in terms of discussing or arranging things; do people have a chat first beforehand just to make sure there's some common ground and that the other person isn't a serial killer ?

[Sven@1970]

In my opinion, it is not essential to have a buddy, perhaps alone you have a better chance of getting in tune with the metal detector and the context of the search.
By listening to your feelings, you will become more and more attentive to the details, to the emotions that a search site can convey to you, without fear.
Consider that it is difficult to get to know people really well, disappointments are often around the corner, not all of them are correct.

[Etruscan_Toad]

Thanks Sven, to an extent I do agree. 50% of the trips I have done have been solo and you are correct in that it makes for a perhaps more intuitive experience and I certainly learned a lot more about the hobby in that regard.

I did enjoy the company of detecting with a friend though and a wiser, more experienced head might be willing to pass on some knowledge which can only improve my detecting. In my own profession, I started as an 'apprentice' of sorts and eventually I have been in the position to pass on what I know to people starting out.

Can you perhaps clarify what you mean by "disappointments are often around the corner, not all of them are correct."?

[Sven@1970]

Of course, i understand what you mean, a word of advice in the field can often avoid mistakes that we don't realize at the time.
Consider that here in Italy it is a slightly different context, it's not so usual to ask for permission, often you don't even know who to ask since there are very uninhabited areas, but for fairness it should alwais be done.
I own some land and that's how i started.
In addition, the search for and possession of antiques is illegal here, clearly, you can only search outside areas with historical/archaeological constraints or prohibitions.
So you have to hand them over to the authorities immediately, but without mentioning the use of the metal detector, which is seen almost as evidence of crime.
Some places can be very rich in interesting finds, and if you share the place with an incorrect person, there is always the risk that he will come back to look without you, perhaps at night, it is not so frequent but it can happen.

[Etruscan_Toad]

Many thanks for the clarification. I see where you are coming from with regard to sharing a permission.

I have read that things are indeed complex when it comes to detecting in Italy with the added complication of possible ordnance from WW2.