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Case File - Paul Wood A.K.A - Waltonbasinman
Age- 48
Home Town- Hay on Wye
Detector Used - Minelab Quattro and well on the way to saving for a Minelab E Trac, though I plan to keep the Quattro as I love the little fella.

Rob Tafflaff:- How long have you been Detecting for Paul ?

Paul Waltonbasinman:-I had a cheap C Scope 660 for a while that I had used for detecting spoil heaps at Archaeological Digs,
but bought my first serious detector about 3 years ago after much umming and ahhing I decided on the Minelab Quattro which
I have loved ever since, so seriously been detecting for three years.

Rob Tafflaff:- Whats your favourite find to date and whats top of your wishlist Paul?

Paul Waltonbasinman:- My favourite find to date is my Antwerp coin weight from the 1500,s or my Constantius Roman bronze (see pictures) The Roman I Thought may have been a fake, but two FLO,s, a county archaeologist and an eminent Roman specialist have all said it is genuine so that will do for me.

(http://www.detectingwales.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4442.0;attach=11680;image) (http://www.detectingwales.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4442.0;attach=11682;image)

Top of my wish-list is easy again split between two different coins. A Oliver Cromwell gold 50 shilling or Henry VIII gold sovereign ( first coinage ). Both gentlemen of immense presence in British History.

Rob Tafflaff:- What originally got you interested in Metaldetecting?

Paul Waltonbasinman:- What got me in to detecting is a good story. Coming as most detectorists would say " FROM THE OTHER SIDE" Archaeology.

I had recognised artefacts sometimes of large numbers were being missed in excavation and being found on spoil heaps
totally out of there context ( could have come from anywhere in the trench ). This lead me to become more interested in metalwork
and basically I started buying the searcher and treasure hunting magazines as they had superb finds recognition this made me want to start to go and find things of my own. Having a young family and doing up my house, and a job with long hours means I do not get out as much as I want to but all this makes me want to get out even more.

This is a great hobby and I hopefully one day can give it the full attention It deserves.

Rob Tafflaff:- Coming from "The other side" as you put it, what do think Detectorists and Archaeologists could do to better relationships between the two disciplines?

Paul Waltonbasinman:- Thats the million dollar question Rob. I certainly learnt very quickly that there is a mistrust between the two,
but not by all. Some have great relationships, others are well at arms length and to be totally honest I don,t know what the
solution is. There is a good example of this running on one of the threads here on DW regarding Time Team and JCB,s.
To put this argument into its context would take pages and pages of explaining so I am not going to start. How many detectorists will understand plough soil, sub soil, alluvial erosion ploughing styles like steam ploughs etc, etc. Then add to this that most finds down to about 12 inches are not relevant if there is archaeology as they are in disturbed topsoil.These would be recorded as incidental finds and could have arrived in a number of different ways, like muck spreading, soil removal or dumping, or simply dropped by a passer by whereas if they are sealed in a archaeological context it can give secure dating. If the find spot is on a slope ploughing and erosion may have moved the finds downslope as it were so you have to try and understand that to a archaeologist this is very limited information and on very tight budgets this would be a waste of resources. At Aroconium Roman settlement near Ross On Wye where I worked this was a good example of this. Near the top of the hill the archaeology was almost on the surface where as at the bottom of the slope it was 4-5 metres down. this had been caused by deep ploughing for potatoes and
hill-wash moving all the soil. During the digging at the bottom of the hill lots of metalwork, pottery and rubble was found from
the Roman period but some it was above things like clay pipes, Georgian coins and what like, so it told archaeologists nothing.
This was excavated by JCB until secure archaeology was found as it probably saved Three weeks work by hand.This can also work
the other way though. I wonder how many new sites have been discovered because  detectorists have made finds in previously unknown
areas. Battle fields are a good example of this. There are a few battlefield sites that have been well established over the years
that have recently moved because metal detecting finds have done this. The Gold Staffordshire Hoard will probably change our
perception of British History for the period. The increasing number of Roman finds in Cornwall where the Presence was supposed to
be minimal. All down to Metal detectorists who are as I said are rewriting History as we speak. Even the ordinary detectorist with
his few Georgian, Roman Grot etc should still record with a FLO as it will build a better picture. Somewhere in there is a middle
ground in which we can all abide by and work along side each other............ Where it is I am yet to see.

Rob Tafflaff:-Where does Detecting Wales fit into all this for you, consider its achievements to date and possible aspirations for the future?

Paul Waltonbasinman:- Where does Detecting Wales fit in to all of this for me. Easy really it has singly rekindled my faith in metal detecting. My initiation into metal detecting was not great I joined a club with a less than honest member list who actually pinched land off me and it was only the fact that Hedgehog came across this site that I thought I would try and wise up and find out a little more about the metal detecting world. I soon realised that the guys on here were different from my personal experience and then joined the site. Thanks Steve (Hedgehog) for the introduction. It,s achievements are there for all to see. Obvious to me is that the Welsh clubs are talking to each other and out detecting together at the DW Rallies. Who would have thought that 12 months ago. It has got Welsh detectorists swapping advice and ideas. Most important to me though Is the introduction to nice people with time for each other. I have met some real great people at the Rallies including yourself my good man and these are the people I would turn to every time for advice and even in a crisis. The Rallies have been a huge plus and I thank all land finders and Organisers for the chance to detect on some great locations that I would have otherwise never had a chance to detect. Have learnt many things from many people. I am proud to wear my DW shirt and and hope we can continue to grow and hopefully spread to North Wales, Anglesey  and perhaps see some rallies up north. I hope the membership continues to grow as well and also fresh Ideas keep being discussed and some acted upon. I felt disappointed at the cancellation of the awards as I thought this was a great chance to push us into the limelight. Perhaps it was a step to far to soon. I feel we will succeed with the people we have at the helm and I would like to thank Geoff, Neil, Yourself Rob and all on the site for making my hobby a passion. Thankyou all. Lastly my poor partner Lisa who allows me to participate and she has actually become quite interested in the web site and can actually be found reading the pages on a regular occasions.

Rob Tafflaff:-Paul, thankyou very much for the time you've taken to give an Interesting, Informative and inspiring Interview.

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Meet the Members => Member Interviews => Topic started by: Tafflaff (Rob) on September 30, 2009, 10:30:25 AM