My method

I did not take as many pictures as I would have liked, mainly because I was unsure of the wishes and restrictions (if any) of the people in charge of the project. More picture are available on the official blog site and elsewhere.
Click here

The method I used was one that I felt happy with and which I thought covered the most soil.
I would start with a spoil heap and remove as many of the stone and rocks that I could see. This was because some of them contain enough mineral content to give me a reading, albeit at the lowest end of the scale. Once the rocks had been cleared away I would chose one end of the heap away from the end being used if the heap was still in use, and create a new starting point.

The spoil heap to begin with.


I would begin by detecting the entire surface area of the existing heap and then moving the soil nearest, to my new start point and depositing it to the left of the heap.

In progress

As the new pile got larger I created a gap between the two and maintained that throughout. When the soil was shifted from one heap to the other I would proceed to detect the new area exposed by it's removal, but also the soil that I had removed because any small item missed on the first swing may now lie in a different position which allowed it to be detected. This happened a few times especially with the smallest pieces of iron which were only 10 to 15 mms in length.


This heap is approximately half done and shows the new surface area on one side of the heap which enabled me to spread more soil over a smaller ground area. I then proceeded to detecting the entire surface of the new heap far quicker.

A smaller spoil heap in a finished state.


Showing to the right is the area left flat. This is done to be sure of not picking up any thing that might lay on the surface before the heap was deposited.
This was also left to enable any on-going heaps to be added to without mixing the new material with the old.
My future idea would be to detect an area before the spoil heap is created

The method was very successful and went on to produce approximately 40 assorted sized pieces of lead, copper alloy, iron and one more coin.

Monday

Had a good sleep got up at 5.30am to be sure of meeting people and having breakfast!
Got dressed and went down to wait around the reception area hoping to meet someone. I did, I met the Managing Director of the site Jeffrey Becker, who introduced himself and to my surprise suggested I hurry and catch the coach which leaves in 10 minutes.
I had now missed breakfast. Must check that clock when I return.

Sat myself down on the coach and looked forward to the day ahead. We arrived at the site or as close to as the coach can get and walked the short distance remaining.
The first thing to greet me was the 'Temple of Juno' a very pleasant welcome.
I was introduced to Field Director Anna Gallone, Vice Field director Marcello Mogetta and other staff and field members during the course of my introduction to the site, it's history and the ongoing project.

After the introduction I was asked to see one of the Field Supervisors, Jamie Sewell
who explained what had been done by the previous detectorist and what he would like me to do.
I was shown 4 spoil heaps and the remains of a previous weeks heap to run the detector over. The spoils heaps were not too large and with the use of a shovel I was able to spread the soil and detect at my own speed. I must say that it was all I expected and more, to be able to work within the confines of an archaeological excavation, knowing that I was helping in my small way.
The heaps did not produce a lot, which in itself showed that the method already in use by the staff and members was very successful with locating as much as was possible with eyes and hands only.
I cannot say I was not disappointed, I was. Because as a detectorist I would have liked to have found something of note. However I was happy in the knowledge that I was doing what was asked and was experiencing what I would call a chance in a lifetime experience. Although I hope, not the only chance but the start of similar future involvement with archaeologists back home in England!

I did find a few pieces of iron barely recognisable without the detector a small fragment of appeared to be a coin and a thicker copper alloy piece with what appeared to be a coin embedded within it.

After lunch, which was a good selection of filled bread rolls and fruit, I was asked to speak to another Field Supervisor Claudia Melisch who asked me to go over a couple of the spoil heaps for the area that she supervised. Along side the heap I did was one that had been done previously I saw the way that it was set out and chose to use a different method, one that I had developed on the morning's work.


With the use of a shovel I was able to move and detect the entire heap while only increasing the original area used by approximately one third.
I finished one heap and proceeded onto another which I was unable to finish and hoped that I would return to it the next day.

My ideas of my first day.
Very enjoyable with very few finds,but the chance to get involved and also meet others while learning something new about the archaeological way of doing things. Seeing that the two can work together for the benefit all concerned.
Also a lovely view of the surrounding area all day, made it a very nice area to be working in.
Here are two views of some of the area.

Back Home

Well I must say that the week went quick.
It was a shame I did not have a laptop or similar with me to update this daily so I shall use each day this week to post a little about the trip and how things went.

Sunday
Left home at 2am to get the bus to London Stansted airport the flight left shortly after 6am and we arrived approximately 9.25 local time.
Departed from the plane straight into a heat I was not used to. So I stuck to my daft idea and got acclimatised by walking from the airport to the hotel! Not too far but with blisters and lack of drink I arrived about 4 hours later. (Lack of drink because the route I took everything was shut because it was Sunday.) note to self (twit)
Scenery was so different to home and enjoyed great parts of it.

I checked in and went straight to my room and into the shower - absolute bliss}:-)
After my shower I asked directions to the town and was told nothing would be open. being Sunday. But I went exploring anyway. Found a bar open that had soft drinks in a cooler inside the door and ice creams, so I treated my self and sat down on a nice seated walk area where I saw the Villa Aldobrandini (Villa Belvedere)it was impressive to say the least.
Pictures above.


After getting back to the hotel I set the alarm clock using the satellite button to set it for local time and had a rest.
I slept and awoke at what the clock said was 7.15 so got ready for dinner and went in search of someone from the project. However dinner was already underway! So I chose not to walk in and went back to my room. It was not until the following morning after missing breakfast and almost missing the bus that I realised something was wrong with the clock?

Watched a bit of Italian television and went to bed early, ready for my first day on site in the morning. But that is tomorrows story.