Leeds metal detectorist spends two decades unearthing historical treasure

Michael Smith. Picture taken by Neil Jones

Each time his metal detector beeps, Michael Smith digs and digs in the hope of unearthing another piece of our county's history.

From coins and brooches to medieval belts, his finds have made their way into museum exhibitions up and down the country.

And the thrill the 61-year-old, from Cottingley, gets every time he discovers a new item spurs him to keep going and uncover more of the region's treasures.

"It's a great buzz knowing that someone has dropped this item years ago, and probably got back home and panicked that it was gone," he said. "It's some feeling knowing you are the first person to see or handle it for hundreds or thousands of years."

The silver gilt badge. Picture by Michael Smith.

Mr Smith, a chef by trade, began his hobby in the 1990s.

His detecting equipment, worth around Â£1,400, helps filter out valuable or historical objects hidden underground.

But deciding where to search can be challenging.

"You go on names," he said. "For example if a place ends in a Y like Selby or Wetherby, then there's likely to be something Viking related there.

"We also look at the land, and look what is nearby, if there's any historical churches. A land pattern of ridges and furrows normally dates back to Saxon times.

"These things give us a clue there might be something there worth uncovering.

"We then approach the land owner for permission and begin the search."

Mr Smith's finds include a Viking Thor's hammer, a 15th century medieval belt mount with a Tudor rose, and a King Edward III gold coin.

"I remember when I found that [the latter coin], I had found nothing all day," he said.

"Some of the lads I was with were taking the mick.

"And then right at the end of the day, I got a signal and I found half a Roman ring in this hole.

"I just happened to glance at the hole again and there was a medieval gold coin in there so I was dancing about a bit in celebration."

Mr Smith often turns to forums and Facebook groups for advice on what he has found.

He then declares any items with gold and silver, believed to be more than 300-years-old, to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, a requirement under the 1996 Treasure Act.