The Right Approach - C-SCOPE PROMET3 Operating Instructions Manual

8
The Importance of
the Right Approach
Treasure hunting can be a profitable and rewarding hobby, if approached in a
patient and diligent manner. Time spent researching to locate a worthwhile
site for a search can be time wasted if your search is hasty and erratic. To
achieve maximum results it is important then, to decide on your approach to
any particular site in advance of the actual search.
Tactics will be decided by the type of site - it is more profitable to scan a
small area thoroughly, than to conduct a haphazard search of the total site.
However, when the site is too far away for you to make several return visits a
plan should be adopted which gives maximum site coverage, at the same
time as indicating the most likely area for detailed search.
Your detector alone is not a guarantee of successful treasure hunting. Any
detector needs an operator and for the best results the operator needs the
right approach, attitude and technique. Too many beginners neglect the
importance of pre-planning and research before using their detector in the
field, and patience and technique during the actual search.
A successful search should begin with research sometime before the day of
the actual search. The extent and thoroughness of your research will be one
of the major factors in the success of your detecti:1g. You should aim to get as
complete an understanding as possible of the local history and geography.
The key to the choice of the site is to think of people, where they congregated
over the past few hundred years. What were their customs and pursuits?
Where did they spend money? Where did they carry money? The answers
are not Roman sites, nor are they associated with mystic treasure stories of
crocks of gold. Rather, they are unassuming, undramatic places, like public
footpaths and ancient rights of way, old houses and so on.
When you have chosen your site, allocate a whole day from early morning to
early evening for the search. Make sure that you have all equipment you are
likely to need. Your detector should be checked before starting out, and you
should always carry a spare set of batteries. You will also need a strong,
sharp trowel. It is also a good idea to have a set of lines and pins so that you
can layout your search area scientifically. Most beginners make the mistake
of rushing about hoping to chance upon a rare find. If for example there
happened to be a valuable ring that was buried 4" deep on the site you were
searching, and you rushed about haphazardly and quickly on the site, the
odds would be very much against you finding it. On the other hand, if you
pegged out the area scientifically and searched slowly and thoroughly, the
odds of finding the ring would be much more in your favour.
Remember, BE PATIENT and WORK SLOWLY. Do not try to cover too large
an area. restrict yourself to a small area and work through it thoroughly. Make
a note of the position and extent of the area, and then when you return you
can start again further on without missing any ground or covering the same
area twice.
DIAGRAM 2
A B
1
D~
--L~"'" _~~:.-
I
I
I -....,-
I \ •
I
I
I
I
I
I \ \
...... I
I I L
I \ ...
, 0- ... 1
L
~
_I -
0- \.. .......0
It
is
essential that the search head
is
kept close and parallel
as
in B.
Do not hold the search head too high above the ground, or at an
odd angle
as
in A,
C"
0
as
you will be apt to miss finds.