Man - are you kidding? Get to the historic society in Rome! Lots of history there, and some damned OLD houses!
There was a ton of activity there around Fort Stanwix, and of course the first shovelful of dirt was dug for Clinton's Ditch (Erie canal) there... hell there was like ten other little forts around that area! I'd be talking to some land owners, and, try to get with the local medal detector club... I cannot recall the name of the group though.
I've been gone from there for eleven years now...