Early September and Arthur (my son) and I packed our bags in Portugal and flew to the UK - metal detectors in hand and treasure on our minds. This time, though, we weren’t going solo. We’d roped in my dad, my brother, and my nephew Sam for what was shaping up to be a proper Geoghegan expedition.
The plan: an organised metal detecting dig in the countryside near Sudbury. One full day. A field rich with potential - including Roman, Saxon and Medieval. Stories buried just beneath our feet. But first, a bit of fun…
The Prank
While rummaging around at my parents’ place, I stumbled across something unexpected: my very first metal detector. A little orange RadioShack machine I’d used when I was about five. Naturally, I couldn’t resist turning it into a prank - and Sam, the youngest and cheekiest of us all, was the perfect target.
At the dig site, I handed out all the detectors. When it came to Sam’s turn, I casually gave him the RadioShack relic. No explanation. Just passed it over and moved on. The look on his face? Priceless - check out the reel. He really thought he’d been lumped with it for the whole day. Thankfully he saw the funny side of it - and then it was time to dig!
The Finds
The dig itself was a joy. Sunny weather, lots of laughter, and a real sense of connection - not just to each other, but to the land and its hidden stories.
Arthur struck early with a Roman coin, followed by a lovely medieval buckle. My brother and I also found an ancient buckle, one is pictured above. I unearthed a worn 16th-century Jeton - a kind of trading token, likely French-made, made of copper. There were other bits and pieces too, including coins, part of a Roman spoon and small decorative items. Check out the reel for more images of the finds.
But the most interesting moment came at the end of the day.
The Mystery Ring
My first hole of the day contained what had seemed fairly nondescript at the time —can you h a small blackened oval piece of metal, which I assumed was a Victorian pendant setting without the stone. I casually threw it into my finds box and forgot about it.
At the end of the dig, Arthur mentioned that another detectorist had uncovered a silver ring — possibly Roman or medieval. Curious, I wandered over to take a look. When he showed me the piece, I was stunned. It looked almost identical to what I’d found.
I opened my own box… handed it to him, and said "Snap".
It was then I realised I’d possibly found something special — an ancient and possibly silver ring. Likely Roman or medieval, definitely handmade, and in a very small size. That fits the pattern — fingers were smaller back then and often worn by children.
The design features faceting and grooving and it is beautiful in its simplicity and what an unexpected way to end the dig.
The Finish
Tired, grubby, and a bit elated, we all headed back for a well-earned dinner — my mum’s legendary spaghetti Bolognese. Bellies full, feet aching, detectors packed away.
A cracking day with the Geoghegans. Treasure found, stories made, and bonds strengthened.
