HISTORY: Bill Wyman with his new book, Treasure Islands
Posted on 04/26/2005 8:33:12 PM PDT by nickcarraway
He might be better known for wielding a bass guitar than a metal detector, but former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman has been an enthusiastic amateur archaeologist for many years.
So who better to open proceedings at a Portable Antiquities Scheme Roadshow? Held up and down the country on November 27, the events offered a chance for members of the public to have any finds they’d unearthed identified by an expert.
Altogether some 840 people did just that at events in Donnington, Exeter, Reading, Shrewsbury, Wrexham, York and Colchester where Bill Wyman was on hand to get things going.
Speaking to the 24 Hour Museum, he described the Portable Antiquities Scheme as a "stunning" idea and explained how open days were a great opportunity to get the public involved in archaeology.
"Anybody digging in their back garden who doesn’t know what they’ve found can come to these open days and talk to people and get expert advice," he said, adding that they help "record things which might not have been recorded in the past."
"All good detectorists go to museums with their finds," he said, "but now the public can do it too."
And they certainly did. As the country’s oldest recorded town, Colchester is teeming with history and inside the Castle Museum a constant stream of people lined up with the discoveries to prove it.
Speaking to the 24 Hour Museum the Monday after a thoroughly successful day, Essex Finds Liaison Officer Caroline Macdonald explained how at Colchester Castle an incredible 40 bona fide archaeological objects were recorded.
From a Palaeolithic hand axe unearthed in 1982 in a back garden, to Roman pottery, Iron Age coins and a rare 15th century pilgrim badge (which the owner didn’t know was treasure), the finds just poured in.
"Pretty much once I’d sat down at that table that was it," said Caroline. "It goes to show that members of the public do find this stuff."
However, the coveted Find of the Day award went to a Mesolithic hand axe: "we chose that because it wasn’t a metallic object – they’re hard to spot and it’s just a lovely thing," Caroline added.
At similar events in Donnington, Exeter, Reading, Shrewsbury, Wrexham and York, some 840 people turned out to have their discoveries identified by a team of Finds Liaison Officers.
According to Bill Wyman, the way archaeology offers a real snapshot of the past can really help bring history to life especially for children and young people.
"Young people can get interested if you make it interesting for them," he said, praising museums – Colchester Castle Museum in particular - for their hands on approach.
"When you get given lists of dates and you’ve got to remember facts it’s just boring, but now schools can come here and see it all."
While Bill Wyman may seem an unlikely archaeologist, his fascination with history goes back to the 1950s and his career as a metal detectorist has seen him uncover amongst other things coins, brooches, bucketfuls of pottery and bits of axes.
Archaeology, he said, is "like fishing on land, you never know what the next bite is going to get you." As for comparisons with performing in front of thousands: "It’s just as good really."
"There’s something special about picking something up that’s been in the ground for a thousand years. You pick it up and you realise you are the first person that’s touched it for a thousand years and it just has a feel to it."
With a book, Bill Wyman’s Treasure Island, due out in March 2005 he looks set to take archaeology to a whole new audience, but does it still surprise people when they find out that the ex-Rolling Stones bassist has such an interest in the subject?
"It used to amaze people that I liked anything other than music, but now they know I’m into writing books, archaeology, photography and so on," he said.
"My life is very varied and music is just a part of it, as archaeology is – but it is my second favourite subject."
The day was also attended by the Head of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, Roger Bland, who told the 24 Hour Museum that it was evidence of the initiative’s success.
"When I think back to what things were like 10 years ago when we first started talking about it, the atmosphere was so different, people said it would never work," he explained.
"If you go round the room and talk to people you realise there’s a great willingness out there to contribute, to bring finds in and report them."
There are professional archaeologists, he added, that are still cautious of amateur enthusiasts, yet things are changing.
"They are exceptions nowadays and I think archaeologists are much more ready to admit that this voluntary approach, which tries to bring people in and works to encourage them, does really make all the difference," he explained. "And I do think it’s working."
It’s working so well, he continued, that the efforts of amateurs are gradually changing our views of the archaeological and historical landscape of the country.
"In the area that I worked on, which was ancient coins, our knowledge of Roman and Iron Age coins has been completely revolutionised because of the sheer number of finds that have come through from metal detectorists," he said.
The Stones Age?
Nick, is that a current photo of Bill Wyman? If so, time has been rather unkind to Mr. Wyman.
"There’s something special about picking something up that’s been in the ground for a thousand years. You pick it up and you realise you are the first person that’s touched it for a thousand years..."
Talk about deja vu...that's exactly what the last gigolo Helen Thomas hired said.
Actually, not bad -- considering all he's undoubtedly been through.
well I hope it is a current picture
Indiana Stones?
Is he the one that marries teenagers ?
Sorry, I loved the Stones as a kid (saw them in live in Brussels), but that picture of Wyman looks like my one of my aunts (thankfully, the aunt that's still alive, not the dead ones, but it's a close call).
btttt
So what? The Stones are touring again.
Thanks Khurkris.
There was a great overseas series I saw somewhere here in the States, prolly on PBS (yack) when I was temporarily cable impaired.
I think it was called "Two Men in a Trench". A real hoot. As I remember it, a couple of sottish Scottish real archaeologists.
They dug up a lot of battlefields, but they had fun with it, went for brews at the pub, on the lookout for trollop etc.
My kind of archaeologists.
What I should have written was: "Is that Bill Wyman?!"
He's kinda lucky because england is a great place to find old and buried items - especially roman empire items.
Isn't Wyman the guy who married his girlfriend's daughter?
Wasn't that Woody Allen?
Him too.
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