Found a button and a lot of horse shoe nails

[DMN]

Checked a spot out I suspected would have been random finds only. Didn't bother to photograph the nails, but it was promising of the site. Must have found about 25 of them, as well as some terra cotta shards. Alos found this button. It rings up around a nickel tone on my x-70. No marks and a plain front/back. One piece button. Any thoughts?

 

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[Iron Patch]

It's a tombac, and old. Always a good sign.

 

[Knightwalker]

Very nice find.
HH in 2010
KW

 

[vayank54]

Yep a Tombac from the late 1700's. I would go back fro sure.

 

[Mr Tuff]

dig all at that site!!!!! MR TUFF

 

[DMN]

Thank you all for the replies. I knew about sites in the area from the early 1800's but I didn't have any info prior to that time. Had a suspicion there were older settlements in the area and I think this confirms it. As I hit this area harder I will post any significant finds. I think I will hunt this area exclusively in all metal mode. Don't want to miss a chance.

 

[Iron Patch]

Thank you all for the replies. I knew about sites in the area from the early 1800's but I didn't have any info prior to that time. Had a suspicion there were older settlements in the area and I think this confirms it. As I hit this area harder I will post any significant finds. I think I will hunt this area exclusively in all metal mode. Don't want to miss a chance.

Even if that particular button dates to the late 1700s doesn't mean the settlements are. Those turn up at sites that date well into the 1800s.

 

[vayank54]

Thank you all for the replies. I knew about sites in the area from the early 1800's but I didn't have any info prior to that time. Had a suspicion there were older settlements in the area and I think this confirms it. As I hit this area harder I will post any significant finds. I think I will hunt this area exclusively in all metal mode. Don't want to miss a chance.

Even if that particular button dates to the late 1700s doesn't mean the settlements are. Those turn up at sites that date well into the 1800s.

IP is right. the can come up in a lot later sites too. I've dug flat buttons in logging camps before and dug a nice one in a hole with a 1927 penny. People used to save and reuse things a lot more than they do now. I'm sure that even up into the mid1900's a person would not have thought twice about pulling an old flat button out of the button tin and sewing it on work cloths or coveralls. I would bet that if a lady was making a dress and had flower buttons from the 1830's she would use them as well.

 

[Gator-Flea]

That should be a good couple of days hunt!!

 

[DMN]

Thank you all for the replies. I knew about sites in the area from the early 1800's but I didn't have any info prior to that time. Had a suspicion there were older settlements in the area and I think this confirms it. As I hit this area harder I will post any significant finds. I think I will hunt this area exclusively in all metal mode. Don't want to miss a chance.

Even if that particular button dates to the late 1700s doesn't mean the settlements are. Those turn up at sites that date well into the 1800s.

IP is right. the can come up in a lot later sites too. I've dug flat buttons in logging camps before and dug a nice one in a hole with a 1927 penny. People used to save and reuse things a lot more than they do now. I'm sure that even up into the mid1900's a person would not have thought twice about pulling an old flat button out of the button tin and sewing it on work cloths or coveralls. I would bet that if a lady was making a dress and had flower buttons from the 1830's she would use them as well.

Agreed, and good points. It runns in the same philosophy of re-using the nails in houses. Frugality was a major factor in the mind set of many of the frontier types and subsistence farmers. I had suspected it may have come off some time later than the possible makers date. But I also know the area has been occupied way into pre-revolutionary times. I won't get overly excited about those types of finds until after I dig something more concrete. My hope is to find something circular, solid and silver (the precious metal type). Big coppers would be good as well. Not going to think about anything beyond that. Any cool relic would be fun too! But I have been skunked more than once soooooo...

 

[vayank54]

I would go back for sure. You just never know. We've all been skunked so don't feel to bad. I've been skunked more than I would like to admit.
Good luck