A treasure from turbulent times

Machine translation of the original editorial information.

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Inside this issue

1. 4 · The archaeology of ‘lark-on-a-string’ finds
2. 14 · The Mysterious Meadow, or A Hundred Francs
3. 26 · Unusual Hitler Youth knives

Dear readers,

This year’s third issue of Detektor Revue reaches you at a time when the epidemiological situation has improved significantly and, in parallel, as anti-Covid measures are being eased more and more, so that this coming summer we may finally be able to enjoy our hobby, each in our own way. I therefore wish all our readers pleasant reading, undisturbed excursions into the countryside and some fine summer finds. I hope that everyone will find something of interest in this issue – something that might inspire your own searches, or perhaps even prompt you to write a contribution in which you share your successes and experiences with the readers of Detektor revue.

So what can you look forward to?

In the opening feature, ‘Artefact of the Month’, Kazim presents his extraordinary find: a silver patriotic plaque depicting Emperor Franz Joseph I ‘deep in prayer at a table’. ‘Archaeology of “larks on a string”’ – that is what we called our interview with the archaeologist Mgr. By Jan Hasil, Ph.D., on research carried out by the Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, with the aid of metal detectors, at Letná in Prague, on the site of a labour camp for those who built Stalin’s monstrosity there in the 1950s.

The following is an article entitled ‘A Treasure from Turbulent Times’, in which the archaeologist Mgr. Milan Metlička presents, from a numismatic perspective, a truly exceptional hoard of gold and silver coins found in the Tachov region.

‘The Mysterious Meadow, or A Hundred Francs’ is the title of a report in which treasure hunter Michal83 takes us to a site that has become an inexhaustible source of FJI caps and other interesting finds for him. In the eleventh instalment of our ‘Let’s Save History’ series, we look at how treasure hunters are helping to preserve our archaeological heritage. In the second instalment of the comprehensive article Stolen History by our contributor Matthew Shipley, we follow the search by British investigators and archaeologists for a treasure of incalculable value, which led two treasure hunters all the way to court. In this issue, too, lovers of bladed weapons will find something to their liking; this time, David presents some interesting additions to his collection – three unusual knives from the very early days of the Hitler Youth.

Have you ever found dangerous ammunition? That’s another question we asked treasure hunters in your favourite poll. The author has given the sequel to the article The Mystery of Fenn’s Treasure – about the ten-year search for a fabled treasure by an eccentric American millionaire – the promising title The Mystery Solved, the Mystery Continues. You can find answers to your questions regarding button finds in the regular column ‘The Button Collector’s Advice’, prepared for you by button expert and collector Ivo Tomáš.

Nazi treasures – fact or misinformation? – in this issue you will find the final instalment of the popular series by treasure hunter and researcher Rudolf Hakl, which has certainly captured the interest not only of those fascinated by the treasures of the Third Reich, but by history in general. Once again, those interested in the history of weapons produced by Czechoslovak manufacturers will not be disappointed – a study by the military technology historian Jan Škarkys is devoted to another outstanding product from Škoda: the 24 cm M.98 mortar.

Of course, the issue concludes with a short story; this time it is the continuation of a gripping tale penned by Zdeněk Jarchovský, which the author has titled ‘Archaeological Heaven’.