More colonial finds from new site including complete 1600s latten spoon

[Bill D. (VA)]

My good friend and hunting partner Dan and I got in another couple of short 1/2 day hunts at our new colonial site recently. This place is continuing to produce finds from the mid-1600s to the early 1800s, and has been especially hot on buttons as we've dug nearly 150 between us in about 16 hours of hunting there. But after digging 6 colonial coins in our first 2 trips we've been skunked in that department the last 2 outings. Yesterday it was starting to get a little harder to put our coils over a keeper, plus the ground was a little on the funky side and played a few tricks on us. In spite of those difficulties I got lucky and pulled a first for me by recovering a complete and undamaged 17th century latten "trifid" spoon complete with maker's mark from about 14" down. These style spoons were generally manufactured between 1650 and 1700, but I believe this is an early one. I was reading in my reference book ("Old Base Metal Spoons" - thanks Casper!) that up to 1660 only a mark in the spoon bowl was used, and thereafter 2 or 3 markings were added on the back of the stem. Since my spoon doesn't have any marks on the stem I'm going to assume it dates to about 1650-1660. The maker's mark is one I've seen before with the 3 spoons(?) or lobes along with the maker's initials "SN". According to my book the original list of latten spoon makers was lost many years ago so there's no way to ascertain the maker's name. Regardless, I'm very happy with this find and it's probably the best recovery I've made at this site so far as it's a rare feat to dig a complete trifid spoon. Dan and I also spent a while yesterday probing and digging a little more in the pit that produced some large milk pan shards the last time out, and a nice mallet bottle spout was recovered yesterday as well. We believe the area sloping away from the huge debris field is a broad and shallow dump with no real concentration of trash. But with a little patience and hard work I'm sure we can make some nice random recoveries from this area.

 

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[CRUSADER]

I've never had a whole one, but the '3 spoon' makers mark is a fairly common one, I've had a couple & seen a few others. Must have been a big business.

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

With all those (150) buttons, and all the pipe stems, one (me) would expect a few more coins. As we know though things are no always what we expect. Some old sites, and the people that were there just didn't have the money to throw around, and if they did have it they were often very careful with it.

One site I remember in particular had all kinds of relics, buttons, buckles, bells, you name it, certain it was not hunted before either yet never produced a single coin in three visits. Other sites as many as a dozen coins in a day.

That said, you're still getting lots of targets, and a good coin day can certainly still happen.

Congrats on the whole old spoon.

 

[BuckleBoy]

WOW, that's something you just don't see! Was this your first complete latten spoon?

 

[Bubba65]

Bill CONGRATS on some real sweet finds, that spoon is real cool

 

[vpnavy]

Thanks for sharing...

 

[ModernMiner]

"I was reading in my reference book ("Old Base Metal Spoons" - thanks Casper!) that up to 1660 only a mark in the spoon bowl was used, and thereafter 2 or 3 markings were added on the back of the stem. Since my spoon doesn't have any marks on the stem I'm going to assume it dates to about 1650-1660."

Congrats to you Bill on that fantastic old spoon, and your other great recoveries. Amazing site you're on. I didn't know such a book existed.
That's the great thing about Tnet. You learn something new here every day.
Great post!
-MM-

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

"I was reading in my reference book ("Old Base Metal Spoons" - thanks Casper!) that up to 1660 only a mark in the spoon bowl was used, and thereafter 2 or 3 markings were added on the back of the stem. Since my spoon doesn't have any marks on the stem I'm going to assume it dates to about 1650-1660."

Congrats to you Bill on that fantastic old spoon, and your other great recoveries. Amazing site you're on. I didn't know such a book existed.
That's the great thing about Tnet. You learn something new here every day.
Great post!
-MM-

Thanks Doug. BTW - if you go to the link below you can download a pdf version of this book for free. Just click on the little gear icon in the upper right.

Old Base Metal Spoons - Frederick George Hilton Price - Google Books

 

[mangum]

Great finds Bill. The spoon is an awesome find! 17th century isn't a possibility for me, what a great spot!

 

[Steve in PA]

Nice recoveries Bill. Congratulations one the spoon. Very difficult to recover one in that condition. Good thing it was so deep!

 

[fishstick]

I wonder how many people laugh at you when you tell them the highlight of your hunt was a SPOON!!!! lol.. Some people just won't get it though... CONGRATS on a VERY early find Bill!!!!! HH....

 

[HomeGuardDan]

As always - had a blast Bill. This site is not done - not even close. We will dig more coins and I believe some awesome pits are waiting.

 

[metalev4]

The spoon is awesome Bill, great find, also love that cuff link. Looking forward to hunting with you in a couple weeks.

 

[BARKER]

Hi Bill (VA).; Thanks for a great find. Thanks even more for the leads on those books. I'll be ordering them ASAP. They will serve me well. I hunt predominantly 1600's - 1700's sites and I've found many spoons. now I'll go back and try to ID them. Now, being from Boston if they only had the initials PR I'd be a very happy guy. PEACE:RONB

 

[Tired Rooster]

What an awesome site y'all have there....producing so many good keepers!! Really like the spoon.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

WOW, that's something you just don't see! Was this your first complete latten spoon?

Buck - I've dug several latten bowls and stems but this is my first whole 17th century spoon.

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Man Bill, some killer buttons there but that spoon is off the charts. What a fantastic piece of early American history right there, congrats.
ZDD

 

[joeyfresh]

Sweet! That spoon is going to look good in your cabinet in your hallway Bill. Love the cufflinks as well.

 

[DigIron2]

man man man,what a rush it must be digging buttons like that.each one could have been a coin.Isn't no drug out there like finding stuff like that. .the Place must have been heavily occupied.man that is some good stuff

 

[markp]

lots of history in those finds, nice digs