Sorry 'bout that folks. I have tried to erase this msg. but I'm computer illiterate. It did however serve it purpose. No Mr. Jim, it is not a crude attempt at making a joke.They're called Neuter, Netter or Neather depending on how much chewing tobacco the person saying it has in his mouth at the time. I can't recall ever seeing the word written down and may have it spelled wrong but whatever you call them, they do exist. I first learned of them from a old money hunter of some notority named Isom Avants. A few years back Kenworthy and I exchanged some thoughts on the subject. He said he had found them in his work and decided they were not trash but were placed there for the purpose of helping relocate a cache. They are not, in reality a ball, but are piles or bundles of iron or steel objects buried in a shallow hole. Some left by the Spanish also contain gold dust or nuggets, silver in one form or another, brass or copper objects or plates. The general opinion is that these places could be relocated easily by dowsing or perhaps with a compass (magnetic fields. Most of those found in our work are primarily large pieces of old cast iron, boiler plate, barbed wire rolled into bundle etc.,but almost alway iron. In a few places, a keg of old nails mixed into the top few feet of earth in an area two or three feet wide served the same purpose. The Rebels buried them so that they could find them again with the old Spanish style "dip needle compass", I think they were called. In our experience they don't necessarily indicate that you are close but they could! I would say they're there to allow you to find other buried clues in the area. One thing for certain is that you NEVER, NEVER, hit with a tool, pick up or move anything found in the ground without first photographing and videoing (is that a word?) it with a compass sitting near it. Now remember, the compass cannot be too close or it will not read correctly. Also don't confuse these with a pile of junk or trash buried deep. A real money hunter is alway considerate of those who might locate the place from which they removed a cache. The trash or sometimes a lead sheet or ingot with the date removed is left so the person will not waste anymore time. I'll not post anything so misleading again! Sitting Bull!