Bill D. (VA)
Silver Member
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2008
- Messages
- 4,711
- Reaction score
- 6,212
- Golden Thread
- 6
- Location
- SE Virginia
- 🥇 Banner finds
- 6
- 🏆 Honorable Mentions:
- 2
- Detector(s) used
- F75 SE (land); CZ-21 (saltwater)
- Primary Interest:
- Other
After having some difficulty securing permission to hunt this site 2 weeks ago, I again went to visit the owner who had promised to call me but didn't. The reception was a little cool, and she was not too interested in the finds I brought her, so things were not looking too good at that point. But after finding 2 cut silvers and other early artifacts during the first hunt I was determined to not accept no for an answer. Eventually I was able to twist her arm and have her agree to let me hunt that day (yesterday). Since the weather was warm, and not being sure if this would be my last hunt at the site, I pounded the place hard for 6+ hours. I started out where I left off the previous time, but the finds were rather paltry. Then a slight rise about a 100 yards behind the iron patch caught my attention. As I neared that area I started seeing a few brick frags and hearing an increasing amount of iron. Soon I was pulling out a couple of buttons, and shortly after I got a nice high toned signal that I thought might have a chance to be a copper. But I was floored when I saw a huge silver coin laying on top of the dirt after I flipped it out of the hole. Turned out to be a 1782 two reale in great shape. At that point I slowed down even further and began to dig button after button. As I proceeded to grid the area the buttons seemed to be getting older. First they transitioned to tombacs, then to some pre-1700 buttons. While in that area I investigated a deep iron signal as I always do, and recovered a large portion of an early iron pot with all 3 legs intact. It came from over 2 feet down. Later I decided to hit a sloped area near the initial iron patch I hit on the first hunt, and ran into a large area of what I like to call "machine gun" iron. The ground in that area was also chock-full of oyster shells making it very difficult to get any penetration with the shovel. I made a few more recoveries here including a nice 1694 W&M copper. I also dug this cool looking large brass piece with a cherub face along with other designs. This could be from a 17th century sword guard or possibly a harness mount. I also recovered a nice early navy button with a treble gilt backmark. Just before leaving I ventured across the adjacent dirt lane and discovered the heavy iron and shells extended well into the next field. But it was getting late and I was exhausted, especially since this was my 5th consecutive day of digging. More posts to follow about those adventures. Anyway, there seems to be plenty of other promising spots on this site, but not sure if I'll get the opportunity to return unless I can come up with a new angle to help convince the owner to let me do some more digging there. At least it was fun while it lasted.
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I wish you continued success at that spot. Sounds like a touchy situation. Perhaps she would like a custom made Modern Miner "Relic Retreat" birdhouse? 
