Metal Detecting : Heritage is for everybody, not just the cultural elite

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Some of the best discoveries are often down to accident or chance. Just look at Mark Hambleton and Joe Kania, two metal detecting enthusiasts who struck lucky by unearthing some of the earliest examples of Iron Age gold in Britain.

They were about to pack up for the day when Joe's equipment sensed an object lying near the surface of a Moorlands field. It turned out to be a necklace, dating back as far as 400BC.

Soon, more artefacts were found and the collection has now been named the Leekfrith Iron Age Torcs. Together, the items could be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Treasure hunters usually find nothing. It's a bit like entering the lottery - your chances of winning a fortune are remote.


But for Joe and Mark, two likeable blokes from Leek, it's about enjoying a hobby. They aren't after untold riches. Just exercise, fresh air and a sense of adventure.

Their story, which hit the national headlines this week, reminded me of how most of us ordinary folk are connected to history without realising it. Mark had even gone past that field before, unaware it was harbouring a hoard six inches underground.

Heritage is for everybody, not just the cultural elite. And finding gold in a field is about as exciting as it gets. Mark even put the gold by his bed that night to keep it safe. He barely had a wink of sleep.

Read more : http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/kathie-mcinnes-heritage-is-for-everybody-not-just-the-cultural-elite/story-30175783-detail/story.html