Find of the day.....ME!.........busted!

[bigcreekdad]

Went back for probably 6th time to the small park where I found the 200 year old British military button. I came to hunt this park by first getting permission from the city chief of police to hunt city parks, and then going to the city's website and getting a list of their parks. Today, after a modern nickel and a couple of clad pennies I look up to see two men approaching me.....one in uniform and one not. The uniformed guy was an officer with the metroparks, and the other guy was not in uniform , but was with the National Parks Service. They informed me I was illegally metal detecting in a national park which had been designated an historic sight. I knew there is a ton of history in this region, but did not know the status of this park. They informed me it was also the site of an Indian burial ground ( I can already feel the bad karma setting in). In any case, the city had turned this park over to the NPS a few years ago, but the city still showed it as a city park on their website, and, obviously, the police chief was not aware of the fact that NPS now had oversite.

I told the guys that I had found and researched the old button a few weeks ago. I also let them know I had emailed the police chief and offered the button (thru him) to the local historical society. He said he was going to find out if they had an interest, but I never heard back from him.

I offered to get the button to the NPS guy, and he was grateful. THe two guys were not jerks in any way, and in fact, the NPS guy seemed a very good fellow.

Well......I guess I know that park is off limits in a big time way in the future. I just hope the Indian gods aren't too pissed at me.

 

[ivan salis]

opps seems your a few years too late --to be legal --however due your effort at being "correct" and checking in with the local chief of police ---it seems you most likely covered yer butt - with these other fellows thankfully

speaking of the the indain spirit world --- normally it seems so long as you are not on purpose messing with their sites , you are not bothered ****but if you take things from a grave site knowingly or later on find out that something you took was from a gravesite area and fail to "replace" it well then --I pity you . --- if one accidently disturbs a grave site area and finds out later on -- often a "tobbaco offering" at the site of the offense offered to the 4 winds will smooth over things. (tabbaco is / was a highly prized respect "gift" in the indian world-- and was smoked during "peace" talks )

 

[Iron Patch]

So what was the button?

 

[bigcreekdad]

Iron Patch.....good god man.....you advised me how to seal it ( it had an obvious crack). You must be posting too much (LOL). It was a 1794 circa British 24th Regiment button.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

When you return I recommend you wear dark clothing and one of these:

 

[Iron Patch]

Iron Patch.....good god man.....you advised me how to seal it ( it had an obvious crack). You must be posting too much (LOL). It was a 1794 circa British 24th Regiment button.

Dude I see a lot of buttons on here! Plus you said 200 years old which means a War of 1812 button. So who's posting too much?

 

[bigcreekdad]

Actually....determined it was closer to 1794....I'd share more info, but I'm likely to be imprisoned

 

[Iron Patch]

Actually....determined it was closer to 1794....I'd share more info, but I'm likely to be imprisoned

Determined by a button person or by the history of the area? Because of the condition it was hard to tell, but if I recall correctly it was a closer match to the early pattern. (with the pattern around the edge) If it dates in the 1790s it's considered a War of 1812 button.

 

[ivan salis]

since it was made post american rev war era (after 1783)-- but before war of 1812 --its most likely a button brought over by british troops during the war of 1812 ---so would be thought of as a "war of 1812" button --despite its it actual date of manufacture in 1794* because of its use in the war of 1812

 

[cntrydncr1]

wow, you were lucky! Someone I know got in huge trouble over detecting in a national park even though he did not know. Detectors were confiscated, fines and possible jail time at worst.

 

[bigcreekdad]

I was indeed lucky. I'm sure they could have thrown the book at me. I'm sure my honest attempt to make sure it was okay for me to hunt there helped out.