Danimal
Bronze Member
I recently received exclusive permission to metal detect an area of State owned property that I knew had a few foundations on it. More extensive research using maps from 1906 revealed that at that time there were over 30 homes in about a 10 sq. mile area...all now open to me! More research showed that this area has history going back to the mustering of troops for the war of 1812, so the true age of some of these homes is yet unknown. I believe they MAY have been inhabited up to the early 1960s though...so modern trash would be present but the cross-mix of coins might make the sites very productive.
Saturday, after my son Spencer played in a double header (in the second game he struck out 13 of 17 batters he faced!) he and I headed over to explore a bit of the area. It was almost 4pm by the time we arrived so we knew we had little time.
After parking in an area where hunters (the kind that shoot animals...not coins) park we geared up to head out.
I picked a spot where there should have been 3 homes in close proximity to each other. I arrange my maps with the original first with details circled and numbered. Subsequent pages have sat. photos showing closeups of each detail area to help ID key large trees, trails, etc.
At the second site we did find a cellarhole and TONS of ferrous. After about the 12th sq. nail we moved on. Not being impatient...just trying to find a less-dense area to hunt for the last hour or so of decent light. Here's Spencer checking around some foundation stones.
In the end I found some cool stuff and Spencer found some bottles.
There was a fired musketball with a thick white patina indicating to me some age.
A small broach with small berries and two leaves and the only coin of the short hunt, a 1937 wheatie.
closeup of my favorite find, a Victorian cast brass doorbell.
Mystery item..corroded copper with hinge and spring on one end. Looks like it used to be some type of oval cover at one time.
Here's the doorbell cleaned up. Looks like maybe there were stones in the eyes at one time.
Darkness fell TOO quickly. I think this is an area I could hunt for years to come. Certainly with over 30 cellarholes, a few should hit bigtime for some nice coinage.
HH all!
Saturday, after my son Spencer played in a double header (in the second game he struck out 13 of 17 batters he faced!) he and I headed over to explore a bit of the area. It was almost 4pm by the time we arrived so we knew we had little time.
After parking in an area where hunters (the kind that shoot animals...not coins) park we geared up to head out.
I picked a spot where there should have been 3 homes in close proximity to each other. I arrange my maps with the original first with details circled and numbered. Subsequent pages have sat. photos showing closeups of each detail area to help ID key large trees, trails, etc.
At the second site we did find a cellarhole and TONS of ferrous. After about the 12th sq. nail we moved on. Not being impatient...just trying to find a less-dense area to hunt for the last hour or so of decent light. Here's Spencer checking around some foundation stones.
In the end I found some cool stuff and Spencer found some bottles.
There was a fired musketball with a thick white patina indicating to me some age.
A small broach with small berries and two leaves and the only coin of the short hunt, a 1937 wheatie.
closeup of my favorite find, a Victorian cast brass doorbell.
Mystery item..corroded copper with hinge and spring on one end. Looks like it used to be some type of oval cover at one time.
Here's the doorbell cleaned up. Looks like maybe there were stones in the eyes at one time.
Darkness fell TOO quickly. I think this is an area I could hunt for years to come. Certainly with over 30 cellarholes, a few should hit bigtime for some nice coinage.
HH all!
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Awesome doorbell! Never seen one like it..
