Detectorist finds 4,000 years of history in field
Amazing haul from Iron Age to medieval period discovered
MORE than 25 ancient artefacts dating back as far as the Iron Age have been unearthed in a West Midlands farmer’s field.
Several Roman brooches, first and second century coins and part of a palstave axe head, thought to be 4,000 years old, were just some of the items discovered by a Solihull metal detectorist.
Scott Bevan, of Castle Bromwich, made the fascinating discoveries this week at a farm in the region, which can’t be identified for safety reasons.
Mr Bevan, 43, works with farmers across the country to detect their land, registering his finds with Birmingham Museum and a national database.
He has spent eight years scouring for long-forgotten fragments of past lives.
A medieval brooch he found in Wales a few years ago was officially declared as treasure, and is now on display in Wrexham Museum.
So what can his latest haul tell us about the lives of West Midlands folk thousands of years ago?
“If you do get an area where there was habitation, you are going to find stuff,” Mr Bevan explained.
“That will all be recorded, that particular farm I’ve found items from. I found part of a Bronze Age palstave axe head that was about 4,000 years old. That’s the oldest item, it was only a fragment. The majority of the finds come from late Iron Age and Roman, I’ve found stuff from almost every period.
“I can build up a mental image of what happens on that farm, that’s what I like about going to one farm.”
In his eight years of detecting Mr Bevan has had five treasure cases.
He said: “The ratio between good finds and bad finds is unbelievable, you will dig lots of scrap. That’s all I could fit on my hand, they were the best bits. I’m lucky to be in a position to go out most days but you have to
have permission, I can’t stress that enough. You have to have permission.”
Last week in just one field in the West Midlands, Mr Bevan found:
Several Roman brooches, including one with remnants of blue and red enamel.
Part of an Anglo Saxon strap end. A late Iron Age or early Roman toggle fastener.
A medieval seal matrix key.
What is believed to be part of a Roman steelyard balance or knife terminal.
Several medieval & Tudor hammered coins and some first and second
century Roman coins.
The father-of-three said for every session he will contact the land owner, show them everything he finds and then record his finds with liaison officers at Birmingham Museum.
He then hands everything over in bags to officers, who register the artefacts on a national database (portable antiquities scheme).
He is then allowed to keep the items, unless they are officially classes as treasure, which then goes into a museum or archive, although he gets a finder’s fee. So what actually counts as treasure?
“If it’s 300 year olds, and 10% or more is precious metal, then it may qualify as treasure. If I find a Roman brooch, the ethical thing to do is record it, but I’m not obligated to. Whereas treasure, it is.”
Mr Bevan said roaming the lands as a metal detectorist has helped him build a strong picture of how lives were lived, and he has a large social media that are just as excited as him. “I don’t do it to make money, I have a passion for uncovering these things.”
He added: “It’s a hobby that most people think is anorak-ish, it’s a great hobby, it gets you out of the house, into the fresh air and exercise.”
Mr Bevan charts all of his discoveries on his Twitter page - @Mr Bevanylar