Rape or Barley stubble still not disked due to a hold up from machinery issues so I decided to try a field never done before, its permanent pasture, not my favourite type, although for crops many years ago, first signal was part of a large crotal bell, so hopefully I may find a whole one in this field.
A lady walked by in the road next to the fields and asked if I had found anything, showed her the bits, buttons and knife or dagger chape I found, turns out she is a member of the local history group and gave me some interesting info about some land that I have permission to detect on, apparently the field I have been on and found nothing but an old Vicky farthing and don’t like being in there for some reason! turns out it may have been an old burial ground, hence the name perhaps, Dead *****
The lady lives close by opposite where I was and she has about 3 acres of field that she said I could detect on, there are some old foundations from an old building, an old well with a spring nearby, looking on old maps I can see where the building was, but have her number to call her in the week to arrange a visit to find out more
Temperature was good, digging not to bad but dry as an old bone, but my gladius spade made easy work with three cuts and divot hinged out, need some rain for all the ground, had one small shower, followed an hour later by a heavy downpour that I sheltered from.
A few buttons couple of old harness rings, two musket shot, three coins with one a Victoria farthing? and the other two blanks, soil is not kind, they are thin and possible jettons? Got knife / dagger chape, a lovely shoe or knee buckle circa 1700 with a lovely patina and a pot mend with part of the pot in place and the usual scrap
I decided to finish and timed just right as the heavens opened as it persisted down! Not sure when I will be back in the field but will be back in the winter when crops are too tall to detect and nowhere to go, the rape field should be disked this week hopefully
The buckle is likely a shoe or knee buckle circa 1700 and the knife / dagger chape medieval to post medieval
Regards Steve
Love the dagger chape - that’s cool. 
