Virgin SITE- Colonial Wharf...Privateers?

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,708
5,575
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Hey guys,

Despite another weekend of 100 degree hunt, I decided to venture out into the pluff mud in search of a colonial wharf...as well as take advantage of an extremely low tide. This particular site is unassuming in normal conditions, however I had eyeballed submerged palmetto logs and brick on the yak previously. The site's history is a bit sketchy although I do have a few accounts referencing loyalist financed privateers that docked/provisioned in the area. Given the dozens of copper ship nails we had clearly landed on a ship building site/wharf.

These copper hand forged nails are...everywhere. Pictured are a few of my favorites, although I do have a bag full of the smaller ones. Unfortunate these hit on the CTX everywhere from 12-12 to 12-30 so you can't walk past the signals. Two of these are rosehead with square shanks

20160801_184827.jpg 20160801_184926.jpg 20160801_195845.jpg

While it will take a few weeks to clear out all the copper ship nails, there are a few other targets. Picking through copper as if it were iron, I did manage to recover a few flat buttons.

20160801_185424.jpg 20160801_185455.jpg

The easier targets to pick out were the musket balls and colonial fishing weights. Must of the round balls were of a smaller caliber than the brown bess I've dug in the past. These appear to have been cast and lost, most possessing casting seams...perhaps provisions for an out going privateer :laughing7:

20160801_185235.jpg

The sheer number of these was nuts. Some of the more interesting lead targets was a poker chip and a set of bar shot...recovered in the same plug but no longer attached. Hopefully a few experts will chime in on these

20160801_185310.jpg 20160801_185301.jpg

The best target I dug was deep in the muck. While I've recovered the bronze stems in the past, this is the first intact...draw pull :dontknow:...I've dug. I always thought the stems were clothing hangers, until this one came out of the dirt. The openwork is stunning

20160801_184126.jpg 20160801_184141.jpg

Inland from the surf I did recover a few iron buckles and partial reaper, fresh out of electrolysis.

20160801_184227.jpg 20160801_184304.jpg 20160801_184310.jpg

The reaper is stamped M U

20160801_184352.jpg 20160801_184458.jpg

At an alternate site I also dug a Southern Railroad lead seal.

20160801_185638.jpg 20160801_185644.jpg

All in all another productive weekend in the mud, enjoy the pictures and good luck out there!

20160801_185625.jpg 20160801_185829.jpg
 

Last edited:
Upvote 35

kingskid1611

Gold Member
Feb 23, 2015
8,135
6,683
Oklahoma
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
That is some nice varieties of finds. Congrats on the muck save. I would love to find a copper nail.
 

BigWaveDave

Gold Member
Nov 22, 2013
9,328
17,012
Mountain Maryland
🥇 Banner finds
2
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
4
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro, AT Max, Minelab
Equinox 800
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
None of what you found is in my wheelhouse, but I know great history when I see it!....Your research has paid off, great relics!
 

OP
OP
Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,708
5,575
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
None of what you found is in my wheelhouse, but I know great history when I see it!....Your research has paid off, great relics!

Thanks Dave, that's the best part of this hobby...whether you a relic hunter or coin shooter we all appreciate the history
 

ajaj

Bronze Member
Sep 14, 2012
1,125
1,527
Orange, Massachusetts
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Max
Minelab eTrac
Minelab Excalibur 8"
Makro Racer
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
You know, this is a really nice hunt; lots of history and interesting finds. Everyone needs a hunt like this; we're not going to get silver coins all the time, but this is awesome!

aj
 

Silvermonkey

Silver Member
Apr 24, 2013
4,617
10,277
Eastern Massachusetts
🥇 Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
AT Pro, XP Deus
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Looks like you have been very busy! What an interesting site. Please keep us posted regarding future finds. There's gotta be some old silver in the mix.
 

OP
OP
Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,708
5,575
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Looks like you have been very busy! What an interesting site. Please keep us posted regarding future finds. There's gotta be some old silver in the mix.

My thoughts exactly, has to be a bit of Spanish silver in there somewhere... had to pay for provisions
 

trapperart

Gold Member
Dec 12, 2015
16,162
13,042
Maryland's eastern shore
🥇 Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
whites MXTPro whites MXSport
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Congrats on some nice finds and a great site, can't wait to see what else comes from there. Good luck
 

DownNDirty

Bronze Member
Jun 1, 2015
2,178
3,207
South Carolina
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox 800
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Looks like you've found another excellent site. Never dug a copper nail before-and you are digging them by the handfulls.
 

sutphin

Gold Member
Oct 2, 2013
8,344
4,466
brunswick md
Detector(s) used
WHITES 5900, MXT 300, MXT PRO, MXT ALL PRO/ 8X6 SEF COIL
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
DIGGER HAEL , THAT MAN WAS RUITEN LIKE A HOG . MAN SWEET SITE AND FINDS .
 

s.c.shooter

Bronze Member
Jul 28, 2008
1,063
731
SC
Detector(s) used
Minelab Sov- AT PRO - AT Max - Equinox 600
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Great saves. Congrats!
 

Scrappy

Gold Member
Mar 6, 2014
9,204
14,019
17th century
🥇 Banner finds
7
Detector(s) used
Minelab CTX 3030 & XP Deus
Primary Interest:
Other
Hey man, excellent hunt! Those brass nails are fing amazing! Those round balls with attached sprus are really cool, and the sinkers too.

Too cool!!!
 

Carolina Tom

Gold Member
Apr 4, 2014
10,059
17,064
Charlotte
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
XP Deus V3.2 9" & 11" Coils, AT Pro, ProPointer AT, Lesche 55, 75 & 80LT
Primary Interest:
Other
Congrats on the new spot Jon. I can hardly wait to see what shows up next.

Best of luck sir!
 

DirtStalker

Bronze Member
Sep 26, 2014
2,246
3,336
Upstate SC
🥇 Banner finds
3
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
4
Detector(s) used
Deus
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Looks like you're on another Great spot Jon. I can see the baby coons making their way to it now. Better be on the lookout.
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top