Field MDing?

[twinsrule]

I have read about people metal detecting through a field, and finding great stuff. How do you know if a field might actually have something in it, of if its just a regular field? For example, here in North Dakota?

 

[discovery_bound]

Research, research, and more research. Look for maps of the area, chat with the older locals, or maybe find something from the area's historical center. You're the first person I've seen asking anything about North Dakota....I was starting to think I was the only one!

HH
DB

 

[extractor]

Research, research

 

[twinsrule]

Sorry, i'm dumb, but where can you find these old maps? And how would you find out about land history?

 

[vayank54]

Trees or other plants that look out of place in an area can be a good sign of an old house site.

 

[twinsrule]

Thanks! I've already got google earth, so I'll give it a whirl.

 

[twinsrule]

by the way, what should i look for on google earth?

 

[discovery_bound]

Twinsrule,
If you'd like a fresh set of eyes to help you out on some research, I'd be happy to help. I understand if you want to keep your search location to yourself, but if you have a general area you are looking at and would like some help just let me know....especially if you are looking in N.D. Just send me a message if you are interested. Good luck to you, and the offer to help is always open.

HH
DB

 

[shaun7]

by the way, what should i look for on google earth?

If you spot anything like this it would be a good place to start.

 

[RPG]

Check out the website below. It has some good historical maps to get you started.
Follow the advise given above (except the one with the pyramid ) and you should do fine.
There are treasures to be found everywhere people have been.

Good Luck
Randy

http://www.historicmapworks.com/Browse/United_States/North Dakota/

 

[twinsrule]

Twinsrule,
If you'd like a fresh set of eyes to help you out on some research, I'd be happy to help. I understand if you want to keep your search location to yourself, but if you have a general area you are looking at and would like some help just let me know....especially if you are looking in N.D. Just send me a message if you are interested. Good luck to you, and the offer to help is always open.

HH
DB

Thanks! I'm from around Bismarck. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[discovery_bound]

twinsrule,
You have mail.

HH
DB

 

[discovery_bound]

This might be of interest to you.

http://www.glorecords.blm.gov

HH
DB

 

[XL-PRO PRO]

The best way to see if there are any coins or relics in a field is to make a pass or two across it.I've detected several that had no hint of activity and recovered coins,rings and relics.Just last summer I was trying a coil in a field next to my house(been here twelve years) and dug a sheild nickle.So far this field has produced a gold class ring(pre 1900),a block I button,several minnies and numerous other relics.There is no map that could have told me to search there but now it is one of my favorite(and most convenient)places to detect!When in doubt-detect it!DBULL

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

When in doubt-detect it!

Exactly! Dropped coins are where they happened. Certainly research will pay off (where was there a picnic area, vegetable stand or old cabin) but accidently dropped objects can occur anywhere. I have found crotal bells, old dog tags (canine variety), coins, rings, buttons etc. where nothing ever was . . . except whoever lost those items and maybe me; and perhars a few or as many as hundreds of folks in between.

One site that hasn't yet but may is a field now but I have an old image from a local history museum's booklet of a pre-WWII airshow occurring in that field with hundreds of folks watching. I know, eventually, something will turn up. But so far . . . zip.

 

[mlayers]

I went to the library and checked out the old maps then I made copies of the pages that I wanted. They show where the old one room school house once stood and old churches......Matt

 

[grumpyolman]

Got to your local library and ask if they subscribe to Sanborn Maps. They are maps made as early as 1890 in my State, and are to scale, hand drawn, and were used for fire insurance rating. Using your library card you can log in on the Sanborn site and access, usualll, you own state. I can sit at my home computer and pull up a map in a city near me and look where things were in 1909 and up. I then look at the same spot on Google Earth. A more advanced technique is to copy an image from Sanborn and overlay it on the Google Earth map and you can really come close to locating that school or church that is now an open field.
Found a park on a 1929 map that is still a park today. Found a dime, 1903. It also allowed me to NOT look in some places as they were just not old enough. Jim

 

[John (Ma)]

Just an old farm area that was used for crops can pay off, as people were out there alot tending the plants.

 

[Goes4ever]

I bought a current plat map and also a 1886 plat map from the city engineers office, cost me $8.00 for both. I find old homesteads, churches, one room schools etc on the 1886 map, then look on the new map to locate current owner, go pay them a visit, explain my hobby. almost everytime I get a "sure, go ahead".......it's easy

 

[BuckleBoy]

Here are some of the secrets of the trade:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,188838.0.html


Happy Hunting,


Buckles