Picture yourself walking down the street. It is early in the morning and you are still a bit bleary eyed and bam. You come to a dead stop. Out of the corner of your eye you see a hundred dollar bill. Of course you stop and scoop it up and go on your merry way. But, the thrill you felt from finding that hundred dollar bill is what treasure hunters, also known as relic hunters, feel whenever they find something that has been hidden for a long time. For most treasure hunters it is not that they are seeking gold and riches but it is the thrill of the search.

Most relic hunters never find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. What they do find is lost bits of history, that would have been lost forever if they had not found them. It is the imagination of why something is at a particular place. Why is a gold coin found in the middle of a field. Was there a town there? Why was the medieval helmet found by the creed. Had there been a forgotten battle there? It is the imagination of the treasure hunter that drives them. What is the story behind what they find?

The picture of a guy on the beach looking for lost coins is not what most treasure hunters are about. Don't get me wrong, many treasure hunters are all about finding that lost wedding ring, necklace, or watch on the beach. But, most relic hunters are actually focused on finding bits of history. The pieces that many find fill in historical gaps or reinforce theories about history. Finding remnants of Viking arrows or coins or cooking utensils on the coast of Newfoundland fuels the theory that Vikings were the earliest explorers of the New World, predating by several hundred years Columbus's own efforts.

Finding medical equipment on an old civil war battle field helps reorient the battle field giving a clearer picture of what actually occurred. Finding old relics of a by gone era is not just finding tokens of history. These pieces of history actually mean something. They tell a story. They can even inflame the imagination.

Relic and treasure hunters are inspired by being a part of history, by being a part of the story. They are inspired by being able to clarify a chapter in history. It is a solitary task It is definitely not a hobby for everyone. But, for the right person with the right knowledge and a great imagination, just the act of looking for something that has been lost makes for a great day and a great hobby. And, then finding something makes for a fantastically satisfying day that makes up for all the hard work of endless hours of searching, prodding and probing. This is why treasure and relic hunters are the way they are.