Found two tools today. Also found my 7th shoe buckle, unfortunately fragments most likely from the plow. It's the largest one I've found so far. When I tried to bend the corner back it snapped exposing the untarnished metal. When they were polished they must have had an almost gold brass color.
Nice finds! What's your take on the hammer? I found one a few months ago at a 1600's site. Normally I wouldn't think much of a hammer head but I kept it thinking it might actually be colonial period and worth some electrolysis.
This area had a farm showing up on an 1830's map but European settlement goes back to 1650's. These tools were found close to where I found an 1876 Seated Liberty Dime and my gut feeling is they belong to that layer. But downhill from these finds I discovered a broken non-claw hammer and chisel that I believe date back to the 1700's. I almost always leave large pieces of iron at the sites but the chisel and a steel scribe I did collect.
I was born and raised out where you’re detecting. I have a lot of insight on hunting the area if you’re interested. The hammer is solid mid/late 19th c.