Interesting trip this weekend, but the rookie is on to something :)

[xdanthemanx]

well i got out on sunday on an 1800's homesite, heres the deal i managed to find a bunch of the usual junk, and some actual silverware in good shape, ill post some pics later after i get it cleaned up real good, might take a few days or so. heres the interesting part
theres a huge oak tree bout 4 foot in diameter that i got a totally huge hit on near the base, so as i was trying to get a good sweep on it i notice an impression towards the bottom of the tree. i dug at it a little bit to reveal what looks like there used to be decent sized hole in the tree at the base, after digging about 6 or 7 inches of dirt away is was apparent that the hole used to be about 6 or 8 inches across and about 10 inches or so high, heres that bad part it looks like over the last 100 years or so it has almost all the way closed back up and now there only about an inch opening high and about 1/2 " wide. it looks kinda like en eggshell of wood about 2 or 3 inches thick has grown in to conceal the hole, I tryed to get my disc in closer but no luck if i point it towards what used to be the bottom of the opening i get a strong signal even if i pull the coil out about a foot, there is definately something inside this tree, the site is is in the middle of nowhere and it doesnt look like anyone has been here in 100 years either so it had to have been put there a waaaay long time ago, my plan is to go back with some kind of small video camera and look inside the tree thru the tiny hole, i might have to carv a bit away depending on what i can find, as it was getting dark and the mosquito's were eating me alive i had to abandon my endeavor and retreat from the site for the day. i do have a camera thats about 7/8 of inch square, wireless , but ill have to couple a small light to it also and somehow make the hole big enough to get it in there, then there the possiblility of it actually buried or a bunch of crap on top so a small vacuum or air blower may be necessary also,
I'll keep this updated as i know a lot of you are in this hobby like myself for "the thrill of the chase" This find is exactly why i got into this hobby, you just never know whats next!
it will take me a day or two to get the extra equipment ready that i need and get it portable.
DanTheMan

 

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[mptilkins]

good luck keep us in the loop of what you find!!!

 

[Prober]

If you have access to a large drill (either hand operated or battery) that might help you enlarge the hole. You could drill several holes close to each other then kind ream around them until you just have one hole.
I'm hoping there is a large treasure chest under there! Good luck.

 

[Ray S S]

Hello xdanthemanx, It looks like you have surely found something valuable hidden in there. You were lucky to discover it. Using that camera and some kind of light is a good idea. One thing though, you want to use just a little bit of caution in digging into it because you do not know exactly what is in there. I mention this because of an experience I had once. When I was living up in Cheboygan county several years ago I was cutting down some of my cedar trees fof fence posts. There was one tree that forked about two feet above ground. The trees above the fork were good post material. My first thought was to cut straight down through the fork. But ,instead, Icut it off under the fork so it fell as one tree. Then after I had one side cut and was almost through the other one the fork fell apart. Out dropped a very old hatchet head. It had been completely covered with no indication of it being there. If I had cut down through the fork like I was first going to and I ran into a corner on that thing it may have snapped the chain on the saw. You can guess what might have happened to me if that happened.
Your situation there would probably not be so extreme. But, again, without knowing exactly what you have , that camera, a light, and some carefull digging into it would not be a bad idea. I wish you lots of luck and will look foreward to some pics of what you find. It must be something of value to be hidden like that. I hope it turns out to be something really great.
Good digging, karenray08

 

[xdanthemanx]

well i dont want to just saw or drill in having no idea, i definaetly wouldnt want to cut or drill into something good, that would just be careless, yeah it would great to get to whatever is in there but it would suck to saw thru a rae coin of some kind
dan

 

[Ray S S]

A hammer with different width chisels might be a good way to open it enough to get a look to see what else might do the trick. They would control the width and depths of your cuts without harming whatever is in there. karenray08

 

[Redfoot]

Just wondered if you ever went back to the tree to see what was in there? Curtis

 

[xdanthemanx]

i did go back to the tree, no success what ever is in there is in there till the tree dies, it aint over unless the tree outlives me ill be keeping my eye on it

dan

 

[Planet1mars]

thanks for the fun dan... saturday was great even if we didnt find any coins... im glad you got a hold of me before i went nuts looking for the location i cant beleave i was over 400 yds away from everything...

 

[Ray S S]

Hello, xdanthemanx,

I've been wondering how you were making out with that hole in the tree and now i see your post here. If you are interested, I could take my tools and meet you at a McDonalds, then we would go and work on that tree. What I have
in mind is to slice off the bark in a small area, than take small thin slices of the wood off without disturbing the
hole. Do that until there is a very thin bit covering the hole. than open it up very carefully enough to shine a
light in and go from there whatever has to be done.

I see by your avatar that you are in the Clarkston area. I live by Wadhams which puts me only an hour and onehalf
or so from you. If you are interested in doing this, let me know. I am retired now so I would be free most any time
that would be convenient for you.

Ray karenray08

 

[Sandman]

Please keep us informed on the tree.

There was a tree at Dodge Park #4 on the picnic grounds that had a large hole about 5 feet off the ground. It would make my detector sound off even with the disc turned up high which made me think silver. Anyway I couldn't reach what ever was in there and all kind of thoughts went through my mind. the next spring the tree was gone and the land was bull dozed for the construction of the new bath house/restrooms. And the DNR doesn't want us to take coins out of the grass because we might find a relic........

 

[xdanthemanx]

well heres the deal the oak tree is at least 150-200 years old, i am not about to strip the bark or do any major sawing on it or anything else that may result in the tree dying, i di a little trimming of dead material that was around the hole and thats all i am going to do, the tree was there long before i was here and i dont really see how i have the right to kill it because there MIGHT be something in it, as a detectorist i feel its my responsibilty to take care of the areas i hunt and not cross the line to any sort of destruction, even in the middle of the woods out in no where i fill in all my holes even though no one will likely ever come across it, its ajust a good habit to get into
However the tree does reside at the very top of a pretty big hill so if lightning happens to take it out somewhere down the road, it will be fair game at that point. The possibilty exists that the tree will outlive me , well so be it, but as i said before"i'll be keeping an eye on it"

DanTheMan

and sandman, i think the rules are bit ridiculous, they w t spend an ounce of energy looking for the relics but we cant either so they stay in the ground forever? what a great idea, and heres the other deal anything real old , hundreds of years it out of reach of our machines anyway, how many clay pots have you found in your detecting indian arrowheads, axes you know onmy machine i have all the clay pots, stone axe heads and rock arrowheadsall discriminated out anyway..lol

 

[Ray S S]

Yes, you are corect,and actually I am glad youfeel that way. It is best. I was wrong to have mentioned it and stand corrected.

Ray.

 

[Redfoot]

I agree that harming the tree to get to the maybe treasure is not right. Could be just some ones gum wrapper.