An example of moldboard plowing results in an obit

[dognose]

Some of the younger relic hunters and collectors may not of experienced the results of moldboard plowing and how this method of plowing can impact finds.

Today with no-till and such, finds for most are dramatically less than possible with moldboard plowing even today. Of course we would not have identical results to one hundred or 50 years ago. But still a dramatic difference in my opinion.

The obituary states:
"Ray once found 4 or 5 Cherokee animal effigy elbow steatite pipes in one day surface collecting at one of the Overhills Cherokee village sites on the Little Tennessee River in Monroe County, Tennessee."

This is from the obituary of F.M. (Ray) Snyder
https://csasi.org/obituaries.htm#fm_ray_snyder

 

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[flinthunter]

I feel sorry for the field hunters that hunt todays no-till fields. Most will not get to experience the thrill of hunting a fall plowed field the spring after plowing. 5 to 6 inch blades were not common but were not impossible to find. I've got an almost 5 inch unbroken Thebes drill that came from a field that had been moldboard plowed for at least 80 years, a 10 1/4 inch knife in two pieces, and dad had several 6 inch plus Dovetails from plowed fields.

 

[dognose]

I agree with you.

Believe it or not, there were so few arrowhead relic hunters in my area, back in the early 80's that I would wait until these deep plowed sites where smooth as glass.

The points you could see from a distance, sometimes standing straight out of the damp mud, glistening in the light.

The sites produced year around when deep plowed, even in the summer months we could hunt the rises where the heat kept the crops low.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

So true, I hunted fields and the first rains after a plow were really productive. While hunting a field one day a man stopped to talk, he asked me if I ever hunted creeks and streams, I told him not really very much, just the fields beside. He said his hunting partner had moved, and he had health issues and needed someone with him incase something happened, said if I met up with him he would teach me.

Once I learned the tricks of hunting creeks and streams it became my primary style because I found so many more whole points and artifacts. My best day in a creek was 41 whole points after a heavy rain and it had drained. I even moditified a 5 gal bucket adding a waterproof plexiglass bottom, it make seeing easier under water in the deeper holes of a creek or stream.

 

[fishstick]

The good ol' days!!!! It was the lack of plowing that got me into swingin, it filled the void so to speak. but I've always said if they would go back to moldboarding I'd throw my detectors away lol. Rock pickin has always and will always be my main luv!!!!!!

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

The good ol' days!!!! It was the lack of plowing that got me into swingin, it filled the void so to speak. but I've always said if they would go back to moldboarding I'd throw my detectors away lol. Rock pickin has always and will always be my main luv!!!!!!

The biggest think I hated about moving away from Missouri was the artifact hunting.

 

[fishstick]

I believe it, you were in a hot spot for sure!!! I was always amazed at the stuff y'all pulled from the water, we were not as blessed here for it. Maybe certain areas but for the majority not so much.

 

[Peyton Manning]

I’ve never tried streams, but it sounds fun
Now I wonder about the legalities

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I’ve never tried streams, but it sounds fun
Now I wonder about the legalities

On some I had owners permission and he owned the land on both sides of the creek. A few of the streams were navigable so I didn't need owner's permission on those as long as I stayed in the stream and entered and exited from public access or private land with permission.

Different states have different laws on rivers, creeks and streams.

 

[Peyton Manning]

Think I’ll look into it.
August in Indy is dry so they ought to be at their lowest

 

[robertk]

Once I learned the tricks of hunting creeks and streams it became my primary style

What are some of those tricks for stream hunting? I've found plenty of points (or partial points) in plowed fields, but almost never find anything in the streams near them. (And I've spent plenty of time time fishing said streams.)

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

What are some of those tricks for stream hunting? I've found plenty of points (or partial points) in plowed fields, but almost never find anything in the streams near them. (And I've spent plenty of time time fishing said streams.)

Hello Robertk, the ones I hunted were mostly stone bottom, besides just looking at the bottom as you walk you look for anything that obstructs the current or flow of water downstream, looking closely around objects that block the current or objects that have fallen in the water and blocked the flow of water, things like fallen trees, broken branches, flat rocks, and heavy weeds, I found many points on the down current side of the debris blocks when the points went over the obstruction they fell out of the water current and stayed there after heavy rains.

Tiny waterfalls where land changes elevation were very good sometimes, the water over the centuries made holes in the stone at the bottom of the falls, and I would find points in these holes where they had fallen and were out of the current.

Some of the creeks and streams I hunted were 20 feet wide and others were 3 feet wide, and all the ones I hunted were stone bottom so they were easier to find the points than in mud and dirt. I did hunt rivers and large streams and there you hunt the sand bars, the downstream current technique still applied.

In Missouri, the Natives camped along or close to the creeks and streams that were spring fed and had windbreaks. Missouri has a lot of hills and small cliffs from the creeks and streams that empty into the Missouri River where I was.

A 100' hill on the north side and or east side of a camp blocked the hard winter winds and if there was a spring-fed waterway they had water that took longer to freeze solid because it is moving. It was these type of locations I concentrated on hunting.

I had one location that was a small valley that had a creek and a stream merging and there were cliffs on the north and west side and lots of natural woods. There were also large sections of chert in the small cliffs so lot of tool material. I found lots of points both in the water and in the fields in the valley when plowed as it was a perfect location for winter camp. When the valley flooded a few times we found lots of artifacts.

 

[scruggs]

Good articles from each of you! I learned some things! Thanks to all!

 

[Oldrvrrat57]

I also started MDing when the farmers started the no till method!! One of my fondest memories was when I walked upon 5 Daltons that had been plowed up! the smallest was 4 " and the largest 6 and a half all in perfect condition . Also recovered a 6 and 3/4 Clovis from a freshly plowed field here in Illinois! I would walk all day long looking for relics and my best days was 35 points !!

 

[fishstick]

I also started MDing when the farmers started the no till method!! One of my fondest memories was when I walked upon 5 Daltons that had been plowed up! the smallest was 4 " and the largest 6 and a half all in perfect condition . Also recovered a 6 and 3/4 Clovis from a freshly plowed field here in Illinois! I would walk all day long looking for relics and my best days was 35 points !!

Dream hunts right there!!!!!

 

[fishstick]

Hello Robertk, the ones I hunted were mostly stone bottom, besides just looking at the bottom as you walk you look for anything that obstructs the current or flow of water downstream, looking closely around objects that block the current or objects that have fallen in the water and blocked the flow of water, things like fallen trees, broken branches, flat rocks, and heavy weeds, I found many points on the down current side of the debris blocks when the points went over the obstruction they fell out of the water current and stayed there after heavy rains.

Tiny waterfalls where land changes elevation were very good sometimes, the water over the centuries made holes in the stone at the bottom of the falls, and I would find points in these holes where they had fallen and were out of the current.

Some of the creeks and streams I hunted were 20 feet wide and others were 3 feet wide, and all the ones I hunted were stone bottom so they were easier to find the points than in mud and dirt. I did hunt rivers and large streams and there you hunt the sand bars, the downstream current technique still applied.

In Missouri, the Natives camped along or close to the creeks and streams that were spring fed and had windbreaks. Missouri has a lot of hills and small cliffs from the creeks and streams that empty into the Missouri River where I was.

A 100' hill on the north side and or east side of a camp blocked the hard winter winds and if there was a spring-fed waterway they had water that took longer to freeze solid because it is moving. It was these type of locations I concentrated on hunting.

I had one location that was a small valley that had a creek and a stream merging and there were cliffs on the north and west side and lots of natural woods. There were also large sections of chert in the small cliffs so lot of tool material. I found lots of points both in the water and in the fields in the valley when plowed as it was a perfect location for winter camp. When the valley flooded a few times we found lots of artifacts.

That's some great info TH!!!!! Most people don't know that they had summer camps and winter camps.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I also started MDing when the farmers started the no till method!! One of my fondest memories was when I walked upon 5 Daltons that had been plowed up! the smallest was 4 " and the largest 6 and a half all in perfect condition . Also recovered a 6 and 3/4 Clovis from a freshly plowed field here in Illinois! I would walk all day long looking for relics and my best days was 35 points !!

Some great finds there.

On days it would rain I could hardly wait to get to my favorite fields.

Since you hunted fields you know what I mean when I say the chert would sparkle in the fields from being wet, I would find points where they were sitting on small pedestal of dirt where the dirt had washed away around the point leaving it sitting on top.

My job required I drive my fiber route daily which for about 50 miles of it was down county roads in rural areas with farm fields and wooded areas.

I always planned my lunch to be at a field I could hunt, and many times I would also stop and hunt on the way home from work.

 

[Tnmountains]

The reason I went to creek and water was because they quit doing a deep till. I have one guy that still ploughs but cant get permission on the site. It is a good one and would find at leat ten wholes and lots of brokes. He is afraid if someones sees me walking it others will ask.
The old timers really racked up when the would plow out shell mounds and temple mounds.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

That's some great info TH!!!!! Most people don't know that they had summer camps and winter camps.

LoL, I thought everyone knew. Due to sanitation issues, food sources and constant threat of hard winters, they had to change camps.

I didn't find it, but I remember one year in early 1990s a hunter found a full petrified Buffalo skull uncoverd when the Missouri river jumped the banks and flooded the fields. Just recently someone found stone skulls in Kansas City area.

 

[fishstick]

LoL, I thought everyone knew. Due to sanitation issues, food sources and constant threat of hard winters, they had to change camps.

I didn't find it, but I remember one year in early 1990s a hunter found a full petrified Buffalo skull uncoverd when the Missouri river jumped the banks and flooded the fields. Just recently someone found stone skulls in Kansas City area.

Believe it or not no they don't even think about it. Where I'm at there wasn't heavy population camps, small groups so to speak. They might move only a mile or so just because the lay of the land was better for which ever season it was. No big Ft. Ancient site around me, have to go towards Cincy or down to the Ohio river for those.