cheffer
Hero Member
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2004
- Messages
- 906
- Reaction score
- 2,644
- Golden Thread
- 2
- Location
- Western Mass
- 🥇 Banner finds
- 2
- Detector(s) used
- XP Deus, Fisher 1275 LTD, Fisher 1265, Fisher 1270, Tesoro Vaquero
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
It all started with a single (and rare) Indian head penny....
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,309474.html
Back in the spring I was looking around for new spots to try, and randomly wandered into the woods near a local lake at the foothill of an old mountain estate here in the Berkshires. After finding this penny here, along the edges of what looked like an old hiking path, I decided to do some research at the town library to learn more about the area.
The library had a lot of information about the estate, and, surprisingly, about the upper sections of the mountain where it stood. It turns out it was a very popular picnic area dating back to the late 19th century. In fact, there were several old photographs on the wall of the library of people gathered on top of this spot.
I went back home and searched the web to find some other photographs of the mountain to get a better idea of what it looked like back then, and found a pretty striking view of the hillside and top...
Striking to me, because I've lived here all my life, and this is what it looks like in present day...
The estate in the first photo burned down back in the 50's, and they rebuilt a monastery almost on the same spot.
Obvious why the mountainside was so popular back then, the views from this summit would have been amazing being all opened up like that. It is so thickly forested now there are only a few vistas through the trees.
So began a five-month hunt of the woods on all sides and elevations of this mountain. Literally, there have been only three times, including yesterday, that I'd been anywhere else. I must have hiked 50 miles around this summit, most of the time bushwacking through thick bramble and growth. Every second worth it!
My research turned up quite a few maps, so I was able to really determine what spots might have the best potential. The photographs in the library also helped, since many of them showed the obvious landmarks, like the lake, below. Here are two side-by-side views of the area I was focusing on (one from 1854, the other a current topo). As you can see, many of the roads around the mountain are as they were back then....
Just a note to my fellow local detectorists: I've removed some of the names from the maps, even though if you're from around here you can figure it out pretty easy. I only did that because some of these sections are privately-owned, and I wasn't able to get permission from two of the four landowners that I asked. Still, you can get to almost all sections of the mountain over public lands, you just have to be willing to do some serious Lewis-and-Clark-type hiking. Lots of ticks too, so be careful.
I spent the morning sorting and photographing most of the stuff I found on the mountain this season, hope you enjoy...
First the silver (hi-ho!)...as you can see, mostly recent coinage, which surprised me. Only one Barber dime, and no Seated (not complaining, just strange IMO), However, I did find a holed reale during one outing.....
What also surprised me was the number of rings I found, including 2 gold rings...
Here are all the buckles...
And the buttons...
And the bottles...
For the most part this soil hates coppers, I was only able to half-identify most of these crusties. The exceptions out front include all three Georges, the oldest 1718 (which I posted back in August, technically outside of my target area, but at the base so I've included).
House parts and other thingies...
And some other varied items...
Finally, coffee and battery money (minus the wheats and IHs), including, shown off to the right, 77 pennies all from one hole...?! Still trying to figure that one out....
All in all, a really great time, worth every minute as I said. Put in the time and it's out there, seek and ye shall find. Season's not quite over, but i think I'll leave this old man alone for a while. I poked my shovel into his head enough for one year.
Thanks for looking, and happy hunting,
Steve
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,309474.html
Back in the spring I was looking around for new spots to try, and randomly wandered into the woods near a local lake at the foothill of an old mountain estate here in the Berkshires. After finding this penny here, along the edges of what looked like an old hiking path, I decided to do some research at the town library to learn more about the area.
The library had a lot of information about the estate, and, surprisingly, about the upper sections of the mountain where it stood. It turns out it was a very popular picnic area dating back to the late 19th century. In fact, there were several old photographs on the wall of the library of people gathered on top of this spot.
I went back home and searched the web to find some other photographs of the mountain to get a better idea of what it looked like back then, and found a pretty striking view of the hillside and top...
Striking to me, because I've lived here all my life, and this is what it looks like in present day...
The estate in the first photo burned down back in the 50's, and they rebuilt a monastery almost on the same spot.
Obvious why the mountainside was so popular back then, the views from this summit would have been amazing being all opened up like that. It is so thickly forested now there are only a few vistas through the trees.
So began a five-month hunt of the woods on all sides and elevations of this mountain. Literally, there have been only three times, including yesterday, that I'd been anywhere else. I must have hiked 50 miles around this summit, most of the time bushwacking through thick bramble and growth. Every second worth it!
My research turned up quite a few maps, so I was able to really determine what spots might have the best potential. The photographs in the library also helped, since many of them showed the obvious landmarks, like the lake, below. Here are two side-by-side views of the area I was focusing on (one from 1854, the other a current topo). As you can see, many of the roads around the mountain are as they were back then....
Just a note to my fellow local detectorists: I've removed some of the names from the maps, even though if you're from around here you can figure it out pretty easy. I only did that because some of these sections are privately-owned, and I wasn't able to get permission from two of the four landowners that I asked. Still, you can get to almost all sections of the mountain over public lands, you just have to be willing to do some serious Lewis-and-Clark-type hiking. Lots of ticks too, so be careful.
I spent the morning sorting and photographing most of the stuff I found on the mountain this season, hope you enjoy...
First the silver (hi-ho!)...as you can see, mostly recent coinage, which surprised me. Only one Barber dime, and no Seated (not complaining, just strange IMO), However, I did find a holed reale during one outing.....
What also surprised me was the number of rings I found, including 2 gold rings...
Here are all the buckles...
And the buttons...
And the bottles...
For the most part this soil hates coppers, I was only able to half-identify most of these crusties. The exceptions out front include all three Georges, the oldest 1718 (which I posted back in August, technically outside of my target area, but at the base so I've included).
House parts and other thingies...
And some other varied items...
Finally, coffee and battery money (minus the wheats and IHs), including, shown off to the right, 77 pennies all from one hole...?! Still trying to figure that one out....
All in all, a really great time, worth every minute as I said. Put in the time and it's out there, seek and ye shall find. Season's not quite over, but i think I'll leave this old man alone for a while. I poked my shovel into his head enough for one year.
Thanks for looking, and happy hunting,
Steve
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