Went back to shell/root island with possum!!

Truth

Gold Member
Apr 13, 2016
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Abita Springs La....Born in New Orleans
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EQUINOX 800
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Well guys I pulled out a 1840 Seated Liberty half dime, Burnside bullet, 1903 V nickel and 2 General Service Buttons out of this only small high ground in this swamp, but the last 3 hunts have been a living hell. The ground is 40% white shells, 40% woven roots and 20% soil but I got some ornate thin brass and lead pieces. Thanks for looking I’m going to bed :)) IMG_2174.jpgIMG_2175.jpgIMG_2176.jpgIMG_2177.jpgIMG_2178.jpgIMG_2179.jpgIMG_2180.jpg
 

Upvote 25
Nice that you got out...Sleep well young TRUTH....lol
 

Night brother, had a great time today, thanks for the invite and congrats on your finds!!! "D"
 

Beautiful ornate piece. That small island of hell must have looked a lot different 150 years ago. Had to have been at least one residence in that part of the swamp, or maybe there wasn't much of a swamp there than.
 

Nice finds Truth and congrats! You really work hard for your' finds. I remember that you wrote that there were graves on the island that were relocated. Who was buried there and relocated? If some folks other than Native Americans were buried there and moved, it is likely that there are still Native Americans buried there. In coastal areas with not a lot of dry and usable land to bury their dead, Native Americans would bury their dead in Shell Mounds. Some Shell Mounds are just Midden Mounds of discarded shells of the mollusks, other sea creatures and even bones and more that they ate. However, many times, Shell Mounds in swampy areas, coastal wetlands and coastal areas below sea level are actually burial sites for Native Americans.
 

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Nice finds Truth and congrats! You really work hard for your' finds. I remember that you wrote that there were graves on the island that were relocated. Who was buried there and relocated? If some folks other than Native Americans were buried there and moved, it is likely that there are still Native Americans buried there. In coastal areas with not a lot of dry and usable land to bury their dead, Native Americans would bury their dead in Shell Mounds. Some Shell Mounds are just Midden Mounds of discarded shells of the mollusks, other sea creatures and even bones and more that they ate. However, many times, Shell Mounds in swampy areas, coastal wetlands and coastal areas below sea level are actually burial sites for Native Americans.

You’re exactly right. LSU did a archaeological dig around a mile away from this spot. Lots of Native American action around these parts.
 

Beautiful ornate piece. That small island of hell must have looked a lot different 150 years ago. Had to have been at least one residence in that part of the swamp, or maybe there wasn't much of a swamp there than.

ECMO,

Truth would know better than I, but from our understanding there was an entire German community (settlement) along the tracks with a train stopping for mail, if memory serves me right. This settlement also had a cemetery which the rail road, after buying up the remaining land and settlement that was left from the lakes ingress which help with the development of the surrounding swamp / marsh area was exhumed and relocated, or so they say. So to answer your question where the lake is currently was probably high and dry back during the time of the settlement...

"D"
 

ECMO,

Truth would know better than I, but from our understanding there was an entire German community (settlement) along the tracks with a train stopping for mail, if memory serves me right. This settlement also had a cemetery which the rail road, after buying up the remaining land and settlement that was left from the lakes ingress which help with the development of the surrounding swamp / marsh area was exhumed and relocated, or so they say. So to answer your question where the lake is currently was probably high and dry back during the time of the settlement...

"D"

While it is quite possible there were some German or other settlers buried on that little high spot, it is quite possible that it was originally a Native American burial site due to the high spot being made up of primarily shells and now grown up brush, bushes, trees, etc., etc.. Don't be surprised if you find some Native American's bones and artifacts if you dig down quite a bit deeper at the location. Also, there could have been some precious metals and other items buried with the Native Americans. On Stock Island just across the channel from Key West, there is a Native American Shell Midden burial site. A friend found half of a round disk there that was made from Silver taken from the Spanish or Pirates that landed or shipwrecked nearby. We went there once to check out a signal under the roots of a tree only to find that a treasure chest had been excavated from under the roots. You could still see the almost square imprint left where someone pulled it out.
 

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ECMO,

Truth would know better than I, but from our understanding there was an entire German community (settlement) along the tracks with a train stopping for mail, if memory serves me right. This settlement also had a cemetery which the rail road, after buying up the remaining land and settlement that was left from the lakes ingress which help with the development of the surrounding swamp / marsh area was exhumed and relocated, or so they say. So to answer your question where the lake is currently was probably high and dry back during the time of the settlement.

To my eyes' those pieces look like casket hardware.....(I thought this before I read your post!) I've worked before locating burials in pioneer cemetery's with unmarked graves and found similar pieces. (Did this for county cemetery boards.)
Nice finds!

Iowa Dale
 

ECMO,

Truth would know better than I, but from our understanding there was an entire German community (settlement) along the tracks with a train stopping for mail, if memory serves me right. This settlement also had a cemetery which the rail road, after buying up the remaining land and settlement that was left from the lakes ingress which help with the development of the surrounding swamp / marsh area was exhumed and relocated, or so they say. So to answer your question where the lake is currently was probably high and dry back during the time of the settlement.

To my eyes' those pieces look like casket hardware.....(I thought this before I read your post!) I've worked before locating burials in pioneer cemetery's with unmarked graves and found similar pieces. (Did this for county cemetery boards.)
Nice finds!

Iowa Dale

I appreciate that Iowa. Possum found a ornate handle I’m gonna have him put up a pic and tell me if you think it might be from a casket?
 

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Here's the ornate handle I found at the shell midden... "D"
 

Hi , Would a casket have an adjustable handle ? Would make lifting the casket awkward . I think the handle is off a 1800's luggage trunk . TP
 

Nice finds, congrats! :occasion14:
 

Very nice hunt. Some nice finds.
 

Nice job Truth. You and Possum are finding some nice relics and coins lately.
 

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