Could these be native american

[RobSFRD]

Found these today buried buried in the little miami river in Ohio, at site which was a camping area for armies in the late1700's and early 1800's. I thought they were lead, but ringing up right on 80-81 on my AT Pro and a lead sinker rings in the 50's. any chance they could be silver, the Shawnees lived in this area and had a silver mine. Appear to be some type of fishing weight with the holes bored in them.

 

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[GatorBoy]

I'm not sure what they are but if they were solid silver they would be above 90 for sure.
The tall one really looks like lead.
It looks like they were water finds..any chance the mineral content in the bottom left a patina that is conductive?

 

[RobSFRD]

They were water finds, buried about 6" in the ricer bed

 

[GatorBoy]

Alot of my water found lead has a crumbly black sandstone like corrosion on it when I first pull it from the bottom..I think I see some of it on the flat piece still.
Try scratching a small spot on the edge..is it soft? It will scratch easy and shine if its lead.

 

[RobSFRD]

It does shine when scratched. If lead, would they have been used by native Americans or possibly white people?

 

[GatorBoy]

Going by the history you described of the site I would guess European and not Native American..they are interesting.
Have you found any native American artifacts there before?

 

[RobSFRD]

First time searching that river. I was researching hoping to find old coins there.

 

[GatorBoy]

I bet they are there.
It sounds just like a spot I hunt.
Good luck with the detecting and also figuring out just what those are...they could very well be old fishing weights.

 

[RobSFRD]

Thanks for your help!

 

[GatorBoy]

Be prepared to find "cookie" coins in that water. Crust on both sides..coin in the middle.
Your welcome

 

[larson1951]

I bet they are there.
It sounds just like a spot I hunt.
Good luck with the detecting and also figuring out just what those are...they could very well be old fishing weights.

my knowledge of that area of the world is very limited.....almost zero

thing is i was thinking old sinkers also gator man

i wanna take you and ben walleye fishing someday (when we get old) lol

 

[GatorBoy]

I would LOVE IT Steve!

 

[Backbacon]

Bring the 2 items to a local Pawn Shop and get them tested for free.

 

[GatorBoy]

Yeah..or you could do a simple acid test at home.
Muriatic acid does not react with silver..so you could rub on a stone or put a drop right on the item and if it makes the rub disappear or bubbles on the item its not silver.

 

[GatorBoy]

We are getting pretty far out of Native American artifacts here but..
Just for example.. I used 50/50 acid and water to clean this Spanish reales.

 

[gunsil]

Yeah..or you could do a simple acid test at home.
Muriatic acid does not react with silver..so you could rub on a stone or put a drop right on the item and if it makes the rub disappear or bubbles on the item its not silver.

Lead also doesn't react to muriatic acid, so it's not a very useful test, at least in this case. Tin and pewter will also be easily scratched and shine at the scratch, not much of a test either, but naturally silver will not scratch with a fingernail while lead, pewter, and tin will. Wheel weights which are often cast into fishing or duck decoy weights contain a bit of antimony, will scratch easily, and not always ring up as close to pure lead. Same goes for bars of auto body repair lead, which is usually alloyed with tin.

 

[NC field hunter]

Lead is soft, heavy and will make a mark on paper. I'm not sure if patina affects the ability to write with lead or not.

 

[Jon Stewart]

Probably take and have them tested. Pawn shop or jewelry store. I found three flat pieces of metal that came up silver. Had them tested and they turned out to be zinc. They were found in an indian area on the desert.

 

[bci101tractors]

Zinc will react with muriatic acid, silver and lead will not...
I think you have some old homade sinkers??
Very nice finds, congrats.
BCI

 

[GatorBoy]

I learned something new there.
I never knew lead didn't react with acid.. but then I never tested lead.