2nd Hunt/Exploration at new homestead

Don in SJ

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Had a chance to revisit my new site this morning. After a brisk frosty walk I went immediately to the cellarhole area and got my photos taken care of before I started to explore this new place a bit more. I wanted to spend time seeing how big this area is and then by digging even some bad targets see if I could get an idea on occupation times.

The photos came out OK, I only took them around the Cellarhole area, LOL, it is the ONLY area that is not thick underbrush, Holly trees or just overgrown wooded field area.

I was pleasantly surprised the area of heavy iron hits did not extend too much past the clear area around the homestead. There are plenty of iron hits for perhaps one or two acres but they are not that bothersome. It was in the perimeter areas that most of my digging was done.

My concensus of this site so far is a bit baffling, it may be a site that was occupied as early as late 1700's and abandoned and resettled again in the mid 1800's or perhaps it was occupied for almost 100 plus years (1800-1900 era).

So far, the 1723 KGI Halfpenny, a what I think is a late 1700's shoe buckle frame, different from any previous types I have found. Also some Gilt buttons from the early 1800's and some buckles and knicknack, along with 3 rotted Mason Jar lids (no cermamic lining) and a undated kerosene lamp part and the most dateable I think relic I found, looks like a Chiclets advertisement spoon part? (1906+ era).

This weekend, weather permitting, both my oldest son and I will hike to the site for trip #3 and maybe between the two of us we can figure out what happened here long ago.

Best find today was the possible shoe buckle frame. The photo is downsize to show the true size of it by the way.

First photo: Introducing Site 224 to you all, the photo is looking at a small depression that was perhaps an outhouse or storage shed, cellarhole in the background.
Site224.webp

Here is the cellarhole, about 6 foot deep at most and about 15 x 20 feet, with bricks piled to the right side, mostly dirt covered.
The Cellarhole.webp

Looking towards the Catapula Tree (Indian Cigar Tree), it is the only real clear area of the homestead!
Catalpa Tree.webp

This photo shows the jungle of Holly Trees that literally surround this entire cellarhole area.
The SurroundingThickHolly.webp

More of the thick area of young Holly Trees surrounding the site
MoreHollySurroundingCellarhole.webp

Here is another side view shot of the Cellarhole
CellarholeSideView.webp

Almost all homesteads in Southern NJ have either Grapevines or Wisteria vines growing in the former cleared areas. This site no different, not sure what vines these are, but they sure are BIG. :)
Vines.webp

The big indicator a homestead was here -Bricks!
homesteadbrickscellarhole.webp

My only decent find of the day, think it is frame of an 18th Century Shoe buckle
buckle.webp

Here is the buckle cleaned up and showing in actual size.
buckle actual size.webp

My surprise find of the day, what appeared to me at the time to be the top part of a thin gilt covered spoon or fork, it had writing on it and after cleaning it, CHICLETS in some sort of script, I googled and it is similar to early logo (1906 era) of the early chewing gum, so if it is that, perhaps it was an advertisement item???
chiclets.webp

All the finds from the second hunt, minus the half dozen or so shotgun casings. Hopefully this site will eventually pan out as a good one, but it is not easy hunting in any way shape or form.......
Site224Jan15finds.webp

Don
 
Upvote 0
Don in South Jersey said:
good idea on always keeping your eyes peeled to the ground and also not always worry about, "ah, cant be a good coin, too close to the surface" :)

This is SO true! I have also found old coins on the surface that others have dug and lost, or failed to recover due to them being on edge in the excavated dirt! I also keep my eyes peeled for irregularities in the ground, broken glass or pottery, etc. This is especially important in house sites that are situated in plowed fields. In some cases, one can pinpoint the site without even turning on a detector or listening for the "chatter" of iron signals.

I'm excited for you, Don. I hope this site turns out to be a great one. I look fowarard to the "3rd Hunt" post.


-Buckleboy
 
Great post Don! I went through my buckle book and could not find the same buckle however, very similar buckles date around 1720-1760. Good luck with the site and HH, Mike
 
Bavaria Mike said:
Great post Don! I went through my buckle book and could not find the same buckle however, very similar buckles date around 1720-1760. Good luck with the site and HH, Mike

Thanks for looking Mike, I did research and came up empty with any exactly like it, but will just for now be happy with having a "different" variety of the buckle.

Don
 

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