tigerbeetle
Full Member
- Jan 2, 2009
- 166
- 275
- Detector(s) used
- Many -- Fisher, White's, Minelab, Cobra, others
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
Dug these two matching copper artifacts last week. Roughly 4.5 inches long; 2.5 inches wide, they could have fit together, though they were found sightly apart. Other finds that day ranged from a 1906 "Farmer's Permit" (copper) to a battered Spanish real, circa 1780s.
The site's date doesn't help much since it was a homestead that was functioning from 1778 to 1908 ... when it burnt down while still in use.
My obvious first inclination was they're military ... until I saw the two seeming dueling pistols in the eagle's talons. That gave me pause. We've all seen arrows, cannons, anchors, ropes, olive branches and even hunting horns in the talons. But dueling pistols? Hmmm.
I have not doubt the items are very old. I've hunted artifacts for 50 years now and know way-old when I dig it. But the nature of these (might they be quasi military, i.e. organizational, or even sportsman in nature?) has me a bit stumped.
What's more, there's the question of what were they used for ... or part of? I rule out epaulet. You'll see a single hole at the top of each ... where I would expect two holes, one on each side. The edges look like they're meant to bend around each other or another object.
While too small for a powder horn, might they have held flint ... when bent tightly together? There is no signs that solder held them together. Signs of solder tend to stay put over the years.
Last thought, might they be tack in nature? Part of a military-esque saddle.
The site's date doesn't help much since it was a homestead that was functioning from 1778 to 1908 ... when it burnt down while still in use.
My obvious first inclination was they're military ... until I saw the two seeming dueling pistols in the eagle's talons. That gave me pause. We've all seen arrows, cannons, anchors, ropes, olive branches and even hunting horns in the talons. But dueling pistols? Hmmm.
I have not doubt the items are very old. I've hunted artifacts for 50 years now and know way-old when I dig it. But the nature of these (might they be quasi military, i.e. organizational, or even sportsman in nature?) has me a bit stumped.
What's more, there's the question of what were they used for ... or part of? I rule out epaulet. You'll see a single hole at the top of each ... where I would expect two holes, one on each side. The edges look like they're meant to bend around each other or another object.
While too small for a powder horn, might they have held flint ... when bent tightly together? There is no signs that solder held them together. Signs of solder tend to stay put over the years.
Last thought, might they be tack in nature? Part of a military-esque saddle.
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