Spot the difference

One of the many advantages of not looking at a metal detector screen while searching is being able to see subtle differences in the terrain you are walking over. 
You carry and use a metal detector but there are plenty of non metallic finds you can eyeball while metal detecting, some can be more valuable than the metal objects you are searching for.
I love spotting coins, jewelry or artifacts that I am searching for hiding in plain sight, such as these pieces of Florida Ais native american pottery sherds, recovered on a recent Spanish treasure hunt. 

Anything that stands out from the natural search surroundings when metal detecting should be picked up and investigated, assuming you are not walking around looking at the darn metal detector screen waiting for numbers to appear.  
Several years ago I searched an eroded section of a well known Spanish 1715 fleet shipwreck beach, with a 6ft cut running for several hundred yards along the beach.
I was following a local guy who had his eyes locked on his display screen, he didn't notice the large rim of a piece of 1715 fleet silver plate protruding from the wall of sand we were both following. 
Low hanging treasure fruit for someone metal detecting and watching for anything out of the ordinary in the search area, I often pull pieces of old pottery, glass and even fossils out of cuts on eroded beaches. 
Look for anything out of place in the search area, for example straight lines in rocky areas, different colors or shapes or textures. 
If something catches your eye pick it up and put it in your finds pouch for further inspection.
If you find out its nothing when you get home throw it away, but Im sure you will have more pleasant surprises playing it safe and stopping to pick up unusual objects.
Pottery sherds are excellent signs of previous activity in an area, broken glass and pieces of clay pipe can also help date a site and lead you to what you are really hoping to find with your metal detector.
Im a Spanish treasure hunter at heart and I still hunt by ear only relying on signal interpretation to influence my digging decisions. 
When you hunt by ear your eyes are free to focus on what is really important to a person using a metal detector, site reading skills! 
The quote "Cant see the forest for the trees" comes to mind, especially if you are searching for old coins and artifacts. 
Keep your eyes on the ground if you don't want to leave cool finds behind for the next person following with a metal detector not interested in target ID numbers. 


                                       

            Available at www.garydrayton.com