DetectingWales.com

We headed to Carmarthen today following requests from several members to have a Detectingwales event somewhere closer to their locality and were rewarded with beautiful scenery and glorious sunshine.

We went with open expectations about the farm, but we knew it was potentially in a good location due to it being on the edge of a Roman  and Medieval town and right next to a Roman Road. You never know with detecting though what will turn up. I have been detecting (with permission - I hasten to add } right up against Medieval Castle walls before and drawn a blank. This boded well for Roman, but I think the elements (well a lack of rain} may have conspired against us!

After a brief introduction and a welcome to the lovely Marian Page - our Finds Liason Officer for the day from Dyfed Archaeological Trust we were off and into the pastures.

Early morning and theres quite a few Vicky and Georgian coppers coming up along with musket balls, buttons and buckles, when I meet with Roman Ray who has one of those "swirly" Victorian gilded brooches in his hand minus its stone. A nice find - just a shame it wasn't the gold version, which knowing Ray it normally is. ;)

Heading into another field and enroute I pass Marian's table and she already has accumulated quite a selection of finds including a lovely Georgian silver salt spoon - unsure as to who found it.

I headed into the "sheep" field and after a few bits of dross I get a signal which has me digging a good twelve inches down to see a lump of crafted bronze staring back at me! The thing won't budge and is vertical into the ground (as offerings often are}, so it results in me digging deeper and deeper with visions of a Roman chariot lynch pin in my head. Only to finally pull it out and there in my hand I have .............................................................................................a fire poker! What the Hell is that doing in the middle of a field! Answers on a postcard please. ???

After a break for some lunch I went off to another field where I bump into Mark (aka Melonhead} who has a stunning, monogramed silver spoon in his hand - my guess is Victorian. He headed off in search of the rest of the cutlery set. What was it with silver spoons today?

I then happened apon Zorro (Kevin} who had a Roman coin in his hand. This provided much inspiration, as at least we knew the Toga Wearers  were around, it was just a matter of trying to find them in the sun baked earth!

The day was coming to a close and I headed back to the cars and my lift buddies for the day Digger (Stan} and Johnny Love Token (Johnny}. Admin arrived with news of a Medieval ring brooch - but by now the finder had disappeared, but I am sure a picture will arrive here shortly. There was also talk of a silver Half Crown of Edward and Tom's find off the day (in my humble opinion} representing a huge knight on horse back - not sure what it was made of or the date -the verdicts out for the time being. Any ideas anyone?

With sunburnt shoulders and heavy arms we headed home to Cardiff. A good day out and great to meet up with everyone and see lots of new and old faces. Including Casa Dos and his good lady Auntie Anne. Great to see you out and about mate.

A special thanks to TaffLaff for getting the land - even if I did wind him up at one point by pretending to talk to Ray about a Gold Guinea he had found. Robs reaction was most amusing. Hope you are feeling better soon mate.

Thats it for now - Barbecue and Vodka are calling me.

Cheers
Neil

P.S. thanks to Marian (FLO} for joining us and hopefully we will see you regularly from now on -it was great to have you on board. Even if you did have to cope with a few marriage proposals from the DW boys!

More including a confirmed by the FLO Roman Teserai

Some more

A few more

Last ones for now - any ideas on Tom's find?

yea the first one looks like some sort of buckle, the second one one is probably a cap badge or other and the last ones an isiginficant 1933 penny, for which i will swap a brand spancking new bright penny ::)

Interesting thoughts Nobby, but I have never seen a four inch by four inch cap badge of that weight and design - it has an age to it for sure.

The buckle is just Victorian and used on a garter and the penny was a George VI {1936-1952} coin dated 1939 - I forgot to add the details to the in the soil shots.

Neil

ummmmm.. they used to have bigger heads in the old days!! lolyep  im sticking to that! ;D

Nice location - well done Rob on getting the farm for today's rally.
It was great to have the local FLO there - it is interesting to see everyone's finds on the table.  Today the finds spanned from Roman to present day. The Georgian silver spoon was a lovely find - well done.
Deb :)

SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS HAD A LOT OF FUN TODAY nice finds as well ,,as for my own rally we managed to pull out 5 dinari between 2 of us today 2nd,3rd cent we did  have a little foray yesterday and back to same site tomorow,,trying to post pics later.

Who went with you after Paulywow?

me and jonny109 as i was let down by a couple ,,,but hey was a good time got there and farmer says there used to be a scheduled mound in field and when the guys came and scheduled it in the 70s ,the farmer at the time decided he didnt want people coming round there and bulldozer the mound into field {poss saxon} ??? ???

Well I'm glad everyone enjoyed themselves. Gutted I could not make it. Thanks Ray  for taking up the slack mate. And many thanks to Marion for representing the F.L.O's at the rally.

GREAT REPORT NEIL.
another great detectingwales ralley.it was great to all meet up again.
and to see some new faces as well.
i had a real nice day.
thanks all.
ray.

just looked up the hallmarks on the spoon i found the lepoards head means  london .the lion means 925 stearling silver.      and the letter s in a peaked shield dates it to1893 it also has gmj stamped on it george maudsley jackson the makers mark                                                      

well I was tired today on arrival at 11.30am had a chat til 12 and detected until 2.30pm I found loads of bits including 8 coins.
most people found a good general amount too.
and rob (the tsunami washed their phones away) lol

Thanks again for the day out,Rob,Niel and Geoff.Great to see Kev(Cassa Dos) out and about again.The Georgian silver spoon was my find, a quick look at marks indicates 1789.Chasing makers mark.
Al :) :)

Well done Al good find , good to see you enjoyed yourself fella.  We're going to try and come West sooner than later fella if we can.

Bring it on Rob! :) :) :)
Al :) :)

Now I'm waiting for Willow tree to come forward in his best Crocodile Dundee impersonations and say.

" You call that a spoon ?  This is a spoon"   :D

Thanks to all who organised Carmarthen rally. Had a great 1st day, even if all I found was a lump of iron that might, or might not be a blade. I saw the horse and it was made of lead. Got a few bits myself.

Great Report Neil.......I want to thank  DW for organising this rally, Great location and good directions....It was, as everyone say's, a beautiful location and the weather was brill............
Re: the Headless Horseman ( I did chuckle at the hat badge comment, would really build up your neck muscles!)  It is made of lead, but has not turned the usual white crusted
finish associated with lead in the ground.  There was suggestion that it may have something mixed in with it....
You will see that the 'Tail End' is detached, and this was the first piece I found about 4" depth on pasture, unsure about it, it went in the bag, I then had another good signal 6ft away and came up with the larger piece, same approx depth......I then proceeded to make a really good search of the imediate area in case there was more to it (like the riders Head !) but no more found!
I am awaiting a reply from the lovely Marian (about my find , not my marriage proposal, and by the way, Who told you about that !!! )       Thanks Again DW       Tom Clode (baden)    :D :D :D :D :D

Sounds like you all had a good day,really hope I can make it to the next one!

good to get back on the rally scene again me and Auntie Ann enjoyed the day ,did not find a lot myself as i had to have a break every 45 mins as my foot told me ;D great to meet up with folks that iv not seen in a good while and to meet some new members as well,good report Neil nice photos as well. thanks for getting the land Rob, nice to meet up everyone ,weather was great to ;)

good day out did not find a lot but enjoyed the day thanks 8) 8)

I was so interested in BADEN'S Horse and headless rider, I had a thought last night, so did a little research. I think it's an early depiction of George and the Dragon.  The Romans were well into thier lead mining so who knows. Would like to know Marions idea when Baden hears back from  her.  Please keep us informed.  Lovely find, best of the day, without a doubt.

mrs h and i had  a lovely day, well worth the trip. i'll post my pics of the livery buttons tomorrow.

thanks Rob, Geoff, Ray, Neil for all your  efforts in making this another succesful rally.

good to put faces to names, had a  great chat with adie and casa,  plus the 'regulars'

well worth the 400 mile round trip!!

cheers

Hi,
Many thanks to the DetectingWales rally organisers for their efforts in setting up the day. Alhough i did not find much apart from a few old pennies and a small buckle, it was a fantastic day out and i look forward to attending more detecting wales rallies in the future. It was great to meet fellow members - on the the most friendly rally i have ever been to. Excellent Day!
Regards
Titus Pullo

Enjoyed the day, thanks to Geoff and crew. Hope you're feeling better soon Rob.

Here are my finds for the day.

Bull's nose-ring, candle-snuffer, copper-alloy bell, shattered belt clasp, horse blinker or saddle brass, horse harness buckle, two Georgian halfpennies, five buttons and four harness mounts that were originally silvered.

When I found the bell (last signal of the day), I thought it was late medieval, but according to UKDFD these are 17th-19th century. I think it's probably  a cow bell.

My mate Stephen had what was probably the best find of the day, a copper-alloy medieval annular brooch, circa 13th-14th century. Haven't got a pic of this yet.

Looks like you guys had a great day with some nice finds well done all ;)

Great social events these rallies...put some faces to names :-\ :-\
Nice young lady from the FLO... :o

Well done to Geoff, Neil and Taff for organising

Nice lot of odds and ends Peter.
Probably talked too much, but here are my finds :'( :'(
OFFERS INVITED ::)

At least I cleaned the field of cans

Farmer Phil

Well done the team looks like another DW success !

thanks to the organisers for the rally,enjoyed myself although i only found a buckle and a large dandy button,well worth the journey,we need some more rallies in that neck of the woods

thanks for a good day i allso found four coins one dated 1860 and another at  1918

hi eveyone

our finds from the rally last w/e. one george 3rd halfpenny, an edwards penny, a georgian furniture handle and 2 lovely buttons, one glided with a portcullis on it, the other is aluminium with a coat of arms... whose??   i recorded both buttons with the FLO

thanks for a superb day everyone.

cheers

mr & mrs h

Great day out on another well organised D.W. rally. Late posting i know but work hours dictate. A welcome site was seeing Casa Kev back on his feet and doing what he does best...swinging his explorer! and nice to finally meet "auntie Anne".
the weather was what is becoming know as D W weather...hot and dry!
nice also to see FLO marian there and glad we were able to give her some nice items to record, hope it will be the first of many visits for FLO's at our rallies.
I myself was lucky enough to find a general military button, i suspect from a cuff due to its small size. and a rather worn roman coin. but you know what they say "where there's one there's more".
Sorry to hear Tafflaff couldn't make it due to arthritic pain (comes to many elderly people Rob  ;) ) and nice to meet up again with many friends.
thanks all for a great day out and seeing some nice finds on the table.
Another D.W rally another great day out.
take care and thanks again.
kev

Here is a picture of Byron getting ready for his day. Hope you had a good one Sir.

Two more detectorists enjoying there day. If you know who you are please mention yourselves.

Hi Paul,Those are my muckers Linda and John.(earth24 and Jonny).Nice photo.
Al :) :)

Thanks Al.