Going back in TIME... 1700s Sundial.

pitdiggers

Full Member
Feb 16, 2009
178
0
Northern Virginia
Detector(s) used
Whites MXT, Shadow X5, Tesoro Cibola, Minelab XTerra
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

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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pitdiggers

pitdiggers

Full Member
Feb 16, 2009
178
0
Northern Virginia
Detector(s) used
Whites MXT, Shadow X5, Tesoro Cibola, Minelab XTerra
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

This has been an exciting couple of days and all of your comments have been great to read. Thanks goes out to chemist100 for hooking me up with the NASS website. This national sundial association has a ton of info and will also be holding their annual conference on the MALL in Washington DC in October. There is some awesome history associated with early american sundials and hopefully I will here something back from them this week.
 

chemist100

Jr. Member
Jan 21, 2007
83
0
Flowery Branch, North Georgia
Detector(s) used
Tesoro Golden Sabre Plus
Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

Thats great, I hope you found some useful info. Keep us posted when you hear anything!!! You said in your post that you found this where a natural spring was, it might be possible that the area used to be used as a garden. I read somewhere that these things were placed near gardens and fountians. You should really try to see if you can find the other peice. Again, cool find!!!
 

Evan/tn

Hero Member
Jul 7, 2009
580
4
Detector(s) used
spectra V3,MXT
Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

sweet find!!!!
congrats on the banner :headbang: :headbang:
 

stasys

Sr. Member
Jun 13, 2009
430
9
Detector(s) used
minelab explorer xs
Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

my congratulation!!! very interesting find!
 

Sniffy

Bronze Member
Mar 27, 2009
2,043
95
Connecticut
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Prizm III Teknetics T2
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

wow, I thought I allready posted on this thread.....what a fine peice of history you uncovered. I can imagine people consulting this instrument to find out the time of day. Amazing.
 

Breezie

Gold Member
Oct 3, 2009
6,269
2,119
North Carolina
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
White's DFX & Spectrum~Garrett's Pro-Pointer~VibraProbe
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

SUPER find! Congrats! :thumbsup: Breezie
 

Mach1Pilot

Silver Member
Jul 21, 2008
3,000
1,160
Bedford County, PA
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Minelab, Fisher, Teknetics and more!
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

What an awesome relic! :hello2: :headbang: :notworthy: Congrats on the banner! :icon_thumright:


Any luck finding the pointer? ???
 

vermonster

Sr. Member
May 7, 2009
295
9
hootersville NY
Detector(s) used
whites prism IV
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

:hello2: WOW , Thats Beautiful ! Congrats 2 you
vermonster
 

{Sentinel}

Silver Member
Jan 11, 2007
4,739
286
Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
13
Detector(s) used
TEKNETICS T-2 LTD, Fisher F-75, White's MXT w/ 11 x 14" Excelerator Coil, WHITES Pulse TDI, WHITES Beach Hunter ID, Garrett Propointer and Lesche Digging Tool
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

Super Find bud! I'd be thanking MonkeyBoy right about now he is a good dude :headbang:
 

Juanmoretime

Bronze Member
Feb 10, 2008
1,063
14
Shreveport, Louisiana
Detector(s) used
Miinelab CTX-3030, Minelab E-Trac, Minelab Explorer II, Whites Dfx
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

Really cool find !! Never heard of one showing up anywhere!
 

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