Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

[pitdiggers]

Thanks to my digging partner Monkeyboy this may be my best find ever. The pitdigger and monkeyboy clans hit the woods at a spot that was settled in the 1700's. Monkeyboy has popped out some super early coins that go back to the 1600-1700's over the years. After a few hours of popping out some tombacs, cast pewter and flat buttons I got a huge signal in an area where a natural spring was in the woods.

A few inches in the rocky wet ground I pulled out a large brass disc. The water gave this thing a different looking patina and it was covered in dirt so I carefully put it in my pack and kept digging. I had no idea what I had just found. Once we all took a break I pulled out the disc and handed it to monkeyboy. With a little water he slowly started to see some markings. Without hesitation he yelled SUNDIAL!!! Unreal. All of the roman numerals and markings are hand-engraved with excellent detail. The compassrose is hand engraved or stamped N,S,E,W. I was ecstatic!

After getting home I used a little water to continue to remove the mud and have done nothing else to it. After some research I found out that the early american settlers would use sundials instead of more expensive time pieces. Could be my best find to date!

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[pepperj]

That's a really cool find, never seen one posted before.

[wwwtimmcp]

by looking at the small hole between the n and s I think it had a compass as well so it would be lined up to give a correct reading. that is very cool indeed, thank you for sharing.

[Iron Patch]

I found a small lead one in the Fall, was my neat find for the year.

[jeffmrgan]

amazing find...i say banner

[jimcor]

OK, y'all knew this was coming . Dirty job, but somebody's got to say it...

WHAT A TIMELY DISCOVERY!!!

[umrgolf]

Amazing find, I've never seen one before either

[DMN]

I vote banner. Wonderful historical piece. I would suspect it is more early colonial and maybe a 1600's piece than 1700's. Keep looking down the stream. You may find more of the parts.

[SkyPirate]

nifty

[Baggins]

WOW! That is one cool find!
I say BANNER!
Baggins

[dfx willy]

nice old watch!! to big to be a pocket watch though willy

[Dman]

That's a neat find. Congrats.
Dman

[hogge]

Awesome find! First I've ever seen. Congrats.....Hogge

[MonkeyBoy]

I can honestly say I just never get jealous when other people find great relics.. I just love seeing them come out of the ground... BUT this one... I'm jealous!!! ;-) Great find...

Banner... all the way.

This is the same spot I dug the 1809 Half Cent.. http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.p...,294714.0.html ...stuff comes out in really good shape here.... so that puts it in some sort of date context.. that and all the buttons have been 1700 - early 1800s ..

Great Find...

MB

[allen]

that is one sweet piece of history !!!
I agree, banner all the way !

[rogues71]

that is a great find and yet again i am inspired to go out and dig in the dirt. hope to see more from your site gratz

[dneyedli@res1.mts.net]

This is a really great find!
Looking closely, I would wager that this sun dial was homemade as the Roman numerals and lines are not straight and therefore not machine made. It looks like it was etched by hand. Even the holes aren't uniform and looked punched out by hand. This would make it more unique as it wasn't mass produced in England and possibly an early American settler made it.
I could be wrong on this but it sure looks homemade.
Fantastic!
Dave.

[peanut]

[HISPAN]

A Banner for being a unique piece and very interesting, and anything like this is incredible .... a old watch the 18th century in America is like finding a needle in a haystack.

[pitdiggers]

Wow, thanks everyone for your comments. It is definitely a banner find for me! After examining closer it is definitely hand made and hand etched or engraved. I didn't notice it until you guys pointed it out but it also does look like it was a compass as well. I will take some more photos of it tonight and post. I do believe I may have to create a custom display box for this one and hang it prominently on my wall. I really want to do some more research on this.