Need Help! Digging for NA Artifacts

[GrouseMan]

Hey all, I’m back home for the holidays and have a great opportunity to do some digging on a site known to hold artifacts. It’s on the property of a golf course. When they tore up the land to create the course, many artifacts were found. The property borders a freshwater creek and along that creek there is a buffer of untouched woods. I got permission to dig in that woods and will be heading out tomorrow.

I’ve found artifacts in SC on the surface, but am totally new to digging. Does anyone have suggestions on where to start? I’m hopeful because arifacts have been found there before, but am unsure of how to dig for artifacts, where I should be digging, and all the techniques involved. I realize the answers are all over, but I was hoping that since this is on such short notice (I’m heading out there tomorrow) you all could help give me a crash course on digging for artifacts in the woods!

Thanks!

 

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[dognose]

The first thing that comes to mind is: Do you have the permission in writing?

Protect yourself from legal ramifications.

Check the water ways for chips and debitage from any camps along the river. Are any rises located in the woods? I would think a rise situated away from the water would be productive. It could be simply walking the creek could take a few days, depending on the creek size and type. Walk up stream against the flow. If you walk with the flow sediment stirred up may cloud your viewing of the stream bed.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

The first thing that comes to mind is: Do you have the permission in writing?

Protect yourself from legal ramifications.

Check the water ways for chips and debitage from any camps along the river. Are any rises located in the woods? I would think a rise situated away from the water would be productive. It could be simply walking the creek could take a few days, depending on the creek size and type. Walk up stream against the flow. If you walk with the flow sediment stirred up may cloud your viewing of the stream bed.

Great advice.

Hey all, I’m back home for the holidays and have a great opportunity to do some digging on a site known to hold artifacts. It’s on the property of a golf course. When they tore up the land to create the course, many artifacts were found. The property borders a freshwater creek and along that creek there is a buffer of untouched woods. I got permission to dig in that woods and will be heading out tomorrow.

I’ve found artifacts in SC on the surface, but am totally new to digging. Does anyone have suggestions on where to start? I’m hopeful because arifacts have been found there before, but am unsure of how to dig for artifacts, where I should be digging, and all the techniques involved. I realize the answers are all over, but I was hoping that since this is on such short notice (I’m heading out there tomorrow) you all could help give me a crash course on digging for artifacts in the woods!

Thanks!

I might add when walking creeks and streams to look behind anything that stops or restricts the flow of the current. I walked creeks for 20 years, look behind fallen logs, shelfs in the creek, bottom of water falls, weeds, anything that hinders the flow of the current. During heavy down pours the edges of creeks crumble from the water and fall into the creeks and streams bringing with them artifacts, they will be washed down stream from the flood waters in the current till something stops them. I have multiple points at the bottom of small waterfalls, 6" to 12" was usual size of waterfalls I found in creeks and streams I walked. The constant fall of water creates holes that points sometime fall in and cant get out.

 

[MosesOfTheSouth]

for some reason i'm seeing bill murray in caddy shack, blowing up sections of golf course... looking for points instead of trying to kill a large ground rodent/

 

[ToddsPoint]

Do shovel testing first. Dig a hole and see if you find any chips of flint or fire cracked rock. If not, bury your hole and move. Once you find chips/debitage make 1 meter squares and start digging and screening. Record your info. Gary

 

[Fat]

I love it when I get great advice, with more great advice, all topped off the a good chuckle.
Its the best way to learn. Have a great holiday.

 

[Older The Better]

I second toddspoint follow the flakes, if you don’t want test holes sometimes you can see flakes around the base of trees, or if one falls taking the root ball with it check there, game trails, animal burrows.

 

[GrouseMan]

Update from the dig:

Spent all day digging test holes and we found some areas with a lot of old clam shells. The golf course is right next to the bay and I’m pretty sure they were processing shellfish at the site. Towards the end of the day, I dug a test hole that revealed some promising look rocks. Dug a little bit more around there, and found what I think are chips, flakes, and fire cracked rocks. I’ve attached some pictures of the better ones below (we found 20ish items).. What do you guys think of the items we found? Does it seem right that they are a mix of chips, flakes and fire cracked rocks? Any idea of material?

We are going back tomorrow to dig some more, hopefully will find some tools!