SEARCH METHODS AND LOCATIONS

📍 Top spots to search

• **Vanished villages (deserted sites):** The richest spots. Look for house pits, nettles, and pottery shards.
• **Old roads:** Travelers lost coins for centuries here. Crossroads and roadside verges are especially good.
• **Fairgrounds and old inns:** Trading spots. Coin density here can be off the charts.
• **Mills and river crossings:** Places where people waited around or handled money.
• **Beaches:** Modern losses. Gold and silver turn up after storms.

🌲 Forest searching

The forest is history's archive. The ground hasn't been plowed for centuries.

• **Pros:** Finds come out in near-perfect condition.
• **Tactics:** Look for old paths, huge trees (landmarks), and clearings.
• **Gear:** A small coil to maneuver between roots.

🏖️ Beach searching

• **Golden rule:** Dig "anything non-ferrous" plus questionable iron signals. Gold chains sound very quiet and low.
• **Locations:** The surf line, spots where people wade in ("chest-deep"), and sunbathing areas (towel spots).
• **Timing:** After a storm (the sea washes up old items) or early in the morning.

❄️ Winter searching

Yes, we dig in winter too!

• **Where:** Forests (the ground stays softer under leaf litter), streams that don't freeze, and attics of abandoned buildings.
• **Caveat:** Batteries drain faster. The coil cable can stiffen up (handle it gently!).

💡 Seasonality

• **Spring:** The grass has died back and the ground is damp (deeper signals). The best time of year!
• **Summer:** Grass is tall. Time for beaches and forests.
• **Autumn:** Grass dies down and fields get plowed. The second "plow-line" season.