2nd trip to new site produces BOATLOAD of early colonial artifacts and coins!!!

[Bill D. (VA)]

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.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Upgraded Night Vision Monocular Digital Infrared Monocular Telescope for 100% Darkness with 8X Zoom - Grab it through Amazon!

[chiloquin]

Love the large silver, but the WM copper is awesome! Hope you get to get back in there.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector, Waterproof Gold Detector, Pinpoint & Terrain Modes, Professional Metal Detector - Grab it through Amazon!

[70monte68]

Bill, what a day. Love all the buttons. Looking forward to viewing some more

Don

 

[bofusmosby]

-Bill D.

Here's a suggestion you might try, that has worked for me over the years. You say the property owner isn't interested in "cash" to hunt her site. She is also a well-to-do person in the community. Many time, a person like this might want a different kind of recognition. What I have done in the past is this. Yes, you gave her some of the artifacts, BUT, did you present them to her in a VERY nice display can, done in a professional manner? By doing this, she would be able to donate this display to a local museum, and have HER name attached to it. Having the artifacts in a nice display case MIGHT make all the difference in the world. The property owner would then have her name attached to a very nice display in a museum, and then she might be willing to allow you to continue top hunt, hoping that she will be getting other display cases to donate, thus making her dotation that much more impressive. Consider this an investment on your part. By what you have already found, the sky is the limit as to what else might be out there. If the property owner accepts the display, and STILL does not allow you to hunt again, well, at least you tried. You can always stay away for the year, and return next year, hoping that her refusal of you hunting any more might have softened a bit. Especially if she donates the display to a museum, and she get quite a bit of good feed-back on it. Hey, just an idea.

I did this once, and the property owner was so thrilled, he called the local newspaper to have them write a story on his site. He then proudly donated his display to a local museum, and allowed a large group on his property to continue our digging. I have given a number of display cases full of artifacts to property owners over the years, and more times than not, it has worked.

 

[bofusmosby]

-Bill D. Here's a suggestion you might try, that has worked for me over the years. You say the property owner isn't interested in "cash" to hunt her site. She is also a well-to-do person in the community. Many time, a person like this might want a different kind of recognition. What I have done in the past is this. Yes, you gave her some of the artifacts, BUT, did you present them to her in a VERY nice display can, done in a professional manner? By doing this, she would be able to donate this display to a local museum, and have HER name attached to it. Having the artifacts in a nice display case MIGHT make all the difference in the world. The property owner would then have her name attached to a very nice display in a museum, and then she might be willing to allow you to continue top hunt, hoping that she will be getting other display cases to donate, thus making her dotation that much more impressive. Consider this an investment on your part. By what you have already found, the sky is the limit as to what else might be out there. If the property owner accepts the display, and STILL does not allow you to hunt again, well, at least you tried. You can always stay away for the year, and return next year, hoping that her refusal of you hunting any more might have softened a bit. Especially if she donates the display to a museum, and she get quite a bit of good feed-back on it. Hey, just an idea. I did this once, and the property owner was so thrilled, he called the local newspaper to have them write a story on his site. He then proudly donated his display to a local museum, and allowed a large group on his property to continue our digging. I have given a number of display cases full of artifacts to property owners over the years, and more times than not, it has worked.

 

[Threshold]

Nice finds! Well done.

 

[Rookster]

That's what I'm talking about. Gooood finds.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

-Bill D. Here's a suggestion you might try, that has worked for me over the years. You say the property owner isn't interested in "cash" to hunt her site. She is also a well-to-do person in the community. Many time, a person like this might want a different kind of recognition. What I have done in the past is this. Yes, you gave her some of the artifacts, BUT, did you present them to her in a VERY nice display can, done in a professional manner? By doing this, she would be able to donate this display to a local museum, and have HER name attached to it. Having the artifacts in a nice display case MIGHT make all the difference in the world. The property owner would then have her name attached to a very nice display in a museum, and then she might be willing to allow you to continue top hunt, hoping that she will be getting other display cases to donate, thus making her dotation that much more impressive. Consider this an investment on your part. By what you have already found, the sky is the limit as to what else might be out there. If the property owner accepts the display, and STILL does not allow you to hunt again, well, at least you tried. You can always stay away for the year, and return next year, hoping that her refusal of you hunting any more might have softened a bit. Especially if she donates the display to a museum, and she get quite a bit of good feed-back on it. Hey, just an idea. I did this once, and the property owner was so thrilled, he called the local newspaper to have them write a story on his site. He then proudly donated his display to a local museum, and allowed a large group on his property to continue our digging. I have given a number of display cases full of artifacts to property owners over the years, and more times than not, it has worked.

Jim - I did present the finds in a nice display case as I often do for property owners. Sometimes I even go to the extra expense of using those really nice wooden display cases you can buy online. But again, she's not interested in money and apparently not in the historical artifacts from her property either. The museum option is a possibility, though. She told me they had a large box of early pottery and glass the family had collected from along the shoreline there for many years, and all that was donated to the local museum where it's on display now. Maybe offering to donate artifacts to the museum would be something that she might be interested in. I may try that course of action later this week after the weather improves. Thanks for your input ..... Bill

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Great finds Bill, that 2R is a real bute. Hope you can get another chance on that site, with that many artifacts coming up there just has to be a boat load more of them there and who knows maybe another 2R coin.
I would butter her up by just dropping her a simple thankyou note in the mail.
ZDD

 

[goldnugget]

All I can say is fantastic Finds. Also Congradulation on your Digging method,it was Nice and Round in the Dirt. Wish we had places like that in North Carolina.goldnugget

 

[joeyfresh]

All I can say is fantastic Finds. Also Congradulation on your Digging method,it was Nice and Round in the Dirt. Wish we had places like that in North Carolina.goldnugget

You have plenty of 18th century sites in North Carolina even quite a few 17th century settlements.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Well done Bill! You killed it my friend, you never know how the those types of landowners will play out. I have a few like that. One thing for sure is I do not show up often and I always hunt them alone. Congrats, in a big way! HH!

I totally agree Wes. With a site like this its tempting to want to go back 2-3 times a week or more, but you need to show some patience, especially where the permission is on the iffy side as I'm dealing with. The best situation is to have several sites going at once, and just visit each of them once a week. Besides, if an owner sees you digging every day they might get a bit suspicious and start questioning what you're finding. No need to take any chances that might result in permission getting revoked.

 

[The Rebel]

Good Gawd Man! That's a treasure trove of history right there! I hope she lets you come back. Those things need to be saved from the long dirt nap.

 

[hostagedk]

Wow very nice finds! I'm jealous! Hope you get to go back there as well sometime again i'm pretty sure there's more there hiding away waiting to be found.

 

[acepro]

great finds neat to find those real early peices!

 

[CASPER-2]

Wish I could have joined you

 

[doc-d]

Awesome finds and you did a great job of working with the woman…..
Vaya con Dios

 

[Stripeythecrab]

Holy cow! This is a dream hunt! Definitely a two thumbs up! And way to be persistent at getting permission to dig!

 

[fyrffytr1]

The owner might also be concerned that the word will get out and she will be over run with people knocking on her door hoping to hunt. I would assure her that no one other than yourself will be on her property and then only if she allows you to be there.

 

[Tnmountains]

Speechless. Amazing hunt. The title was correct. Boatload. Well done sir!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

The owner might also be concerned that the word will get out and she will be over run with people knocking on her door hoping to hunt. I would assure her that no one other than yourself will be on her property and then only if she allows you to be there.

That was pretty much the understanding we had, although I really don't have standing permission to come back. I need to go by and talk to her each time I want to hit the field, and hope that she'll give me the OK. But it seems to be getting more and more dicey with each visit (only 2 so far), but I'm going to give it another try later this week after the weather clears. I have her phone number too, but I prefer to talk to her in person as its way too easy to tell someone NO over the phone.