Rallies allow the less experienced to detect alongside more experienced detectorists – who are normally only too willing to help.
Some of these are day events – and some are held over weekends and there is a cost for attending. Rallies are often money raising ventures for charities – thousands of pounds has been raised over the years for worthy causes. The size of rallies varies greatly – some can be quite small affairs with 20-30 people with the larger ones being attended by hundreds of detectorists.
When you arrive most rally organisers will give you a print off of the field map showing where you are allowed to dig – mark each of your find spots on these for your records.
There is often a Finds Tray/cabinet with the organisers – it is good to display your finds in this (you are given a receipt for them) so that others can see what is being found on the day.
Finds Liaison Officers and Rallies
Lots of rallies nowadays have a FLO in attendance – they can help you identify your finds there and then in most cases – but will want to take details of which field they were found in – and most will have a digital camera with them to photograph the finds.
We should remember that the Portable Antqiuities Scheme is voluntary and often going to a rally for the FLO the priority may not just be on recording, but to meet people, hand out leaflets and chat through any issues with the hope that when the detectorists go to their next rally they might think about recording, or even record when they get back to their own county FLO.
Rally organisers can make a huge difference in promoting recording. Simple things like a designated table and sign can make the FLO’s more visible, which really helps. Its really easy for them to be mistaken for another bod milling about!
It also helps where there is a clear sign from the organiser at a dealers table saying anything found on the day would not be bought unless it had been recorded with the FLO first.
