Feisty Ferrets And Fallow Fields
Treasure Hunting magazine|January 2019

The joys of detecting for me are not just confined to the discovery of artefacts and coins, but also to the meeting of people and occasionally their pets.

Denise Moncaster
Feisty Ferrets And Fallow Fields

I recently bumped into a gentleman walking his dogs and struck up a conversation about detecting and finds made. This soon turned to a lengthy chat about his doggy trio and his ferrets! I’d never seen ferrets in the flesh before, so soon I was granted an audience with this charming group of furry critters (Figs.1 & 2). Their suppleness and agility was incredible, but thoughts of owning any were soon dispelled when I remembered my pigeons back home in their loft. I explained to the owners how they would hopefully make their guest appearance in the pages of Treasure Hunting and that next time it will be the doggies turn!

I had noticed that quite a number of fields had been left to over-winter which was a big bonus. The downside, however, was that for some lengthy stretches of time they were far too wet and sticky to get on – isn’t it always the way? After several days of hard frost and bone chilling north-easterly winds, I wrapped up against the elements and set forth to a field that had a couple of long since vanished footpaths cutting through it. The entrance was a swamp, so skirting round it I tried to pick up one of the routes; before I’d gone several paces my Laser was spitting. Upon retrieving the target from the cloying mud I decided it was worth keeping seeing as it was some sort of iron tool minus its wooden handle. It was months later that quite by chance I was watching a program which showed a thatcher at work – he used the same tool for trimming off the ends of straw at the roof line (Fig.3).

This story is from the January 2019 edition of Treasure Hunting magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2019 edition of Treasure Hunting magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM TREASURE HUNTING MAGAZINEView All
New Detector Network – ‘A Treasure Unearthed for Detectorists'
Treasure Hunting magazine

New Detector Network – ‘A Treasure Unearthed for Detectorists'

www.detectornetwork.com is a new online platform that has recently been launched for both beginners and experienced detectorists to share their finds, advice and learn even more about this exciting hobby.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2020
Only a Bit of Lead
Treasure Hunting magazine

Only a Bit of Lead

As in common with most people, when asked if they have found anything, the reply can often be “Oh, only a bit of lead.”

time-read
5 mins  |
September 2020
My Great Uncle Joseph's Anglo-Saxon Sword
Treasure Hunting magazine

My Great Uncle Joseph's Anglo-Saxon Sword

My Great Uncle Joseph’s Anglo-Saxon Sword

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2020
Roman Lead Ingot Update
Treasure Hunting magazine

Roman Lead Ingot Update

I would just like to update readers of Treasure Hunting magazine with some further information about the Roman lead ingot I found back in September 2019.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2020
The Westbury Sub-Mendip Roman Hoard
Treasure Hunting magazine

The Westbury Sub-Mendip Roman Hoard

The Westbury Sub-Mendip Roman Hoard

time-read
7 mins  |
September 2020
The Family Hoard
Treasure Hunting magazine

The Family Hoard

It was the end of the second week of the school summer holidays in 2019.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2020
Remembering the 1970s
Treasure Hunting magazine

Remembering the 1970s

Remembering the 1970s

time-read
10+ mins  |
September 2020
No More Moon Boots?
Treasure Hunting magazine

No More Moon Boots?

In more than four decades of detecting, the weather and varying soil conditions have all had a huge influence on the level of my enjoyment of this noble hobby.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2020
My A-Z of Detecting
Treasure Hunting magazine

My A-Z of Detecting

Part 1: A-G

time-read
10+ mins  |
September 2020
Lost and Found?
Treasure Hunting magazine

Lost and Found?

There have been several instances over my long detecting career where, not only has it has been a delight to be able to help people who have lost things, but also a great thrill when such losses are returned to their owners. I have several memories of such occurrences.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2020