Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

Brendan M. · Nov 11, 2008

Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

Hello Everyone!

It's been a while: Between becoming a dad this past year and hunting out all my prime summer spots before it was even August, I didn't get out much until recently. But now that the cool weather is here and the dreaded ticks are gone for another season, I can now get back into the woods, where all the action is! Not to mention this year I've got a new DFX to try out...

So of course one of the first places I took my new(ish) machine was the "Spoon Graveyard," where I found a boatload of old coins and relics last year (including 30 or so spoons, hence the nickname). If you haven't read my older posts, I'll just sum up that it's old farmland, heavily used from the 1800s to early 1900s then seemingly abandoned, and never searched with a detector before me. So trust me, I pounded this place hard last year, but figured I was almost obligated to go over it again with my DFX. I'm glad I did!

Focusing on severely overgrown/hard to reach areas I may not have searched as thoroughly last year has given me really good results, and the DFX definitely goes deeper and is more sensitive and stable than my old XLT, so even the areas I've already covered are still producing. I've put in a few good hunts there now, and am combining all those finds into one post. Everything is from roughly 1870-1920. Here's the inventory:

Frog-shaped silver and gemstone ladies' brooch (I LOVE this; you had to see when this thing popped out of the ground)
Three Indian Heads: 1874, 1878, and 1887
Antique keg tap, in mint, working condition
Yale padlock, dated 1877-78 on back
Toy fireman's helmet, with engraving in back
Large dinner-type bell
Six silver-plated spoons (of course!), in various conditions
One belt buckle and two suspender buckles dated 1901
Two buttons -- one flat and one ball shaped with floral design
One Vanline's perfume bottle
Three glass/porcelain mason jar lids, and one clear blue-glass lid
Small harmonica reed
Lantern base, largely intact
Brass furniture pulls (ring-shaped)
Two heavy iron axe heads (not pictured)
A slew of little bits and whatsits (Take a look at pics!)

Brendan M. · Nov 11, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

More pics

The Buzzard King · Nov 11, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

Holy Smokes!

That's some neat stuff!
VERY cool finds! :thumbsup:

Brendan M. · Nov 11, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

The Buzzard King said:
Holy Smokes!
That's some neat stuff!
VERY cool finds!

Thanks!

Brendan M. · Nov 11, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

plehbah said:
Nice finds!

Thank you, sir!

jorge del norte · Nov 12, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

nice grab bag o finds

NGE · Nov 12, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

Misc. pic #1...... Lower right corner. Top off of talcum powder can, see the shaker holes? Nice grab bag of goodies.....NGE (T)

Brendan M. · Nov 12, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

notgittinenny ( treasures ) said:
Misc. pic #1...... Lower right corner. Top off of talcum powder can, see the shaker holes? Nice grab bag of goodies.....NGE (T)

Thanks for the info!

Brendan M. · Nov 12, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

jorge del norte said:
nice grab bag o finds

Thanks dude.

mastereagle22 · Nov 12, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

Man o man o man. I don't think I would SURVIVE finding so much great stuff!!!!

I want desperately to find one Indian before the year is up but it isn't looking too hopeful right now $:-\$ :'(

WTG

Brendan M. · Nov 12, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

mastereagle22 said:
Man o man o man. I don't think I would SURVIVE finding so much great stuff!!!!

I want desperately to find one Indian before the year is up but it isn't looking too hopeful right now $:-\$

WTG

I've had a great year for Indians -- dug about 25, many from this same site. It's given up about 20, not to mention, a Flying Eagle too!

My best advice for finding the Indians is to dig all those penny/bottle cap signals, especially if they're more than 4-5 inches down. Just about every Indian I've found has read like a clad penny or borderline trash....On my DFX there's a "Bottlecap Reject" setting that I set as low as possible. I don't know if your machine has something like that....

Good luck!
--B

mastereagle22 · Nov 12, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

I hunt in all-metal mode and dig every signal except high iron unless I am relic hunting.

time4me · Nov 12, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

That frog is one of the coolest things I've ever seen!!!! You must have been so excited to see that come out of the ground.

Nice digs!!!

Jim

The Master Chief · Nov 12, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

Wow. You found that much. Just imagine the ones that you might have missed. Good luck on looking again.

Brendan M. · Nov 12, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

Nick Pappagiorgio said:
Now that's a Righteous Assortment of Stellar Finds ...

Rock On ~ Nick

Thanks Nick!

Brendan M. · Nov 12, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

KevinH said:
Wow. You found that much. Just imagine the ones that you might have missed. Good luck on looking again.

Brendan M. · Nov 12, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

time4me said:
That frog is one of the coolest things I've ever seen!!!! You must have been so excited to see that come out of the ground.

Nice digs!!!

Jim

Thanks Jim. I'd have to agree. I've found some cool stuff, and this one ranks right up there. Even my wife was stoked. Now that's a rarity! :wink:

The "Spoon Graveyard" adjoins a creek. There used to be an old homestead there, so I've basically been digging up 50 years worth of a family's life there. They had money too. The frog was found very close to the creek bed, about 6 inches down among some briars. It gave off a real nice signal, so I was pumped before I even knew what it was. After it surfaced I kind of sat there in disbelief looking at it. Basically, the pin part of the brooch must of broken off long ago (which I suspect is why it was lost in the first place). I can imagine some wealthy gal from the turn of the century wearing it, then walking down to the creek, somehow breaking it, then losing it forever, until I come along more than 100 years later and dig it up. This hobby never ceases to thrill and amaze me.

Glad you enjoyed!

Cheers and HH,
Brendan

Brendan M. · Nov 12, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

mastereagle22 said:
I hunt in all-metal mode and dig every signal except high iron unless I am relic hunting.

I hunt in a light disc mode, but dig pretty much everything at this spot because there's very little trash.

1491 · Nov 12, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

Brendan,

That frog is awesome. I remember talking with you about your spoon graveyard. Glad to see it is still producing, as is mine.

Jim

Brendan M. · Nov 12, 2008

Re: Goodies Galore! Kicking Off Season II At "Spoon Graveyard"

ziphius said:
Brendan,

That frog is awesome. I remember talking with you about your spoon graveyard. Glad to see it is still producing, as is mine.

Jim

Thanks Jim. It really is a neat find. I think you told me last season your spoon graveyard was an old dumpsite, right? What have you found there lately?