Everything is progressing well in the trenches today, with
lots more levels being removed all across the site. We’ll give you more of a
detailed overview tomorrow, but this evening’s blog post contains another special
feature on our technological team. Tonight we’re talking to our onsite metal
detectorist, Steve.
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| A pewter flower mount discovered by Steve last week |
He first got involved with University of Sheffield excavations
nearly eight years ago to try find out more about the archaeological side of
historic artefacts, although when we discovered his pre-existing passion for metal-detecting,
he has become a frequent addition to our survey team. Metal detecting has a controversial
history, due to the publicity given to irresponsible or occasionally even
illegal detecting on protected sites. However, Steve’s years of volunteering with
us have demonstrated how responsible metal detecting can be highly advantageous
to archaeological research. By locating the position of metal finds in the
ground before archaeological deposits are removed allows excavators to find the
artefacts within a specific location, allowing for scatters of finds, such as nails
to be identified. This is very useful in recognising areas of building collapse
for instance, or other deposits. Steve is also often seen scouring the spoil
heaps for nails and pieces of roof lead missed by even the most eagle-eyed of
excavators. Steve’s experience and passion for history has also been very helpful
in interpreting metal finds on site, particularly degraded metals. For Steve,
one of the main benefits of working at Thornton is the ability to see the finds
uncovered in their proper context, and to discover how the metals of a site
play just one part in the full spectrum of material culture and traces deposited
there. It is particularly rewarding on both sides to play a role in the strengthening
of trust and the ending of animosity between metal detectorists and
archaeologists.
Steve: Mini Bio
Years of
experience: Steve has been metal detecting for 10 years with a metal
detecting club, and registers his independent finds using GPS points and with the
Portable Antiquities Scheme.
Favourite
historical time period: Anglo-Saxon England
His favourite ever
find: Fragments of a Roman Equestrian statue, which probably once stood
in the centre of Lincoln. He uncovered bits of the helmet, parts of the gilded horse’s
harness and the lead solder which would have held the statue together. When the
metal fragments were first discovered, the local archaeologist thought it was
bits of WWII shrapnel. Only after further pieces were unearthed with the aid of
Steve and his metal detector, did they realise what an unusual find they had
uncovered.
TV appearances:
Steve appeared on the ITV program ‘Britain’s Secret Treasures’ discussing the
equestrian statue, during the course of which a digital reconstruction of the
entire statue was shown.
Dream find: One
day Steve hopes to find a very rare Iron Age coin. Good luck!
