Skadar
Tenderfoot
You've Found an Awesome Location... Where Do You Start?
Okay guys... I've come across a wonderful location that appears to be pretty much untouched. The problem is that I don't know how to maximize my time. I have no idea where to start. I'll describe it to you as best as I can.
It is a rather large 1-2 acre site in New England heavily wooded, boulder-strewn, hilly terrain about 200 yards from a lake. There are stone walls 2-3 feet high and wide going all over the place. Some of them curve around and enclose upon themselves. There are about 4 or 5 obvious structure stone foundations... all of different sizes.. with no clear indication as to their purpose. A few of them have clear entrances in the stone walls. A couple of the stone foundations actually incorporate giant boulders as part of their walls. Looking from the lake, behind the site is a small ridge that drops off rapidly to a stream and rock and boulder-strewn, swampish lowland. Some of the foundations have trees growing in them. The smaller ones are FILLED with forest debris and stones... probably at least 2 feet thick until you reach dirt. One of the small "rooms" has earth built up around the outside of the walls. There are a number of large trees, but none that appear to be upwards of 200 years old.
I made my first visit to the site yesterday and spent about 2 hours fending off mosquitoes and searching randomly. I ended up finding two coins that were very badly corroded... just barely identifiable: 1909 Liberty V Nickel and a Large Cent (possibly 1810).
I'm thinking of bringing a small rake with me next time I go to clean out one of the smaller foundations before attempting to search it. How should I go about effectively searching it?
If I place myself in the shoes of the one-time land owner, there are so many potential hiding places for any goodies. With all the huge boulders and walls around, the possibilities are endless. Where would YOU concentrate your search?
Thanks for any help. Oh, and I'm going to visit the local historical society to see if I can uncover the history of this site.
p.s. I should also mention that I'm using a Bounty Hunter Land Star with 8" and 4" coils. I'll most likely be using the 4" exclusively as there is so much litter that it's really difficult to swing the 8 incher.
Okay guys... I've come across a wonderful location that appears to be pretty much untouched. The problem is that I don't know how to maximize my time. I have no idea where to start. I'll describe it to you as best as I can.
It is a rather large 1-2 acre site in New England heavily wooded, boulder-strewn, hilly terrain about 200 yards from a lake. There are stone walls 2-3 feet high and wide going all over the place. Some of them curve around and enclose upon themselves. There are about 4 or 5 obvious structure stone foundations... all of different sizes.. with no clear indication as to their purpose. A few of them have clear entrances in the stone walls. A couple of the stone foundations actually incorporate giant boulders as part of their walls. Looking from the lake, behind the site is a small ridge that drops off rapidly to a stream and rock and boulder-strewn, swampish lowland. Some of the foundations have trees growing in them. The smaller ones are FILLED with forest debris and stones... probably at least 2 feet thick until you reach dirt. One of the small "rooms" has earth built up around the outside of the walls. There are a number of large trees, but none that appear to be upwards of 200 years old.
I made my first visit to the site yesterday and spent about 2 hours fending off mosquitoes and searching randomly. I ended up finding two coins that were very badly corroded... just barely identifiable: 1909 Liberty V Nickel and a Large Cent (possibly 1810).
I'm thinking of bringing a small rake with me next time I go to clean out one of the smaller foundations before attempting to search it. How should I go about effectively searching it?
If I place myself in the shoes of the one-time land owner, there are so many potential hiding places for any goodies. With all the huge boulders and walls around, the possibilities are endless. Where would YOU concentrate your search?
Thanks for any help. Oh, and I'm going to visit the local historical society to see if I can uncover the history of this site.
p.s. I should also mention that I'm using a Bounty Hunter Land Star with 8" and 4" coils. I'll most likely be using the 4" exclusively as there is so much litter that it's really difficult to swing the 8 incher.
I have found some with granite steps in tehm, and they turned out to be just chicken pens and such. Those are some great finds! I would dig down a few feet in the cellar holes, and detect alll the dirt in em, also look for square deppressions around the cellar holes as those could mean a privy or outhouse. Remember, they had to have dumped all their bottles and such somewhere close. What state are you in? Im in Mass.
Let us know what else you find and I cant wait to see the pics 
