GIANT hunk of lead

Ahab8 · Mar 22, 2014

So I got out for a few minutes today after work and before the snow. I found a giant piece of lead that has the patina of a musket ball and is very heavy. It measured 1 3/8" across it and 1 3/8" tall. Would love to know what it is. Also found a spoon with some markings on it. Found one piece and the other about 40' away. Had no idea they went together til I got home. Also found a 4" square spike there last weekend. The buckle was found last weekend as well. Unfortunately this is the only place I can dig right now ( and that's still not easy) due to its proximity to salt water. Also found a busted up old pocket knife.
It's snowing now and we might get hammered Wednesday. It was nice to get out for a few but I'm dying to get to some of the sites I've researched this winter.

The spoon has some markings in the back. Hoping I can make them out when I find my loop.

Zodiacdiverdave · Mar 22, 2014

Well done my friend, your lead is an ingot I believe. Romeo and I both got similar ingots last year, I think they were sold in the General Stores like that. I also got a brass spike like yours, it was never hammered and is in perfect condition.
I'm glad you could get out today, Rick and I also got out with Aqua and cousin Ed. It was so nice to be out swinging again today and I will be diving tomorrow, spring is finally showing it self after such a long winter.
ZDD

Ahab8 · Mar 22, 2014

Zodiacdiverdave said:
Well done my friend, your lead is an ingot I believe. Romeo and I both got similar ingots last year, I think they were sold in the General Stores like that. I also got a brass spike like yours, it was never hammered and is in perfect condition. I'm glad you could get out today, Rick and I also got out with Aqua and cousin Ed. It was so nice to be out swinging again today and I will be diving tomorrow, spring is finally showing it self after such a long winter. ZDD

It was nice to get out but I've got some incredible sites lined up that aren't ready yet. It's killing me man :-)
The spike is really cool and in great condition. There was some ship building in this area so it may have had to do with that. Glad you got out buddy

AQUA · Mar 22, 2014

Good to see that you got out....got a couple finds there that indicate some age !

Buy a jack hammer so you ca get to those sites !!

Another week and we all should be swinging on thawed ground.

Ahab8 · Mar 22, 2014

AQUA said:
Good to see that you got out....got a couple finds there that indicate some age ! Buy a jack hammer so you ca get to those sites !! Another week and we all should be swinging on thawed ground.

Yeah this is kind of a default site but I guess it's good practice. Hey if I'm outside swinging I'm happy. When the ground thaws I'm gonna hit it hard. Never thought it's be April before I could get to these good sites.
Let a guy park at my job site today to get to the mud flats. He told me about a couple of old foundations so it was an ok day. Least I got a good lead on some new sites

voodoo · Mar 22, 2014

agreed looks like an ingot

Ahab8 · Mar 22, 2014

Thanks guys I had no idea. Did they melt them to make musket balls and such?

park pirate · Mar 22, 2014

Man that's a big hunk of lead, bet that was a blast to the ears...

jewelerguy · Mar 22, 2014

I don't know what it is, but it's got a nice patina

ironhorse · Mar 22, 2014

I've found so many of those large brass spikes; usually at shipyards and boat building sites. More to find there, I guarantee it!

Ahab8 · Mar 22, 2014

ironhorse said:
I've found so many of those large brass spikes; usually at shipyards and boat building sites. More to find there, I guarantee it!

I had some decent finds there in the fall. Found a very nice brass D buckle, a Tombac button, couple. 3 ring bullets and some old coins. Definitely some history at that site. I'm going to talk to the lady down the street as one of the very first settlers in my area had a compound there as early as the 1630s. Sir William Phips parents lived there. Very interesting man! Invented the diving bell, had his hands in the Salem witch trials and was knighted after he successfully recovered Spanish treasure off the ocean floor. Oh yeah he also saved a lot of lives from the natives when he loaded settlers on his freight ship and sailed them to safety in Boston.

mangum · Mar 24, 2014

That is a big piece of lead! That's really cool. I'd say that site has potential for sure.

Bill D. (VA) · Mar 24, 2014

Don't have a clue as to what that monster chunk of lead is Abe, but I can't wait to see all the great finds you're getting ready to recover once your sites open back up. You'll be just getting started as I'm shutting down until the fall. Good luck to you in the coming days, and I'll be looking forward to your posts.

Ahab8 · Mar 25, 2014

Bill D. (VA) said:
Don't have a clue as to what that monster chunk of lead is Abe, but I can't wait to see all the great finds you're getting ready to recover once your sites open back up. You'll be just getting started as I'm shutting down until the fall. Good luck to you in the coming days, and I'll be looking forward to your posts.

Should be an exciting season Bill. I've put a lot of time into securing what I hope prove to be some great sites. I already told my crew that we'd be working 4. 10 hr days so I can have an extra day :-). You certainly have made the most out of your time and I've really enjoyed your well written posts. All the best, Abe