Lots of bottles.

[Findone]

A friend, and I, were detecting today, and we weren't find anything much, when we discovered a bottle dump. We decided to dig a few, to see what we could find. After about and hour we had 15 to 20 bottles. Some are brown, cobalt blue, and clear. They are all cork stopper bottles.
What I would like to know, is how should we go about cleaning these, or should we clean them? I have never dug bottles before so I would appreciate any help I can get.
Thanks,
Leon

[Likely Guy]

Hey Findone,

Sure, clean them gently with dish soap & warm water and get a 'bottle brush' for the inside (self breweries and wineries sell them). Although some people like them in their 'as found' condition and if their contents (ie. original contents or a cork) are still there, leave them.

Above all, AVOID sudden temperature change (hot to cold water and vice versa)!

[Findone]

Thanks Guy, for the information. Do you know of a book, I could get to help identify, the bottles?
Leon

[Likely Guy]

Hey Leon,

The best sources are online, including this forum. Google is a wonderful tool, you just have to know how to ask the question. There is a great bottle source that I came across, very extensive. I think that it was a Smithsonian site.

Brian

[youk]

I fill bottles about 3/4 full of warm soapy water and add a good amount of BB's (like for a BB gun). Shake and
swirl around gently. Has worked well for me on dug bottles. Can we see some pictures please??

Youk

[Findone]

Thanks Brian, I have found a couple of the bottles on the net.

Leon

[Findone]

Okay, sgyouk,
I'll give that a try, on the ones, we can't get the inside clean, with warm, soapy water.
I don't have the bottles, I will get my hunting partner, to take a few pictures, and I'll try to post them here.
Thanks,
Leon