Normally I HATE digging square nails, but this one has got me floored

[nc-joe]

I hit a home site today for a short hunt that was built about 1780. I got an iffy signal that was close to 5" deep so I decided to dig it. Out popped this square nail. Now I dug 2 other square nails at another location today and they were typical rusty square nails that fooled the DFX into thinking it was a coin. But look at the photo of this nail. I have NOT cleaned it. This is how it came out of the ground, in like mint condition. How can a nail be in the ground for 225 years and come out looking like this. This nail has me really confused because the soil here is not kind to metals and this site is right next to a creek and in the overgrown woods. Any thoughts?

 

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[ivan salis]

a well made (by a true balacksmith) wrought iron nail that resist rust better that todays mass produced el cheapo nails

 

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[Treasure Tom]

Joe, if the nail is only 1 inch long and was found near a creek then it may be a hot-dipped galvanized nail for boat building (planking).

Tom