Metal Detectors
If there's one thing the modern treasure hunter needs it's a good metal detector. Once affordable only by professional archaeologists and the military, the technology has now come down in price to the level where the average beach comber can afford to buy one.A treasure hunter using a metal detector is sometimes called a detectorist, a word that I consider a foul abuse of the English language!
What Is A Metal Detector?
A metal detector works by producing an electromagnetic field and then detecting changes in or as a result of that field. Such changes are likely to be caused by the presence of metal. The simplest form of detector just indicates that metal of some sort has been found. More sophisticated models can be "tuned" to discriminate (more or less successfully!) between the response signature generated by different types of metal.The exact process of detection has changed over the years with technological advances. There are currently two main forms of searchcoil on the market: concentric coils which are good at pinpointing coins etc and widescan double-D coils more suited to picking up faint traces of ground metal. There are also other variations such as wading coils designed for hunting in water.
And, of course, in today's world many detectors also come equipped with a computer chip and an LCD display.
Popular brands of detector you can buy include ranges from White's Electronics, Garrett and Fisher Research. If you have the relevant technical skills you can even download some plans and build your own custom unit.
Which Detector Is Best?
Trying to determine the "best" metal detector on the market isn't easy. In general the better models cost more, however that isn't all there is to it. Certain types are best at certain jobs - a highly sensitive unit for locating small traces of gold might be unusable in an urban environment where there is plenty of metal junk laying around. Another consideration is features - which ones do you really need? If a feature is a "nice to have" rather than a "must have", is it worth paying extra for?The best thing to do would be to get advice from a more experienced user, perhaps consider joining a local treasure hunting club. Failing that, all you can really do is read the reviews, ask the sales staff for information and then make up your own mind.
Considerations
Before attempting any form of treasure hunting ensure that you have permission from the landowner and know the appropriate law in your region. Consider who has legal ownership of anything you might dig up and whether or not you will have to report any find as a treasure trove.As well as the legal details you should also be considerate of others. Don't drop litter, frighten livestock or otherwise mess up the countryside. If other people are nearby - for instance on a beach - then don't disturb them.