Shot-Gun Alley - Plan B...

[CRUSADER]

Plan A was to try a totally new field but as the snow would be hiding any signs we would be looking for, we changed to our reserve spot; Shot-Gun Alley. This area was settled in the Roman Period & then re-settled by migrating Saxons during a very short window - AD480-600. This village was 10-12 large houses with probably about 150 settlers.
With wind-chill it took the temp down to -10 today but we still managed 5 hours 15 minutes;

12 Scrappies (1 holed in the early Saxon period)
1 17th C Button
1620s Rose Farthing
Medieval Buckle
2 Medieval Leather Mounts
Roman Leather Stud/Mount.

 

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[Westfront]

Brave to fight the cold! Looks like you cleaned the shotgun brass well with the small coins coming up now. Hope you get some Saxon the next time out there!

 

[CRUSADER]

Brave to fight the cold! Looks like you cleaned the shotgun brass well with the small coins coming up now. Hope you get some Saxon the next time out there!

Its mostly the small stuff left & we need a deep plough but at least we would have got off all the surface stuff before it got ploughed back in.

We had about 60 shot-gun shells & shot-gun centres which always sound better than they are!

 

[vince76]

Congrats. For all the hard work that you do, I wish your next find is a Roman hoard.

 

[diggingthe1]

I would really love if those relics could speak! Do you think the medieval buckle is cast or forged? What a great bunch of finds. It always seems to pay off if you can get out.

 

[Westfront]

These buckles were cast from copper alloys in trays with 10 or more buckles and finished by hand. Kind of early mass production.

 

[CRUSADER]

I would really love if those relics could speak! Do you think the medieval buckle is cast or forged? What a great bunch of finds. It always seems to pay off if you can get out.

Yes cast as Westfront states. I have a rare 14th C test piece in lead.

It pays off for us every-time because we are now experience in the game.

 

[CRUSADER]

Congrats. For all the hard work that you do, I wish your next find is a Roman hoard.

Its Wish List No.1, but it may never happen, doen't mean it won't be fun trying.

 

[diggingthe1]

Thank you Westfront, the medieval times are fascinating to me. I love the history you can dig up!!

 

[uglymailman]

Another good hunt Cru. Are you leaving anything for future generations to find? Good luck.

 

[Scrappy]

The Scrappy coin that’s holed - you say it was holed during the Saxon period. Is that defined by just the style back then to hole Roman coins for jewelry, or also because of the hole being drilled?

Just curios for my own knowledge. Great finds and great medieval buckle too

 

[CRUSADER]

Another good hunt Cru. Are you leaving anything for future generations to find? Good luck.

The plan is to leave nothing.

 

[CRUSADER]

The Scrappy coin that’s holed - you say it was holed during the Saxon period. Is that defined by just the style back then to hole Roman coins for jewelry, or also because of the hole being drilled?

Just curios for my own knowledge. Great finds and great medieval buckle too

It's defined by evidence in Saxon Graves, mostly those of kids. But it is an indicator of Saxon settlement in our area. ie. its a cultural norm.

 

[Relicific]

Excellent hunt

 

[Donnie B from VA]

I always enjoy seeing your finds. Well done.

 

[ivobg]

There's a chance that the romans themselves holed their coins
Ive found a few of those some even with 2/3 holes

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on the very productive hunt!

 

[CRUSADER]

There's a chance that the romans themselves holed their coins
Ive found a few of those some even with 2/3 holes

Yes, I'm sure some did. But there is no smoking gun for this. Ie. no UK archaeological evidence has these dated to the Roman Context. But there are hundreds documented in the Saxon Context. I already know this was a Saxon Settlement which was 20 times bigger than the Roman building that stood in the area. I work on facts & probabilities, & I try & keep speculation to a minimum.

This is part of 3 Saxon areas where these holed coins come from. 1 is on a hill with no evidence of Roman Settlement, only that of the Bronze Age & a possible Saxon burial ground. The 2nd is almost exclusively a Saxon settlement that has no Roman settlement but does have the odd Roman coin which are associated with a Roman Road that runs throw the site.