am i in a good spot?

[mark1982]

I am new to metal detecting i started about a year ago and i am in a seasonal climate so i have really only got out about 15 times or so. I have been to a beach, a couple parks, and recently in the woods behind my house. I looked at some old maps of my area and realized the woods right behind my house was farm land back as early as the 1790s. I was able to to also look up how old a particular house was that i noticed has a stone foundation, a huge chimney in the center of the house, and another foundation right next to the house that is filled in with weeds. It says it was there in 1793 and the one next to it was built in 1890. These houses border the woods where i have been detecting. I have been finding the normal shot gun shells and bullets, but i also have been finding a large amount of very old nails. They have square head are not made like todays nails. There is also a lot of old stone walls and wood fencing scattered threw out the area. The one bad thing is there are some dirt bike trails around and there are a lot of beer cans and garbage. I know a lot of you guys find a ton of garbage between coins, and the good stuff. My question is do these types of places tend to pay off eventually? I have spent about 30 hours detecting there so far and found nothing of any significance. However i am finding and seeing stuff that suggests the area is old. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

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[ScubaFinder]

Sounds like a good area to me Mark! Look for anything that might have been an old cellar (rectangular depression in the ground). There are also likely some old bottle and trash dumps which could prove very interesting based on the dates you give. Think if you lived there, where would you put your trash? Things like prevailing wind direction, slope (usually downhill and downwind from the house) and other factors can help you locate it. I think your chances of finding something really interesting there are very good. Plus with all the trash around, you can be sure no-one else has already detected the area.

Good luck, and keep us posted.....go find that cellar pit!

Jason

 

[TerryC]

Old trash dumps are usually downwind and lower in elevation than the house. Lower to keep the "bad thingies" from getting into the wellwater. If you find the dump, DIG, DIG, DIG! Much of the treasure is not metallic! You MUST wear good, stout gloves. TTC

 

[bazinga]

So what I am getting from your post is that you are detecting an area that has just been farm land and you are not detecting in the actual yards of the old houses?

If you have spent 30 hours there and not found anything significant, I think that's your answer right there. I would move on. I would have moved on 20 hours ago.

 

[mark1982]

thanks for the replys. I have not detected the yards , but i am in the process of getting permision to do so. The owner is out of town and i was told to check back in a week or so. I really hope they dont mind. After getting a good look at the property there are 3 old barns all with stone foundations plus the foundation from the home that was built in 1890 on the property. The yard is about 2 acres of flat ground. Now im really excited about it. I think it will be a great place to hunt. Ill keep you posted.

 

[deepskyal]

Where the shot guns shells are...people were there. Pop em outta the rifle and don't bother pickin them back up.
I like searchin odd ball locations and dig tons of trash. I think some of the trash is pretty cool. Square nails are a good indicator of an older homesite. You could be where they tossed old lumber and it rotted or maybe there was an old outbuilding in the vicinity. Back in them days they hid money near outbuildings...

It may or may not pay off. One good find can make the whole effort pay off. Kinda like that day at the park finding nothing but zincolns or other common clad, then bam...a gold ring or walking liberty.

I guess it all depends on your quest. Some folks spend weeks looking for that lone copper out in some field or wooded hillside where an old cabin once was.
Just decide whether it's worth while to you. If you're having fun doing it then just go at it. It's not always about the find but the thrill of the hunt.

Al

 

[boris]

good spot?

Where the shot guns shells are...people were there. Pop em outta the rifle and don't bother pickin them back up.
I like searchin odd ball locations and dig tons of trash. I think some of the trash is pretty cool. Square nails are a good indicator of an older homesite. You could be where they tossed old lumber and it rotted or maybe there was an old outbuilding in the vicinity. Back in them days they hid money near outbuildings...

It may or may not pay off. One good find can make the whole effort pay off. Kinda like that day at the park finding nothing but zincolns or other common clad, then bam...a gold ring or walking liberty.

I guess it all depends on your quest. Some folks spend weeks looking for that lone copper out in some field or wooded hillside where an old cabin once was.
Just decide whether it's worth while to you. If you're having fun doing it then just go at it. It's not always about the find but the thrill of the hunt.

Al

 

[boris]

The nails should be removed and saved elsewhere, then keep using the all metal mode and coins will follow. great site!

 

[johnedoe]

Sounds like you have plenty of possibilities ahead of you.....

 

[luvsdux]

I don't mean this to be taken as a smart a** reply, but generally when the question "is this a good spot" is asked I often think - why don't you try it and find out. You're on the location, I'm not. That said, once it became clear that you hadn't yet hunted near or on the house sites I'd definitely say go for it and give it an honest effort. You'll never know until you give it a shot.
luvsdux