Detecting Wales Rally 77 - It's Raining Finds!

[proconsul]

This was our fifth visit to Gileston and every rally we’ve held there has been highly productive. This rally was no exception.

The day started off a bit drizzly but after we’d managed to squeeze all the arriving cars into the allotted parking areas the rain petered out a bit only to start pouring again when we were about to hold the usual get together to tell everyone which fields they could detect in. Luckily there was an open barn nearby so everyone huddled in there whilst we explained which fields were available and by the time we were finished the clouds had parted and the rain stopped. Aside from a few spots here and there the rain stayed away for the rest of the day and we were treated to some blazing sunshine later on.

Unfortunately, due to the bad weather we’d had over the last couple of weeks, the most productive field on previous rallies was not available to us this time but there was still plenty of land to detect on and the fields we did have provided plenty of top quality finds.

In some ways Gileston is almost a kind of historical theme park for detectorists, with identifiable Roman areas, medieval and post-medieval areas. If you fancy a Roman you head for the Roman hot spot, if you hanker after a hammered you head for the medieval areas, although to be fair, a fair few hammered turned up in the Roman areas today.

A new field was added to the land available to detect today. It had never been part of our previous rallies but we knew from a brief test by Rob that there was a suspected Roman hot spot on it. The Roman coins and brooches that came off it proved that without a doubt.

Once the formalities were over the members spread out over the fields and the first find fell to Bristolminelab with a silver walking cane end. Then the first Roman hot spot started producing, with two Romans from DB4 and one from Mike, who followed it up shortly after with a long cross hammered from the same field.

Further Romans came from Giddens and GJH and Bleepinbeeps widened the spectrum of Roman finds with the first fibula of the day. DB4 added to the hammered haul with a Scottish cut half and then Mrs Wizard came up with what many people consider the find of the day (although there are some other contenders) – A beautiful milled George IV half crown.

Jtalbot0001 upped the ante in the competition for find of the day with a lovely Viccy gold half sovereign. He then managed a superb eyes-only find – a flint arrow head. Some people would also consider this the find of the day. Dryland added a bit of variety to the finds list with a nice little casket key and Bymatt had a nice medieval pendant.

Monkey Mad and friends had made the long journey down from North Wales especially to attend the rally and he was rewarded with two hammered and a nice thimble for his trouble.

The hammered started coming thick and fast from then on, with contributions from Ozzyhead Jo, Antiqueboy, DB4, Jenks, Dryland, Ifindnothing, Linesman, Stinkytoad, Nobby, Terry Davies and GiJan.

Not to be outdone, whilst the hammered crowd were making their finds the Roman mob were adding to the total of Roman coins and brooches from both the original Roman hot spot and the new field.

The award for best hole must go to Keepmateethinajar who found both a Viccy gold half sovereign (yes another one) and a Lizzy shilling in the same hole. That’s some going.

Gileston once again lived up to its reputation as our most productive site, even with our favourite field out of action. Thanks once more to Rob for finding the land and the farmer for his permission to hold the rally on his land and his help on the day.

Geoff

http://youtu.be/oJu-_WEUyQg

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[sharkey]

Pic 66 is mine   thanks for a great day

Any I.d. On the coins welcome 

Sharkey

[roaljodaka]

Great finds, i have found exactly the same as picture 12, love to know what it is, looks like you all had a great day and great right up proconsul  

[hoover-G]

Great finds, i have found exactly the same as picture 12, love to know what it is, looks like you all had a great day and great right up proconsul  

looks too be a fastener off some sort  and thanks for the rallie rob and everyone else!!

[Dryland]

What a cracking day, with so many finds and great company. Thanks again to everybody who organised this rally.

[marknewbury1]

Well done all cracking finds

[bristolminelab]

Great write up Geoff also many thanks to Rob for a great day out, hope to return to this great site

[bristolminelab]

Found this tiny bronze button with seated horse rider with sword not sure as to age or era

[handyman [Alan}]

Great to read about the rally and see all the finds.

Well done to all involved in making this DW rally another succesful one.

Also, a very well done to all the finders as well.