Metal detectives dig up bronze- age axe
A pair of metal detecting gardeners may have uncovered one of Scotland’s most ancient finds.
Dean McCrindle and Tony Crews are now in possession of a Bronze Age axe head after discovering the artefact in a farm near Maybole.
Experts believe it dates back to around 800- 1000 BC – and now the duo plan to donate it to a local museum.
Dean told the Post: “We were in disbelief.
“After gaining permission we went to a newly ploughed farm and we were excited to see what had been brought up to the surface.
“After about three hours we had just found a few old copper coins from the early 1900s when Tony came across a signal on his machine.
“We started to dig and found a really big Victorian oil lamp, but there was more signals.
“We kept digging and found bits of old iron, pottery, bottles until there it was... a bronze age axe head.
“Unbelievable, what a find! Our oldest find to date.”
Tony added: “After not finding very much I found a small clover leaf brooch.
“I’m not a superstitious person but after finding that our luck that day certainly changed.”
Dean, 30, from Maidens, and Tony, 31, from Irvine, have been detecting together for 18 months.
During the week the council workers can be seen gardening in Troon but every weekend they’re out searching for treasure.
The pair run a metal detecting group where they host the odd group dig – and they’re now desperate to see their axe head in a museum.
Dean said: “We’ve sent the axe head to Treasure Trove and they’ve confirmed it to be from bronze age.
“They will decide where it goes from there but we would love to see it donated to a local museum.
“After only 18 months of detecting to find such a unique and ancient object will remain with me forever.
“It just shows you never know what is lying under the ground.”
And he added: “I can’t wait for many more years of detecting and finding other treasure hiding in Ayrshire.”