RARE's trip to west hanney...........a coach full of Rhondda Artefact Research Enthusiasts made it's way to Oxforshire to attend the Weekend Wanderers summer rally at West Hanney.We eventually arrived at the site after wending our way through the countryside due to being diverted off the M4, as it was closed both ways over three junctions, because of a police incident.
The farm drive was lined with trees sporting the flags of the nationalities attending, America,Canada,Holland and many more including Wales!..meeting us at the registration point were Boudicea and some romans, all in realistic costumes...The coach was directed to it's reserved parking place,on concrete..Some RARE members were attending all days so they came along to welcome us and give us the gossip and finds from the previous day....After setting up and having a quick snack, while checking a map of the fields, we were off......
In field number one there were some Irish coins buried ,as a token hunt with the first prize being a Minelab Etrac ! i think all the tokens had been found on the Saturday..As this site was where the Saxon grave was found last year, most people made their way to that area, but the actual grave site was cordoned off...Due to the size of the farm, 19 fields were available, the organisers had laid on tractors and trailers to convey people to the outlying fields and charging a pound a time, all these monies going to charity.Dotted around the fields were Portaloos, a great idea.The Weekend Wanderers had put a great deal into the organisation of this event, well done to them.There was catering at the farm yard, supplying hot food and drinks as well as a bar ! and a live band on the saturday night ...also there were trade stands from all the well known dealers..The FLO's were in the big marquee to assess and register the finds.
As usual tales of gold, silver and other interesting finds filtered through the fields. Not too far from the saxon grave site there was a great deal of activity, it looked a little like Time Team were there.....using a mechanical digger!...lots of onlookers surrounded the area watching with interest.....someone had found something deep and still had a signal at four feet !.....apparently it turned out to be the site of a Saxon Longhouse.....this site turns up something every year.
We were due to finish at six o'clock but most of our party were back at the coach early.....all detectored out ! On the trip home tales of what was found,meeting old friends etc helped pass the time..luckily the motorway had re-opened so no detours on the return journey.
As usual some of our members had been luckier than others but a variety of items were found...Phil Jones, our Treasurer, found a very old looking dagger, with a lovely patina, but a young FLO dismissed it as a "mis-cast modern letter opener"..we dont think so and are looking forward to what our FLO has to say about it ..........................
Full report on
http://www.raremdclub.co.uk/news.html 