mfesharne

Is there anyone in the Figueiro Dos Vinhos area that owns a metal detector & would be willing to help someone find a few items that are buried/lost in the ashes of a burned house please?

Jonny22

Good look finding what you’ve lost. Just a word of warning, apparently you need a license for a metal detector, someone got arrested recently for using one on a beach in the Algarve.

mfesharne

It's for a friend of mine who lost absolutely everything & is trying to find a few bits of family jewellery that must be in the ashes somewhere....... but point taken.... Thanks.

Jonny22

So sorry for them, good luck.

GeniB

I have a small one from the USA,but was told it was illegal to own one in Portugal,so have never used it outside my garden...seems that was right..

This country has rich seams of silver,copper and even gold in certain area's.. maybe it stems from that

GeniB

Love to help you mfesharne but we are too far away.. not sure my small model would be of any use either... Maybe if you ask the local geological /archeological society if they can help ?

mfesharne

Thanks guys but we're sorted out now......... and hope to try to find at least some of their items in the coming week or so.

Gotta say, I find the restrictions on these detectors a tad strange especially as the country has so much interesting history with regard to the Knights Templars & Peninsular wars etc.

EMR

That's why there are the restrictions to stop the artifacts being dug up and sold.
It's a real problem in the UK .

gedscottish

It's not illegal to own one but you apparently should get a licence and I think there is maybe even then some restriction about using them on beaches.

edit: for anyone interested in getting one:

On the subject of law
http://www.prospectordemetal.com/t1-...tores-de-metal

GeniB

I agree... So much history in fact ,going back beyond the Romans..Even the Archaeological Societies don't seem to be interested.. They showed Zero Interest in all Peter Daughtrey's research in regard to Silves for example . A friends neighbours house was allowed to be built over a neolithic site. There is evidence of modern villa's being built over the top of Roman villas' in pretty recent times.. Bizarre

EMR

Same in the UK.
The archaeologists are given a very limited time and then the sites are built on.
The new crossrail in London was not diverted past archaeological finds during its construction.

One of the N125 roundabouts is unfinished due to the discovery of remains.
One of the first sites of human habitation in the Algarve was discovered during the construction of the new Portimao water treatment plant.
The owners of a villa near us had to ensure that Moorish remains were left in place and not built on.
It's now a feature in their garden.

mfesharne

How's this for a piece of incredibly good luck......... My friend lost a tin box full of family jewellery in the fire & despite searching through the ashes of his house couldn't find it anywhere........... About a week ago I asked all my forum & FB friends if anyone nearby had a metal detector to see if we could find it that way & a local friend volunteered to come with his detector to try to help & we arranged to meet this morning.



Las night, my friend & his wife finally found their box of jewellery but in doing so, his wife managed to lose her wedding ring.



My metal detecting friend & I rocked up at the burned house & he managed to find the ring with the very first pass of the detector over the very first square foot of ground....... it literally took less than 5 minutes!


I really ought to start doing the lottery! lol

macliam

Good to hear they salvaged something from the past - and what a roller-coaster last night must have been for them. I hope that's the start of some good luck.....

mfesharne

I can just imagine what was said when they found the box & then lost the wedding ring!

Red Eric

And nobody was arrested for illegal use of a metal detector