Help Finding the Location of a Bottle Dump

[Silas]

Hi everyone,

My question may sound like something that's been asked dozens of times, and to some extent it is, however in some aspect it is different, and the details matter in things such as this, as we all know.

As of recent I've been researching a park which holds great promise in terms of Pre-1900 bottles. In its early years, this now heavily wooded site was home to a very active picnicking spot where, by my research, many area residents would go especially during the spring and summer months. As there was picnicking, I'm expecting there to be a bottle dump somewhere on the property, as our grandparents weren't always the best at carrying their garbage back with them.

My question is; how far from the popular picnic areas, If I can locate them, would I find the dump or the most popular place to chuck ones bottles when they were empty. The area is by a small stream, but nothing I haven't already eyeballed.

I'll be doing a complete sweep tomorrow and hopefully I'll stumble across it, but I've walked much of it already and haven't even found a bit of broken plate so my hopes are low. As I said however, it had to have existed, even if it was removed at some point in the past. Thanks for any and all help and here's to hoping it exists in the future as well!

 

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[TxThunter]

Farm dumps are a pain to locate as well, or at least in my neck of the woods. For instance, there is a vacant 1890's to 1900's farm house directly across from my wife's grandparent's place. Many acres. I started by looking for the low spots or ravines. One small ravine has a sparse 40's to 50's dump, not my cup of tea. The farm field to the right of the house, which is still used, had plenty of purple and old shards but not enough to indicate a dump was nearby. I searched for 15 years and couldn't locate the old dump. It wasn't until about 5 years ago we had a 10" rain. This caused a pond directly behind the old farm house to flood and the dam broke. The water rushed through the grassy field behind the house and cut about 10 feet deep and 20 feet wide. I went back the next day to find out it cut through the heart of the dump. All that was left was a thin edge on each side. I did manage to find quite a few bottles ( couple nice SS Cokes and a few local bim slugplates were the best ). The majority of the dump got swept away in a day. Knew there was an old dump, but too little too late. So finally the answer to your question. This bottle dump along with probably any other dump will have rusted cans, maybe some iron pieces, horseshoes, etc. If I just would have thought about using my metal detector in all metal mode, I would have found it years earlier. Some dumps, like this one, are totally covered. This dump was only a foot under the ground. A probe would have found it. So take a probe or a metal detector. I would use the detector to find a concentration of rusted metal in all metal mode. Once you find where most of the signals are, probe that area to see if you hear any glass. This may and may not work, but it is definitely worth a shot. RC

 

[Jason in Enid]

TX, this is the same method I am planning on using next year. I have a farm field with multiple house sites. I have found several spots with huge amounts of iron, but I haven't gotten a probe to start looking for the dumps. Lots of broken glass/china/crockery buts very spread out.

 

[TxThunter]

A probe isn't a must. Dig a test hole in some of the areas with the highest concentrations. Farm dumps will have broken implements such as springs, sprockets, bolts, etc. Horseshoes, cast iron pieces, augers are also usually present. If you are finding or hearing big iron targets in one area, I would go ahead and dig some test holes. As you already know, Oklahoma has some of the most desirable bottles with the Territory stuff, and what a better place to find them in an untouched turn of the century farm dump. Good luck. RC

 

[Jason in Enid]

Well it better a DEEP one because I'm sure the plow and the disc have pulverized at least the top foot. The last dump I dug was behind a still standing farmhouse, it was easy to locate the pile of rust and glass and begin working down. The fact that this is an active farm field, I'm limited to times I can dig and now isnt one.

 

[Silas]

Hi guys,

I finally got out earlier today and in terms of any signs of a dump, the news looks grave. No rusted metal, broken glass, porcelain or otherwise. I did however manage to pull up a 19-- wheat cent which turned out to be the find of the day. No heavy concentrations of iron were found, but in honesty I had iron audio off and was going by ear only. As much promise as this site had it's diminishing. While I was there two other guys started detecting as well, so unfortunately I'm not the first to detect it. Good news however, they were carrying land detectors which weren't submersible to the extent the Pro is, so the water source nearby is definitely looking up. I got in a little today and got several really nice signals but because of the freezing water and current I couldn't retrieve them. I suppose I'll have to wait until Spring, but in the meantime I have a new wheatie to add to the shelf! Thanks for all of the information everyone ~best wishes, happy hunting and Happy Holidays!

 

[BENTHOR]

THERE WOULDN'T BE A "DUMP" JUST FROM PEOPLE PICKNICKING. YOU NEED TO TRY AND LOCATE THE OLD TOWN DUMPS. THEY ARE ALL OVER AND SOMETIMES MULTIPLE IN ONE TOWN. USUALLY A MILE AWAY FROM THE CENTER OF TOWN....NORTHEAST AND DOWNWIND. RAILROAD TRACKS ARE ALWAYS GOOD AND CANALS......LAKES.....ETC. ANY LAND THAT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN USED FOR BUILDING BACK THEN IS A GOOD SIGN.