|  | England...
a gateway to History
Over Half of Our Participants Return More Than Once
2007
will be Discovery Tours' 17th consecutive year devoted to introducing Americans
to the thrill of metal detecting in England. We took our first group of detectorists
in September of 1991 and since then over 50% of our participants have returned,
two, three, four and as many as 12 times.
The increasing number of returnees
attests to the success of our trips and encourages us to continue with our venture.
Each group hunts on its own carefully researched and selected private fields,
so that each group has an equal chance of success. We hunt on different fields
each day and rarely repeat a field from year to year.
We
have chosen to hunt in England because of all of its early invaders, starting
with Julius Caesar and his Roman Legions in 55 B.C. and ending with William I
of Normandy who conquered the Saxons at Hastings in 1066 A.D.
It will not
be unusual to hunt fields occupied by ancient Celts and Romans 2000 years ago
and then shared in turn by Saxon, Viking and Medieval civilizations up to modern
times.
You will be searching in the footsteps of these early peoples near
villages listed in the Domesday Book, compiled in 1096 A.D. and hunting fields
in the vicinity of castles and churches built by the Normans in the 11th and 16th
centuries | | | | | | | Touching
the Hand of History Early
in my career as a treasure hunter I became keenly aware of those things that put
chills up the back of my neck. It was the well worn coin I found in Murphys CA
with the map of a miner's claim scratched on the back more than the Wells Fargo
bag stuffed with silver dollars which I recovered from the "Faith Healers
Hoard". I knew this then and I know it now, but we have to be reminded of
things like this from time to time, and it is England that can do this for you.
After I returned from my first "detecting" trip to England in 1985,
I knew that I had been bitten again by the bug that curses all who venture into
the world of those who dare to touch the hand of history.
For in England,
more than 2000 years of man's footprints can be traced. From Bronze Age settlements
to Iron Age Celtic sites, from Roman villas to Saxon , Viking and Medieval villages,
the width and breadth of Britain holds its "treasures" of aged coins
and artifacts hidden under a carpet of rich and ancient soil.
In my many articles on metal
detecting, I have always tried to convey the fact that "treasure" does
not necessarily mean jewels or precious metals and that the real "treasure"
gained by detectorists is the experience of following their dreams and the interesting
and wonderful people they meet along the way.
It is this realization that
calls me to return to England again and again and it is this "magic"
that I would like to share with you. This will be Discovery Tours' 12th year during
which time I have taken over 800 American detectorists to England. | |
 | All
fields are carefully researched and selected.
Hunt
on farmer's private fields and find coins and relics dating back over 2000 years.
These natural finds are detected on plowed farmlands that had originally been
the locations of, or near, ancient villages, market places, villas, forts, roads
or other populated areas. | | | | | |  | All
of your finds are identified by experts.
Spend eight days detecting on private fields chosen
expecially for our tour group by our English host, David Barwell.
Every
recordable find is identified by our Museum accredited staff archeologist with
written detailed descriptions. You are fully informed as to the type and importance
of your 'find'.
Discovery Tours provides on site
identification of all tour finds. They are also recorded for the UK Portable Antiquities
Scheme. Finds are researched and identifications clarified after you leave by
our own archaeological small finds specialist, prior to arranging export licenses,
which is a legal requirement | | | | | |
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We
Have Always Taken the High Road
Some
of you may have read notices in the magazines and on the Internet cautioning about
the rules and regulations regarding metal detecting in England. British Heritage,
the guardian of English History, has raised concerns about foreign detectorisits
not following these rules.
As stated in our advertising, we are acknowledged
as the Only Know Detecting Tour abiding by the Code of Conduct of the National
Council for Metal Detecting (NCMD), the Recording Requirements of the 96' Treasure
Bill and the new Export Requirements of the English Government. We are full participants
in the Governments Portable
Antiquities Scheme
In plain English, we are the ONLY detecting tour
doing it RIGHT and following the Law.
We
have always worked closely with both the local museums and field archaeologists
as well as with the British Museum.
We intend to continue to be welcome
guests in England. A recent article in "British Archaeology Newsletter"
confirms our unique position by stating that we are "regarded as entirely
above board by Government Officials."
In fact, we have been praised
in a recent article written by an English archaeologist for ARCHAEOLOGY magazine,
published by the Archaeological Institute of America. We were recommended by the
British Museum as the "best example of responsible detectecing." Finds
are identified by our staff, checked by our field archaeologist on site, digitally
photographed, entered into our computer database, and passed on to our own archaeologist
and for final identification for the Norwich Museum.
After our staff completes
all of the forms, they are submitted to Customs for Export Licenses. When the
licenses are received, David and Trish ship all finds to me in the USA by Recorded
mail and I ship them to each finder by Insured Registered Mail. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Discovery Tours
Jimmy Sierra Inc
Po Box 519
Forest Knolls
Ca 94933
1 800 457 0875 | Contact
©2007 by James "Jimmy Sierra" Normandi
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