Naemanson you have hit the nail on the head,if only more folk could see it like that! Somehow I don't expect any archaeologist to have the same opinion. I fear it will always be a case of 'them and us.' Thanks to all who cleared the air a little, I have arranged to go with this metal detecting club next week and who knows I might catch the detecting bug. It would have been nice to have a round up from an archaeologist, but they seem to have gone shy.

oh by the way, I should possibly have mentioned I was an archaeologist for twelve years. That was some seventeen years ago, I am now retired and maybe the fresh air will do me good as I poke around in the soil for my first find. Wish me luck!

Digger