First Morning out with xt50- My first detector....

[moa]

I am an Archaeologist in New Zealand, and have always wanted a detector. We need one to look at this historic site which is about to be bulldozed. So I thought why not get myself a detector and I could play with it when we were not using it for work.
The day after it arrived I went over the road to a pine forest/ picnic / dune area. I really wanted to just test out the sounds and learn more about the detector.
with in a few minutes I had a penny 1946, and then got a few more 2 English 1922 and 1930 and another NZ one 1943 as well as a couple of 50% silver NZ coins 1940 shilling and 1946 threepence and some other later NZ coins and a NZ made fun ho tractor with trailer.... I would not have thought the pre decimal coins would be there. There are some old changing sheds, from the 1960s and these coins would have been used in that time. I think Im hooked. Unfortunately archaeological law in NZ prevents us from detecting on townships pre 1900. So no goldfields!!! Look at the link below:

http://www.historic.org.nz/news/media_releases/2007_06_HPT_slams_practice.htm

 

[doghouse]

HELLO,SORT OF NEW MYSELF.I LIVE IN TENNESSE WITH ALOT OF BATTE FIELDS AND CAVES AROUND HERE,RELIC HUNTING IS THE WAY TO GO.I GOT HOOKED READING THE FORUMS AND SEEING WHAT THEY DUG UP.THE PEOPLE HERE ARE SOME OF THE BEST ..........WISH YOU LUCK........JEFF

 

[moa]

we have battlefields, goldfields, whaling stations and the like, but we cant detect on them
I have found some early coins and gold nuggets when panning in the goldfields. In some cases just sitting on the shore!!! Also there were many Chinese miners out here so also quite a few Chinese coins come up. But alas no detecting!!!!!

 

[BarnacleBill]

First of all welcome to the forum, and you are a brave man to say you are an "Archaeologist". In the U.S.A. there is a great deal of tension between metal detectorists & Archaeologists. And one of the reasons relates to what you mentioned, sites being bulldozed for development, which of course means that the artifacts are lost forever. The Archaeologists have had a hand in putting into law rules that are so Draconian that it prevents detectorists who are history buffs, from saving any artifacts from the bulldozers. The Archaeologists don't have the funds or the manpower to save any of these items, yet prevent detectorists who are NOT profiteers, and in many instances members of their community Historical Societies, from saving these items. There have been some success stories of cooperation, but they are few & far between.

I myself in pursuing this hobby for several decades, have stumbled across sites that have seen significant Native American habitation, in light of the number of flakes, tools etc. that I have found. My interest is simply the gold & silver items left by the later European Inhabitants & not in raiding the site for artifacts. But by the same token I'm not telling anybody about these sites for fear they will end up on a list. And once they end up on a list, then there's the possibility I will be prevented from detecting in these locations. And I am willing to bet that there are thousands of detectorists that have the same attitude that I do, which means thousands of significant sites remain unknown to the Archaeologists because of mistrust.

It's a sad state of affairs in this country as every minute that metal artifacts remain in the ground they deteriorate. I hope in your country that you are able to bridge the gap better than has been done here.
If you have any questions on the XT-50 fire away, we are a non-denominational group and will even answer questions from Archaeologists.

Good luck with the new detector!

HH
BarnacleBill

 

[HotTexas]

Great start, I just got the X50 also, I'll have to say you beat me on my first hunt. and welcome!!!!

 

[Beale]

Well a big congrats on your finds! It looks like you are off to a great start! Good luck with future digs, Beale.

 

[moa]

Thanks Guys,

There are a few interesting things I have learnt In the process of getting a detector

A. how much metal trash is in the ground

B. How many coins and other interesting stuff from all periods are in the ground

C. getting stern warnings (in the nicest possible way of course) from my boss who is worried that I will detect archaeological sites

D. muscles I never knew I had

E. things can be found way deeper than previous metal detectors I have played with

I went Back to that first spot I mentioned last night and got a heap more coins. But I was only digging the 33 and 36s as it was getting dark....... there are so many signals there has to be good stuff there..... so two more silver coins a 3d 1945 and a shilling 1933, with some early pennies, and the usual modern stuff and a wee toy car.....

the first picture is Saturday afternoon at a popular beach in town, and the second is yesterdays finds... all exciting stuff. And One of my mates her in NZ said that zips are annoying on the beach. A very good signal in the middle of nowhere...

I will ask questions once I know what to ask, as I still have no Idea what the jittery signals are and cant justify digging massive holes in the grass just to find a tiny nothing!!!!!