Back to the Isaac Cambell Knapsack Field... another British Badge!

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I went back to the field for 3hrs yesterday where I've been finding the Isaac Campbell Knapsack Loops and wasn't disappointed! Although I sure would've liked to have dug something other than knapsack loops and a solitary British Military badge. The ground was frozen at least 2 - 3" and the temp was 28F with a strong wind, so I ended up carrying a lot of frozen clumps of dirt home with me. I was getting a solid hits at 80 - 81 every 20 - 30 feet and each time it was another knapsack loop. The loops was all I was finding until I finally got a 91 - 92 on the surface and out popped my 5th British Military badge found at this site!

It's a bit bent... ok it's a lot bent but I'll still take it! It's not as heavily constructed as the other badges that I've found here, it also has the remains of a small brass wire in the back. This is what makes me think it was possibly part of a knapsack.

A good friend suggested that someone my have been 'recycling / reusing' British Military Knapsacks here in the 19thc. This would certainly explain the large amount of 'loops'. I found 20+ yesterday and over 40 for the site... but no hooks, why have I not found any hooks? I ventured into the heavy growth at the side of the field where I was detecting and took pics of some unusual stone foundations. I think it may have been a barn and a house at some point, it's definitely as old as the house to the west of here on the hill. I plan on getting back again on Sunday morning, depending on how frozen the ground it of course!

Thanks for looking,
Dave

 

[CRUSADER]

Maybe they had a use for the hooks, but not sure why they would chuck the rest??

Another nice badge, I assume its still horse related.

 

[pepperj]

Another successful hunt Dave, and that's a crazy amount of hooks found in one day, brass pull tabs they are.

Congrats on #5 a little battered but still a keeper for sure.

Another theory regarding the hooks and why the high number of them at this one site. It could be a part of a military surplus dump. Why I state this? Well many years ago a dude came into the scrap yard and sold 45 pounds of military badges all covered in dirt that had been dug up someplace. I bought them for scrap brass and placed it off to the side forgetting about them.
It has been one of the worse kept secrets that the military dumped large amounts of surplus and buried it all. It was stated to me that the dug scrap badges would of came out of a restricted area, and this made sense at the time.

Lots of hidden history in and around the area, was your site a dumping ground, bought surplus, or the reuse of a discontinued item? What ever it is Dave you are uncovering history and amassing a great display as you've shown us in the picture.

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

Congrats on # 5 Dave . You sure are getting your share of quality time .

 

[Ahab8]

Ok buddy I'm not looking at your posts anymore. I already know what it's gonna be lol. Great job buddy!

 

[worldtalker]

Congrats on # 5 Dave . You sure are getting your share of quality time .

I'd say not for much longer by the looks of that frozen clod!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Maybe they had a use for the hooks, but not sure why they would chuck the rest??

Another nice badge, I assume its still horse related.

Thanks for your post and thoughts Cru, I would assume either horse or because this piece is so thin maybe knapsack related. Pepperj suggested this might have simply been a military trash dump of some sort, but I don't think this is the case. I found the 'loops' and the 'badges' spread over an area of approx. 1000' x 200'. Two of the 'badges' were found in the backyard grass, the other two were in the field a large distance apart from each other. I found 3 of the 'loops' in the backyard grass area where I found the 'badges' and the remainder were in the field, spread over a large area. These 20+ loops I found I found within a 100' x 100' area in the field near the stone foundations.

Best of luck to you and your Dad this weekend,
Dave

Another successful hunt Dave, and that's a crazy amount of hooks found in one day, brass pull tabs they are.

Congrats on #5 a little battered but still a keeper for sure.

Another theory regarding the hooks and why the high number of them at this one site. It could be a part of a military surplus dump. Why I state this? Well many years ago a dude came into the scrap yard and sold 45 pounds of military badges all covered in dirt that had been dug up someplace. I bought them for scrap brass and placed it off to the side forgetting about them.
It has been one of the worse kept secrets that the military dumped large amounts of surplus and buried it all. It was stated to me that the dug scrap badges would of came out of a restricted area, and this made sense at the time.

Lots of hidden history in and around the area, was your site a dumping ground, bought surplus, or the reuse of a discontinued item? What ever it is Dave you are uncovering history and amassing a great display as you've shown us in the picture.

This is a interesting theory about it being a 'military surplus dump' Jim. Of course, the 'topography' of this site has likely changed considerably since these pieces were dis-guarded here.
Do you remember how old the "45 pounds of military badges" might have been, I've never heard of "the military dumping large amounts of surplus and burying it" before?
You can see a pic here of the Riker display I recently put together with the 'badges' and a few of the 'loops'!
Dave

Congrats on # 5 Dave . You sure are getting your share of quality time .

Thanks very much for your postdawg!
It sure beats spending time Christmas shopping with my wife!
Dave

Ok buddy I'm not looking at your posts anymore. I already know what it's gonna be lol. Great job buddy!

I am I really getting that predictable Abe?
I'm heading back again on Sunday morning for what will likely be my last hunt of the season.
If the ground is more frozen then what it was on Wednesday, this will certainly be my last hunt.

Take care bud,
Dave
PS. I'll have a pint for you next week at the Sea Dog in Bangor!
We're having our company Christmas party at a place called 'Blaze' just down the road from there.

I'd say not for much longer by the looks of that frozen clod!

I don't mind digging the frozen ground Chris!
The real problem is recovering the find if it's frozen in the top 2" of frozen dirt... if it's below that it's easy!

Hope you're still able to get out some in MA Chris,
Dave

PS. I'm flying to Boston on Monday morning, then driving to Bangor from there.

 

[Iron Patch]

Another on the pile! Maybe there was a military horse stable there.

 

[pepperj]

Originally Posted by pepperj
Another successful hunt Dave, and that's a crazy amount of hooks found in one day, brass pull tabs they are.

Congrats on #5 a little battered but still a keeper for sure.

Another theory regarding the hooks and why the high number of them at this one site. It could be a part of a military surplus dump. Why I state this? Well many years ago a dude came into the scrap yard and sold 45 pounds of military badges all covered in dirt that had been dug up someplace. I bought them for scrap brass and placed it off to the side forgetting about them.
It has been one of the worse kept secrets that the military dumped large amounts of surplus and buried it all. It was stated to me that the dug scrap badges would of came out of a restricted area, and this made sense at the time.

Lots of hidden history in and around the area, was your site a dumping ground, bought surplus, or the reuse of a discontinued item? What ever it is Dave you are uncovering history and amassing a great display as you've shown us in the picture.



This is a interesting theory about it being a 'military surplus dump' Jim. Of course, the 'topography' of this site has likely changed considerably since these pieces were dis-guarded here.
Do you remember how old the "45 pounds of military badges" might have been, I've never heard of "the military dumping large amounts of surplus and burying it" before?

You can see a pic here of the Riker display I recently put together with the 'badges' and a few of the 'loops'!

Dav

I have pictures of the Badge, believe they were from one of the WW1or2 but no earlier. Have to do some hard drive recovery to get the pictures over to this unit.

 

[worldtalker]

I don't mind digging the frozen ground Chris!
The real problem is recovering the find if it's frozen in the top 2" of frozen dirt... if it's below that it's easy!

Hope you're still able to get out some in MA Chris,
Dave

PS. I'm flying to Boston on Monday morning, then driving to Bangor from there.
[/QUOTE]

Plenty of time left...hit a park yesterday,I was totally pooped when I got home..I'll post later today..nice hunt too!

Boston..I drove there once,NEVER again..Crazy drivers!!

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

I don't mind digging the frozen ground Chris!
The real problem is recovering the find if it's frozen in the top 2" of frozen dirt... if it's below that it's easy!


Boston..I drove there once,NEVER again..Crazy drivers!!

Crazy drivers and crazy one way roads.
ZDD

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Well done Davy, what a great looking site. I hope you can get in a few more hunts befor the Big Deep Freeze hits.
Your display looks awesome, congrats.
ZDD

 

[CoilyGirl]

Wow,those are some nice badges!

 

[Old Dude]

Dave, you have found so many of those, I think I would repurpose them as Christmas light hooks!

 

[johnnyblaze]

Jeez dude that is devine intervention right there

Display looks killer

~Blaze~

 

[Pointman]

Ok, you lose your banner nomination. They are not rare anymore

 

[Brian C.]

Awesome finds your are finding, the display looks great.

 

[mikeraydj]

You are killing it! Congrats!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Another on the pile! Maybe there was a military horse stable there.

That could be a possibility?
The area where I was detecting and found the latest batch of loops is very uneven and on a down slope.
But it is directly in front of the stone building foundations.

I have pictures of the Badge, believe they were from one of the WW1or2 but no earlier. Have to do some hard drive recovery to get the pictures over to this unit.

Thanks for the follow up info on the badges Jim!

Plenty of time left...hit a park yesterday,I was totally pooped when I got home..I'll post later today..nice hunt too!

Boston..I drove there once,NEVER again..Crazy drivers!!

Yeah, detecting in the cold is certainly very tiring Chris!
Jumping up and down on my shovel trying to get it through the frozen ground, reminds me of when I was a kid on my pogo stick!
Dave

Crazy drivers and crazy one way roads.
ZDD

It's amazing how many of the older settlement cities are designed like the spokes of a cart wheel!
I love Boston, Quincy Market, The Samuel Adams Brewery and of course Fenway!

Well done Davy, what a great looking site. I hope you can get in a few more hunts before the Big Deep Freeze hits.
Your display looks awesome, congrats.
ZDD

Thanks very much Dave!
I love the Rikers, because you can easily 'update' the display as better finds are made.
Dave

Wow,those are some nice badges!

Thanks for your post CoilyGirl, I never get tired of seeing these beauties pop up!
Best of luck to you,
Dave

Dave, you have found so many of those, I think I would repurpose them as Christmas light hooks!

I like that idea Dave, but I don't think my wife would let me hang them in the livingroom!

Jeez dude that is devine intervention right there

Display looks killer

~Blaze~

Yeah, I really lucked out with this site Johnny, I only wish the soybeans had been harvested earlier!
I'll definitely have to widen my grid pattern in the spring before the ground is replanted, I sure hope he turns it over!
Dave

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

You are killing it! Congrats!

Thanks for your post Mike!
Dave