I know exactly what you're talking about CP. I've hunted a few sites like that where the iron is spread out over a huge area (quite a few acres) with concentrations where structures once stood. In between the major iron patches there are plenty of finds to be made without much difficulty, but once you get into the "machine gun" iron as I like to call it you're talking about a whole new ball game. No matter what detector you use, coil size, settings, etc, you just can't pick out many of the targets in the ridiculous iron. A good tutorial by Tom Dankowski showing how you can slowly get to the relics by peeling off shallow layers is linked below. This is probably the technique you'll need to employ at your site, or something similar. But, of course, a bobcat would be a much better alternative.
The Painful Truth by: Thomas Dankowski
The more I think about it, I'm beginning to believe your site was just a busy, early plantation instead of an inn or tavern. The multiple structures and vast iron field doesn't lend itself well to the inn/tavern senario. Dan and I have encountered 2 such sites in the last couple of years that also dated to the 1600s, but most of the activity at both sites came a little later in the 18th century. We pulled about 20 pieces of colonial silver from each, mostly cut pieces but a few cobs and hammered Lizzies were also recovered. But unlike yours, each of these sites also produced hundreds of buttons and had multiple trash pits. We also discovered multiple brick foundations at both sites. We still haven't completely finished hunting them, but the initial excitement like you're experiencing now has worn off. Our main objective from here on is to finish excavating the pits, but winter wheat has kept us out of both this season.
You are very fortunate to not only have a great site, but an owner/farmer who does not object to you digging the heck out of the place. I just hope you have time to hit it hard before the door closes on you in the next few weeks. But regardless, you'll have an awesome site to come back to for the foreseeable future. Good luck to you guys!!
