Metal Detecting History Podcast

In this midweek episode, we step back into two pivotal February moments that reshaped power in England.First, we return to early February 1014 and the sudden death of Viking king Sweyn Forkbeard, a moment that briefly restored Anglo-Saxon rule and exposed how fragile kingship was in early medieval England.Then we move forward to 8 February 1587 and the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots — one of the most dramatic and politically charged events in royal history, where Elizabeth I authorised the death of another monarch and sent shockwaves across Britain and Europe.From Viking conquest and shifting loyalties to Tudor intrigue, religion and royal power, this episode explores how two very different moments reveal the same truth: the English crown has never been secure for long.We also connect both periods to the material culture left behind — Anglo-Scandinavian coins and stycas, and Tudor artefacts tied to identity, propaganda and belief.Two centuries apart. One theme: power, legitimacy and survival.10% off some items at Regton Metal Detectors using promo code DHPodcastFollow the podcast on all socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detectinghistorypodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DetectingHistoryPodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@detectinghistorypodcastYoutube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@DetectingHistoryChannel

This week I’m joined by Tom and Matt, the creators of the Detector Maps app, calling in from Queensland, Australia (while I’m in the UK with my steak dinner).We get into how their backgrounds in mineral exploration and gold prospecting shaped the app, what it’s like detecting in remote Aussie conditions (40°C heat, and long drives), and how that “field-first” thinking has turned into a seriously useful tool for UK detectorists.In this episode we cover• How Tom got started using detectors for mineral exploration and then found his own gold using a Minelab GPX 4500• Why early mornings can mean quieter, more stable detecting (and more nuggets)• The core Detector Maps features UK detectorists are loving: old maps, LiDAR, offline maps, tracking, and layers in one place• PAS integration: how the Portable Antiquities Scheme dataset is handled, categorised, and linked back to records• Filtering PAS finds by material and period, plus the “no finds” heatmap concept• Property boundaries and using Inspire IDs to help identify landowners for permissions• NDVI explained: crop stress mapping and how it can reveal archaeology that doesn’t show in satellite or even LiDAR• Listener Q&A: PAS data onboarding, and why LiDAR coverage varies in Australia’s Victorian High Country• What’s next: Academy/user guides, stability upgrades, new regions (Canada), and some “top secret” features in the pipeline• A feature request I’d love: drawing a line or boundary with an alert if I drift off track while detectingFollow Detector MapsFacebook and Instagram: Detector MapsEmail: hello@DetectorMaps.comSupport the podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please follow the Detecting History Podcast so you never miss a release, and leave a review on your podcast app. It massively helps new listeners find the show.10% off some items at Regton Metal Detectors using promo code DHPodcastFollow the podcast on all socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detectinghistorypodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DetectingHistoryPodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@detectinghistorypodcastWatch the Interview on our Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@DetectingHistoryPodcast

In this mini midweek episode of the Detecting History Podcast, we mark 1 February 1707, the day the English Parliament formally ratified the Act of Union under the reign of Queen Anne.This moment did not yet create Great Britain, that would come later on 1 May 1707, but it was the point at which the union became irreversible. England and Scotland were now locked into a shared political, financial and military future at a time when Britain was under enormous pressure from war, debt and the rising cost of empire.We explore why the Act of Union mattered so deeply in 1707, including Britain’s involvement in the War of the Spanish Succession, the growing power of Parliament, and the tightening control over silver, taxation and money supply. These pressures shaped not only the future of the country, but the coinage of Queen Anne herself.For metal detectorists, Queen Anne coins sit high on many bucket lists, yet even experienced searchers rarely find them. In this episode we explain why. Anne’s coinage was well struck, high quality, heavily regulated and extremely valuable. Silver was strategic, carefully controlled, rarely lost, and after her death much of it was systematically melted down and restruck to fund war and empire.More than 300 years later, detectorists still feel the impact of those decisions every time they search a field and come up empty handed. It isn’t bad luck. It’s history.10% off some items at Regton Metal Detectors using promo code DHPodcastFollow the podcast on all socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detectinghistorypodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DetectingHistoryPodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@detectinghistorypodcastYoutube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@DetectingHistoryPodcast

What happens when a “last walk back to the car” turns into a metal detecting day you will never forget?In this episode of the Detecting History Podcast, I am joined by Chris Phillips and Paul Gould, the detectorists behind one of the most talked-about UK finds this year: an Anglo-Saxon gold ring and a stunning gold eagle-head mount (initially thought to be a raven), revealed through the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) annual event last week and showcased at a British Museum event.We break down the story from start to finish: the club dig with 9th Region Metal Detecting Club, the exact moment each signal hit, what the finds looked like in the ground, and how the day unfolded once it was clear this was Treasure. Chris and Paul also share what happens next, including the latest on the PAS and Treasure process, and the planned archaeological dig that will explore the wider site.Along the way we get practical, too: the realities of learning your detector, what gear they run (including the Minelab Manticore and XP Deus 2), beginner-friendly detecting tips, and how to read a field for the “signs” that people once lived and worked there.In this episode:• The full story of the Anglo-Saxon gold ring and the gold eagle head discovery• How the PAS and Treasure process works in real life (and why it can feel slow)• The British Museum PAS annual report event and why these finds mattered• Detector setups: Minelab Manticore vs XP Deus 2, coils, pinpointers, and digging tools• Best beginner advice: learning signals, field strategy, and why you should dig the “iffy” ones• Bucket list finds, favourite eras of history, and where to follow Chris and Paul onlineFind Chris on his youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@tinner455 or his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/tinner455metaldetectingFind Paul on his TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@americandetectornbritain or his instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momojo135/If you love metal detecting, Anglo-Saxon history, portable antiquities, and real stories from UK fields, this one is for you.10% off some items at Regton Metal Detectors using promo code DHPodcastFollow the podcast on all socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detectinghistorypodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DetectingHistoryPodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@detectinghistorypodcastYoutube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@DetectingHistoryPodcast

In this midweek episode of the Detecting History Podcast, we examine one of the most shocking moments in British history.On 21 January 1649, Charles I was found guilty of treason by his own subjects. Nine days later, he was executed outside the Banqueting House, ending centuries of belief in the divine right of kings.This episode explores how England reached that point, the role of Oliver Cromwell and the New Model Army, and why the breakdown between king and Parliament made compromise impossible.We look at what happened between Charles I and Cromwell, why the trial of a reigning monarch was unprecedented, and how the execution reshaped power, authority, and the future of the British monarchy.A pivotal moment where a crown was not just lost, but deliberately destroyed.10% off some items at Regton Metal Detectors using promo code DHPodcastFollow the podcast on all socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detectinghistorypodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DetectingHistoryPodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@detectinghistorypodcastYoutube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@DetectingHistoryPodcast

In this week’s solo episode, Katie is back in the field for the first time in a while with not one but two digs, while her ORX coil is still with Regton for inspection. She shares what it was like returning to detecting, how quickly the hours disappear once you’re swinging, and what she is learning as she gets to grips with the NOX 800 in both noisy and quieter ground conditions.You’ll hear highlights from two brilliant club days out, including the friendly atmosphere at Hayling Detect (plus the legendary bacon sarnies) and a muddy Midweek Searchers session where the tones were clearer and the finds started stacking up. Katie also talks about the physical side of detecting, why warm-ups and mobility matter, and how she’s building back up sensibly after a few months away.Away from the fields, it’s a podcast growth week too: social media, SEO, and a big hello to listeners across 73 countries. Katie rounds things off with community news, including the Bearded Bleepers exhibition at the Shere Museum, a spotlight on Darren Booth’s new side hustle “The Etching Booth,” and a quick run-through of archaeology headlines that caught her eye this week.Next week: an exciting guest (or two) and an incredible find. No spoilers. You will not want to miss it.Follow and connect:Detecting History Podcast on all socialsEmail: detectinghistorypodcast@gmail.com

In this episode, we go back to January 1559, when Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England at Westminster Abbey. We explore how and when Elizabeth became queen, why her coronation mattered politically and religiously, and how this moment marked the beginning of one of the most transformative reigns in British history.We also look at what this period leaves behind in the ground today — from Elizabethan hammered silver coins to everyday Tudor artefacts still being found by detectorists across Britain. Plus, why Elizabeth I’s portrait is often worn smooth on coins, how to identify and date them when the face has gone, and what that wear tells us about life, trade, and money in the late 16th century.Perfect for fans of British history, Tudor England, Elizabeth I, metal detecting, archaeology, and historical finds.Find the podcast on all socials @detectinghistorypodcast and Youtube Regton promo code on some but not all items: DHPodcastPlease give a follow and a 5 star review! Until next time!

Is metal detecting about to be licensed in the UK?A major parliamentary report published in December 2025 examines metal detecting, archaeology, current laws, and whether tighter regulation or licensing could be introduced.In this Season 4 opener of the Detecting History Podcast, Katie breaks down the final report from the All-Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group (APPAG), explaining what it says, who was involved, and what the recommended next steps could mean for detectorists.This episode covers:Whether metal detecting licences are actually being proposedHow reporting, monitoring, and enforcement currently workThe role of the Treasure Act and Portable Antiquities SchemeWhy detectorists are recognised as vital contributors to archaeologyWhere tensions still exist between archaeology, museums, and detectingWhat changes could affect rallies, museums, and heritage protectionAlso in this episode:Season 4 updates, including full video episodes on YouTubeDetector kit chat, including ORX issues and moving to the Equinox 800Finds news from the UK and beyond, including medieval coins and shipwreck treasureWhat’s on TV right now for history and metal detecting fansThis is essential listening for anyone who metal detects or wants to understand how UK heritage policy decisions could shape the future of the hobby.Links to the full APPAG report and related resources are:https://appgarchaeology.wordpress.com/inquiry/Regton 10% promo code on some items: DHPodcast