With Sutton Hoo arguably being the second most important archaeological site in England, it was a wonderful opportunity to invite VIP Detectorists to participate at such a significant historical location.

The project represented a collaborative effort among Time Team, the National Trust, and the archaeological team from FAS Heritage

In total, we had 12 detectorists working according to the SPIA Survey method. Unusually, all 14 acres were required to be intensively surveyed.

The SPIA Approach (Systematic, Intensive, and Partial Artefact Survey) standardises the collaboration between archaeologists and practitioner detectorists through a pre-survey plan that includes outlining transect placements for site evaluation purposes.  If previous desk and geophysical surveys have identified possible archaeological sites, an intensive 2-meter gridded survey would be conducted directly over these anomalies. In the surrounding ‘hinterland’ areas, wider transects would be set out to provide partial coverage.

Setting up the intensive gridding area with four 20m x 2m transects is streamlined and efficient, utilising ropes of predetermined lengths with nylon splice eyes to create a no-metal zone—this is especially important as survey areas are often initially marked with metal posts. The 5 x 20m ropes and 8 x 2m ropes are positioned using fiberglass poles, eliminating the need to measure grids manually. However, covering 14 acres with an intensive search intensity every 2 meters presents significant challenges, particularly when navigating through dense vegetation and rabbit burrows that obstruct movement from one grid to the next. The solution was to cable tie the entire grid, allowing it to be moved as a single unit. Day after day, through professional and diligent efforts from all detectorists resulting in some very interesting finds, the survey was completed in time for the conclusion of the dig.

Another integral practice of the SPIA Survey involves conducting intensive surveys over trench positions and continuing through each excavated layer, as well as externally to the trenches, as part of a strategic spoil distribution approach.

Here again, the archaeological approach at Sutton Hoo deviated from more conventional methods, and it was quite fascinating to be part of the team focusing on artifact retrieval in the trench.

The initial SPIA grid setup was implemented at surface level, where a substantial and significant target signal was detected. Each layer of soil, or spit, excavated with a mechanical digger was thoroughly detected. After detecting the trench surface, the bucket on the mechanical digger was replaced with a toothed bucket to agitate the surface, which was then watered using a hose with a sprinkler head. This process simulates the appearance of a ploughed field after rainfall, making it easier to locate non-metallic artefacts. Since each removed spit was only a few centimetres thick, there was no need to detect the spoil, which was then left heaped beside the trench.

Throughout the excavation, the signal first detected at the grassed surface grew increasingly stronger with each spit removed. Crucially, the approach at Sutton Hoo, which integrated detectorists as key members of the archaeological team, proved fundamental from a conservation perspective. This strategy resulted in a discovery of immense historical and national importance.

Now, we eagerly anticipate the upcoming Time Team episode that will showcase these findings.

*Many thanks to the NCMD’s Ralph Green for the photo.