‘When you look at a field full of grazing sheep, you’re probably unaware that there was once a beautiful medieval church there, which was burned down during the wars of independence, or it was the place where 10,000 soldiers camped for weeks before a major battle,’ says Colin ‘Toddy’ Irvine, founder of Metal Detecting Scotland. ‘As a metal detectorist you become more aware of the past and the people that used to inhabit the land around you. Even more phenomenal is you can touch the past by using a metal detector to find some of the millions of lost coins and artefacts that are lying hidden in the soil.’
Toddy is one of thousands of metal detectorists who are passionate about history and the prospect of unearthing items and stories that have lain concealed for hundreds and, sometimes, thousands of years. This curious pastime has gained prominence in recent times, thanks partly to the gentle BBC comedy, Detectorists, starring Mackenzie Crook, who also wrote and directed the award-winning series. The rise in interest is further fuelled by tantalising stories of amateurs discovering rare artefacts and, potentially, treasures with multimillionpound valuations. In fact, according to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, run by the British Museum and National Museum Wales, more than 91 per cent of finds in the UK in 2020 were made by metal detectorists, which demonstrates its popularity as well as its supporting role in archaeological research and the jigsaw puzzle that makes up the past.