It all about ‘Statistics’

Metal detecting successfully is just a 'matter of statistics'. That’s a fairly broad statement but it holds a lot of truth.  Here are some key points to consider.  

1. If you go on a group rally you always get some great finds.  

2. Why when you have detected the same field, even in pasture do new items come up, time and     time again. 

3. Why do some detectorists find historic items continuously when others never find the ‘good stuff’.  

Lets look at just these points and provide some ways to improve those statistics.

 1. If you go out by yourself to your permission you can in 1 hrs period travelling at 1.5 miles per.hr cover approx.. 1.2 acres of land if you were not stopping, which I hope your are!. Multiple this by the amount of people on a rally say 50 people and in theory 60 acres are being covered every hr. In the real world this does not happen because people don’t walk in straight lines, stop to dig, stop have a chat etc. but it explains why when you look at the group photos on Facebook why a Rally looks so good. 

2. When a detectorist is walking forward he or she is only  covering approximately 50-70% of what ground is in front of them at best. This is due to the forward speed to swing ratio at which the average detectorist performs. If you slow down you find more in a shorter distance covered, saving your legs, joints and improving your general calmer!. So when you return to the same land you will inevitably find again and again on the same ground. Some detectorists do not realise that prolonged use of a detector over decades has a detrimental affect on the body. Perfect and minimise your enthusiasm with your swing.! It will help in the short and long term.          

 3. Those detectorists that have been at it for years and others whom just get it, seem to find the ‘good stuff’ all the time.  Is this luck? ….. No.  An experienced detectorist knows how to ‘read the signs’. They will dig those faint audio responses as they are more than likely deep and hence not junk. Most banging signals are scrap so try to tune you ear away from those perfect or to loud signals and focus on the faint clean and sometimes scrappy signals. Audio is the most important input for detecting, target ID’s are near to useless and if you believe them you will find less than you should. Iron and lead signals are a good thing. This indicates human activity which means historical finds could be near. The best detectorists research area’s and then try to get permissions not the other way round.  Research Is King. Historic maps, lidar, previous finds, HER’S, archives. Even on a group rally when you can’t control the location, review the old maps and see where the footpaths were and how the lidar looks. It may give you that edge.