Metal Detectoring

[Sid]

Dug this on a local detecting trip on Sunday and I'm aware that partial lumps of lead leave most people underwhelmed, but this pilgrim ampulla has history. The top with the neck and suspensory loops have been cleanly cut off (ie not by plough) - I've mentioned in another post the "blessing of the fields" school of thought, suggesting that ampullae were opened and the sanctified oil or holy water contents poured out in a ritual to improve crops. Whatever, this ampulla has a W (or double V) under a crown and on a hatched background so most likely obtained (1350-1530) from Walsingham (Norfolk), some 150 miles away.

View attachment 81063

Came across this little bit of extra info which may be of some ID use on your ampulla. . .
*from: Co-pilot (on Bing)

An ampulla was a small, round vessel used for sacred purposes in Ancient Rome. Typically made of glass and featuring two handles, it held holy water or other sacred substances1. Interestingly, during the medieval period, pilgrims’ ampullae were worn around the neck as protective amulets. These lead vials contained holy water from shrines and were believed to bring healing and blessings. One example, associated with the shrine of St. Thomas Becket in Canterbury, featured a scallop shell symbol and a worn double V, representing Virgo Virginum (Virgin of Virgins) and indicating Mary, Mother of God1. The VV symbol was also used widely for house protection. Quite fascinating, isn’t it?

 

[Sid]

Three inches under stubble, Buckinghamshire.
The Everlasting Mystery of Charabancs:

View attachment 81257

That's just fine and really Dinky!
*Seems like it was known as/called a 'Hubbly Bus!' (Love it! )

https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/...t-iron_1_316ea2f1636bf3a90c44896b6185708d.jpg

 

[ramonmercado]

Love's Labour's Lost

A 13th or 14th Century medieval brooch inscribed with words of love from the age of chivalry has been discovered in a field.

The "chunky wodge of gold" was unearthed by a metal detectorist in a field near Docking in north Norfolk. Its Anglo-Norman inscription was translated as "a token between a lover and beloved", and historian Helen Geake suspects it was given to a woman by a man playing the role of her champion under courtly love rules.

The brooch has been declared treasure and Lynn Museum in King's Lynn is hoping to acquire it.

Andrew Williams/Norfolk County Council
The "chunky wodge of gold" weighs 2.22g (0.005lb) and is 16.7mm (0.65in) round, said Helen Geake

"Inscribed jewellery like this was designed to remind the person you gave it to of you when they were not there, and you might think the item was not so different from an engagement ring," said Dr Geake, Norfolk's finds liaison officer. "But if you know a bit more about medieval period, there is the courtly love connection when a man could be a champion of a woman; he could shower her with gifts but not expect things from her in return."

Mottos such as "I desire to serve you" and "I wish to obey" were often used by men wishing to serve their ladies as part of this courtly love tradition, which swept across medieval Europe.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8ddl1pk58o

 

[Ger]

This was good show from last year, tucked away on BBC4...

Love this and the music on it ! %

 

[Floyd]

Love this and the music on it ! %

Trouble is, they seem to show random ones (and usually on too late) instead of showing every episode from season one, right through, every Monday at 9pm (for example).

They do it all the time now.

I'll suddenly see an episode of something that I would have watched from the start, but is part 3/6 and next it'll be on a totally different day and time - if at all.

 

[hunck]

Trouble is, they seem to show random ones (and usually on too late) instead of showing every episode from season one, right through, every Monday at 9pm (for example).

They do it all the time now.

I'll suddenly see an episode of something that I would have watched from the start, but is part 3/6 and next it'll be on a totally different day and time - if at all.

It’s on iplayer - all episodes, all 3 series from start to finish. You can watch whenever you want.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b06l51nr/detectorists?seriesId=b04kf095

 

[maximus otter]

‘Unique and beautiful’ gold artifact found by metal detectorist in Sussex: Iron age fragments to be displayed in Lewes

Two fragments of an Iron Age gold torc discovered in Sussex are set to be displayed in Lewes.

Sussex Past said the pieces were found by a metal detectorist near Pulborough in 2019 and have undergone scientific analysis by the British Museum.

They said the museum confirmed the fragments are of a late prehistoric artefact of European significance, which dates back to Iron Age times.

https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/her...ge-fragments-to-be-displayed-in-lewes-4796619

maximus otter

 

[Bad Bungle]

Found a blob this week on a field near a Roman site - didn't know what or whom or even the metal it was made of. It was covered in a concretion that took a lot of time in front of the telly to remove sufficiently to reveal an imperial nose and chin. Fairly certain it's a silver denarius of Vespasian (69-79 AD) as in the stock photo - my earliest Roman coin so far. Will continue with the reverse if anyone's interested.

 

[Frideswide]

Found a blob this week on a field near a Roman site - didn't know what or whom or even the metal it was made of. It was covered in a concretion that took a lot of time in front of the telly to remove sufficiently to reveal an imperial nose and chin. Fairly certain it's a silver denarius of Vespasian (69-79 AD) as in the stock photo - my earliest Roman coin so far. Will continue with the reverse if anyone's interested.

I'm interested.

 

[Sid]

I'm interested.

I suspect lots of us will be interested!

 

[Mythopoeika]

It's a good find.
No idea what the concretion might have been, but I suspect it was partly limescale after a prolonged period immersed in hard water.
Cleaned up well.

 

[Sid]

It's a good find.
No idea what the concretion might have been, but I suspect it was partly limescale after a prolonged period immersed in hard water.
Cleaned up well.

Could it be (as it appears to be), a covering of grainy limestone? After checking online, apparently vinegar could break it down, (turning it into carbon dioxide), but I'd definitely check it out properly first before trying.

 

[ramonmercado]

Very unusual (but NFN) pendant unearthed.

'Unusual' Anglo-Saxon replica of Roman coin found​

Andrew Williams/Norfolk County Council

The early Anglo-Saxon creator was imitating a Roman coin called a solidus, showing the emperor Honorius on one side and a figure holding a banner on the other

A "very unusual" gold pendant made by an early Anglo-Saxon in imitation of a Roman coin has been discovered by a detectorist.

The replica is a copy of a solidus coin showing the emperor Honorius (AD393-423) on one side and a figure holding a banner with Christian symbols on the other.

The late 5th to early 6th Century pendant was created at a time when Anglo-Saxons were pagans, which was "slightly ironic", said coin expert Adrian Marsden.

The find was discovered in a field near Attleborough, Norfolk, in January 2023, and has been declared treasure by a coroner.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgxye0lrvjo

 

[hunck]

Silver coin find sells for £4.3 million

The once-in-a-lifetime hoard dating back 1,000 years was unearthed by seven metal detectorists in an unploughed field in 2019. The 2,584 silver coins are made up of King Harold II pennies from the end of Anglo-Saxon England and William the Conqueror coins, after the 1066 Norman conquest.

Many of the coins are in mint condition and experts say they belonged to an important, wealthy person who probably buried them for safekeeping. As Harold's reign only lasted nine months before he was famously struck in the eye by an arrow at the Battle of Hastings, coins from that period are incredibly rare.

The landowner, whose identity is not being revealed, is entitled to 50 per cent of the proceeds. The haul, found in the Chew Valley of Somerset, is the highest value treasure on record, beating the famous Staffordshire Hoard from 2009, which was worth £3.3m.

It has been acquired by the South West Heritage Trust after they received a £4.42m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund that also covers display costs. This was boosted by £150,000 from the Art Fund and other grants.

The Chew Valley Hoard will go on display at the British Museum on November 26 and will then tour several venues before the Museum of Somerset becomes its permanent home.