Treasure Hunting in Syria

[Cleitonwi]

Hello everyone,

My friend is looking for a good metal detector to search for precious metals in Syria. He owns several large plots of land and is willing to dig up to 2 meters deep. The goal is to find gold in ancient tombs, such as jars with coins and other artifacts.

Which detectors would you recommend for this type of search?

He is considering the XP EXTREM Hunter with dual coils. Would this be a good choice for this purpose?

Thanks in advance!

 

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[Urien of Rheged]

Hello everyone,

My friend is looking for a good metal detector to search for precious metals in Syria. He owns several large plots of land and is willing to dig up to 2 meters deep. The goal is to find gold in ancient tombs, such as jars with coins and other artifacts.

Which detectors would you recommend for this type of search?

He is considering the XP EXTREM Hunter with dual coils. Would this be a good choice for this purpose?

Thanks in advance!

He's not going anywhere near 2m metres deep with a metal detector and a shovel.
You better tell your mate if he has those kind of expectations from this "hobby" (not a carreer move even in a region as bountiful in history as Syria) he will become demoralised and disillusioned very quickly.
That is unless he knows something about what's under his plot of land more than we do. Good luck to him anyway.

 

[Cleitonwi]

He's not going anywhere near 2m metres deep with a metal detector and a shovel.
You better tell your mate if he has those kind of expectations from this "hobby" (not a carreer move even in a region as bountiful in history as Syria) he will become demoralised and disillusioned very quickly.
That is unless he knows something about what's under his plot of land more than we do. Good luck to him anyway

Why wouldn't it be possible to reach 2 meters? Is it because of the detector's depth range? Digging itself wouldn’t be a problem. In any case, it’s estimated that valuable finds are very possible even at around 1 meter deep.

He's a beginner but eager to search, and there have been others who found gold in the region before. He’s just looking for the best detector for the job. Any recommendations?

 

[Mackaydon]

Your friend should look into the advantages of using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR); especially if searching for "ancient tombs".
Don in SoCal

 

[Cleitonwi]

Your friend should look into the advantages of using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR); especially if searching for "ancient tombs".
Don in SoCal

Thanks for the suggestion, Don! I hadn’t considered GPR. Would you say it’s more effective than deep-seeking metal detectors for this kind of search? Also, doesn’t this type of equipment require more specialized training to interpret the data correctly?

Since the search is only for precious metals, wouldn’t a dual-coil metal detector be sufficient?

I really appreciate your insights and recommendations!

 

[Cleitonwi]

another question:

GPR would be effective if the tomb is hollow, right? But if it’s completely filled with soil, wouldn’t it struggle to detect anything relevant?

 

[Mackaydon]

Going only from my own experience, I'm not familiar with any metal detector that can detect coins or gold jewelry/coins buried under two meters of overburden; admittedly, not even below one meter of overburden.
Don in SoCal

 

[Mackaydon]

Yes, GPR is costly and requires a specialist, but it can get to the depths you mentioned whereas a metal detector can not.
Don in SoCal

 

[cudamark]

This is where size matters. If the target is coin size, 2 feet is about the limit of a top of the line PI metal detector, and this would have to be in very mild soil with a huge coil. Large targets, such as a metal container can be detected deeper however. A jar of coins isn't seen as a large target unless the coins are fused together. A metal detector "sees" each coin as an individual target. A Minelab GPZ 7000 detector is currently the best for depth, but, it's a PI machine that doesn't really discriminate between ferrous and non-ferrous metal, so, you would be digging everything. A Minelab Manticore with a big coil is probably your best bet for a discriminating detector, but, anything deeper than about 18" is going to be iffy. Add highly mineralized soil and the depth will be less.....sometimes a lot less. A two box detector will find large targets much deeper, but, won't even "see" a coin sized object.

 

[Cleitonwi]

This is where size matters. If the target is coin size, 2 feet is about the limit of a top of the line PI metal detector, and this would have to be in very mild soil with a huge coil. Large targets, such as a metal container can be detected deeper however. A jar of coins isn't seen as a large target unless the coins are fused together. A metal detector "sees" each coin as an individual target. A Minelab GPZ 7000 detector is currently the best for depth, but, it's a PI machine that doesn't really discriminate between ferrous and non-ferrous metal, so, you would be digging everything. A Minelab Manticore with a big coil is probably your best bet for a discriminating detector, but, anything deeper than about 18" is going to be iffy. Add highly mineralized soil and the depth will be less.....sometimes a lot less. A two box detector will find large targets much deeper, but, won't even "see" a coin sized object.

Thanks for the detailed explanation! So, if I understand correctly, a PI detector like the Minelab GPZ 7000 offers the best depth but lacks discrimination, meaning we’d have to dig up everything. Meanwhile, the Minelab Manticore with a large coil provides better discrimination but struggles with depth beyond 18 inches, especially in mineralized soil.

For finding something like a jar of coins, would a two-box detector be the best choice, given that the coins might not be fused together? Or would a large PI detector still be the better option in this case?

I came across this video: . At the 9-minute mark, there's a test with a bag of coins. Based on your experience, is this a reliable test, or is it misleading in some way?

 

[DizzyDigger]

The goal is to find gold in ancient tombs, such as jars with coins and other artifacts.

I can understand how tempting it may be, but where I live, ancient or not, this is
commonly referred to as "grave robbing", and the practice is quite frowned upon.

 

[Cleitonwi]

I can understand how tempting it may be, but where I live, ancient or not, this is
commonly referred to as "grave robbing", and the practice is quite frowned upon.

I completely understand your perspective, and I respect the concerns about historical preservation and ethics. However, when someone lives in a country devastated by a brutal dictatorship—where electricity is available for only 45 minutes a day, where a pension barely buys a carton of eggs, and where hunger and desperation are daily struggles—people are not concerned with the sleep of the dead. Their priority is staying alive and feeding their children.

This is the harsh reality for many, and while in prosperous, developed countries these discussions are framed around ethics and preservation, in places where survival is at stake, the priorities shift drastically.

That said, my friend is simply looking for the best detector for deep metal searches, and I truly appreciate the insights shared here.

 

[Urien of Rheged]

I completely understand your perspective, and I respect the concerns about historical preservation and ethics. However, when someone lives in a country devastated by a brutal dictatorship—where electricity is available for only 45 minutes a day, where a pension barely buys a carton of eggs, and where hunger and desperation are daily struggles—people are not concerned with the sleep of the dead. Their priority is staying alive and feeding their children.

This is the harsh reality for many, and while in prosperous, developed countries these discussions are framed around ethics and preservation, in places where survival is at stake, the priorities shift drastically.

That said, my friend is simply looking for the best detector for deep metal searches, and I truly appreciate the insights shared here.

I get that and when you have those lunatic jihadists being put into positions of power and influence by western government's your nations antiquites are about as safe as your nations religious minorities.
I think I too would take a less "ethical" approach to archaeology in that area considering it could be blown to smithereens by next week st the whim of some fanatic.

Best of luck and I hope it works out for your mate but I'm skeptical as I say even in a country as historically rich as Syria that this is a career move. I hope he doesn't impoverish himself buying expensive metal detectors only to realise in the first session that it's not quite as simple finding treasures as one might like to imagine.

 

[Cleitonwi]

I’m also a bit skeptical about this, and so is he. But it’s an attempt. I’m just trying to help him avoid buying a piece of junk—I just want to help him make the best possible choice.

I appreciate your perspective, and I understand the skepticism. My friend is aware that treasure hunting isn’t an easy path or a guaranteed way to make a living. He’s not expecting to strike gold on the first day—he simply wants to try, learn, and see where it leads.

He’s also being cautious about equipment choices, which is why I came here to ask for advice before any big investments. I really appreciate the insights shared in this thread, as they help set realistic expectations.

To give you an idea of the level of desperation and lack of knowledge—there are people who are just randomly digging up their land, blindly searching for something. Surprisingly, some have actually found things. But it's a level of desperation that honestly makes me feel sorry for them. I’m just trying to increase their chances of finding something.

Thanks again for the well wishes!

 

[DizzyDigger]

I completely understand your perspective, and I respect the concerns about historical preservation and ethics. However, when someone lives in a country devastated by a brutal dictatorship—where electricity is available for only 45 minutes a day, where a pension barely buys a carton of eggs, and where hunger and desperation are daily struggles—people are not concerned with the sleep of the dead. Their priority is staying alive and feeding their children.

I had considered this prior to posting, and appreciate your explanation.

Clearly, you are well educated, however education does not always put food
on the table. Most of us can only imagine the difficulties of living in a war torn
country.

I sincerely wish you and your friend the best of luck, and hopefully a better
future for you and your families.

 

[Cleitonwi]

I had considered this prior to posting, and appreciate your explanation.

Clearly, you are well educated, however education does not always put food
on the table. Most of us can only imagine the difficulties of living in a war torn
country.

I sincerely wish you and your friend the best of luck, and hopefully a better
future for you and your families.

I truly appreciate your understanding and kind words. You’re absolutely right—education alone doesn’t put food on the table, and the reality in war-torn regions is something most people can’t fully grasp.

Fortunately, I’m not there experiencing this firsthand, but I’m trying to help my friend find a way out or at least some relief.

For this attempt, targeting depths between 80 cm and 1.5 meters, we’re strongly leaning toward the dual-coil detector. I have some friends traveling there in the coming weeks, and I’ll try to send one for him.

If anyone has other ideas or recommendations for equipment, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again for your well wishes—I really appreciate it

 

[cudamark]

Thanks for the detailed explanation! So, if I understand correctly, a PI detector like the Minelab GPZ 7000 offers the best depth but lacks discrimination, meaning we’d have to dig up everything. Meanwhile, the Minelab Manticore with a large coil provides better discrimination but struggles with depth beyond 18 inches, especially in mineralized soil.

For finding something like a jar of coins, would a two-box detector be the best choice, given that the coins might not be fused together? Or would a large PI detector still be the better option in this case?

I came across this video: . At the 9-minute mark, there's a test with a bag of coins. Based on your experience, is this a reliable test, or is it misleading in some way?

Looks like a very capable 2 box machine. If the budget permits, I'd have it in my tool box too. (which I do with a White's TM808). It's very specialized however, so, for general detecting and finding smaller and shallower targets, I'd still prefer to use the Manticore or GPZ7000 if the search area isn't too junky. Maybe you could get a package from XP where you get the Xtreme and a Deus 2. Not quite the depth of the other two, but, not terrible either. Many people love the XP detectors....I'm just not a fan personally. Good Luck.

 

[Cleitonwi]

Looks like a very capable 2 box machine. If the budget permits, I'd have it in my tool box too. (which I do with a White's TM808). It's very specialized however, so, for general detecting and finding smaller and shallower targets, I'd still prefer to use the Manticore or GPZ7000 if the search area isn't too junky. Maybe you could get a package from XP where you get the Xtreme and a Deus 2. Not quite the depth of the other two, but, not terrible either. Many people love the XP detectors....I'm just not a fan personally. Good Luck.

Thanks for the input! I looked into the GPZ7000, and it seems like an excellent detector, but it's really expensive. Do you think it would be able to detect larger objects at depths of 1.5m to 2m?

Also, what’s your opinion on the White’s TM 808? Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to find on the market.

The targets in this case would be larger objects, like pots containing metal or bigger metal pieces, rather than just individual coins.

Appreciate your insights!

 

[cudamark]

Thanks for the input! I looked into the GPZ7000, and it seems like an excellent detector, but it's really expensive. Do you think it would be able to detect larger objects at depths of 1.5m to 2m?

Also, what’s your opinion on the White’s TM 808? Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to find on the market.

The targets in this case would be larger objects, like pots containing metal or bigger metal pieces, rather than just individual coins.

Appreciate your insights!

If the target is big enough, the GPZ would find it that deep. So would the Manticore. Whether they will find a "jar" of coins at that depth.....I don't know, but, doubt they will. The TM808 will find things 7 meters deep if it's large enough, but, there again, It won't find individual coins or anything smaller than a cigarette pack or aluminum can....and even those....not at depth. There are so many variables when the target is deep that it's hard to say which machine would work the best on any given target. Ground mineralization plays a BIG part, along with metal trash and any electrical interference in the area.