Mudlarking...Monkey See, Monkey Do!

[romeo-1]

Last night I was watching a show called Trashopolis. They were discussing how virtually all of London is built on centuries of garbage. They highlighted a group called "Mudlarkers" who scour the Thames for ancient and not so ancient treasure. I was amazed at what could be found along the shores of the river. I then Googled "Thames Mudlarking" and found an awesome site regarding the subject which is headed by the guy that was featured on Trashopolis. So, like any good treasure hunter I started thinking on my own potential mudlarking sites. I live near the oldest settlement in North America which has had a fort since the early 1600s so I figured that would be a good place to start. I checked the tide times and noted that low tide was at 7:45 this morning so I set the alarm and was on the shore outside the fort at 7:30. I wasn't as successful as those London Mudlarkers but I can definitely see the potential. There was a ton of glass and pottery which would date to the 1600 and 1700s.

The musketballs I found in an adjacent field with my detector after the tide came in but the Enfield I actually found with just my eyes on the shore below the fort. I also found a couple interesting rocks and am reasonably sure that one is a hafted scraper. It was found at the extreme low tide line. The round rock may have been worked (knapped) and is a nice chunk of local agate. I'm going to try to get an ID on the hafted scraper and will report back. Cheers all!

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

I've seen the show a couple of times.

You as an arrow head hunter, and having the piece in your hand should know, the fact that you are doubtful makes it a little doubtful, admittedly it seems to have a good edge, but not very "wavy". Have you ever seen anything made out of a rock that looks like that ? I don't think I have. By the way I'm not argueing, just questioning.

You didn't find any metal items on the shore ?

 

[romeo-1]

I've seen the show a couple of times.

You as an arrow head hunter, and having the piece in your hand should know, the fact that you are doubtful makes it a little doubtful, admittedly it seems to have a good edge, but not very "wavy". Have you ever seen anything made out of a rock that looks like that ? I don't think I have. By the way I'm not argueing, just questioning.

You didn't find any metal items on the shore ?

Good questions Rick...and you are right. I have found hundreds of points, scrapers, knives, axes, etc. but this one has me scratching my head. I'm thinking that because it has been subjected to extreme tidal conditions (highest and fastest in the world as you know) the telltale signs of knapping may have been dulled...

No historic metal except for the Enfield...but I'll be back to try again!

 

[wildman4910]

Looks like some sweet finds to me, WTG and keep lookin!


~~Happy Hunting & Merry Christmas~~

 

[dfx willy]

i think i heard something of that mud larking on the antique road show. i think it was on the thames. thats intresting! good luck on your hunts and merry christmas willy

 

[dwatson4]

kinna looks like a putter without the shaft, any ancient golf courses around there?

 

[steelheadwill]

Nice mud finds!
My best finds have come from tidal mud, the area I search has a gravel/clay layer about a foot under the mud, or I believe they all would have sunk beyond recovery.
it is a Shipyard dating from mid 1600's.
Gold comes out of the mud in great shape, other metals not so.
many early Large coppers still Identifiable, NO SILVER
Try searching the coastline for ballast piles, I've found two so far,
one has yielded dozens of early military buttons & coins.
the other was a fishing boat, with hundreds of Jigs & net weights.
Out of place piles of stones, around head size, you can be sure its a ballast pile when you find unusual rocks,(or the beams underneath) one of my piles had coral heads,
the other, many Flint stones, neither of which are native.
Best thing about it is that you can Hunt them all year round!
Hope to hear about more 'Mudflat Finds'

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

This is a link to the "mudlarking" site in London, England that romeo-1 refers to.
Very interesting finds on this site.

http://www.thamesandfield.co.uk/

 

[Iron Patch]

I have seen good finds found on the Thames posted on forums, or up for sale or auction, for many years now. Ironhorse and I used to hunt the shore quite a bit here, but once we started finding so many field sites there was no point in going back to the harsh salt water condition that tends to destroy almost everything.

 

[romeo-1]

I have seen good finds found on the Thames posted on forums, or up for sale or auction, for many years now. Ironhorse and I used to hunt the shore quite a bit here, but once we started finding so many field sites there was no point in going back to the harsh salt water condition that tends to destroy almost everything.

I'll probably go back a couple times this winter as it is open season for detecting and scrounging below the tide lines all year round. If there is a cannonball anywhere it would be there...

 

[Iron Patch]

I have seen good finds found on the Thames posted on forums, or up for sale or auction, for many years now. Ironhorse and I used to hunt the shore quite a bit here, but once we started finding so many field sites there was no point in going back to the harsh salt water condition that tends to destroy almost everything.

I'll probably go back a couple times this winter as it is open season for detecting and scrounging below the tide lines all year round. If there is a cannonball anywhere it would be there...

If it doesn't freeze that's a great fix for the Winter!

 

[hikeinmts]

Now you dun it!!! My wife is gonna kill you. I used to stay home part of the time during the winter months, but NOW....
gotta run.....get on down to the river....
Great finds. And something that I never would have thought of, although I have seen many many sites on the older Korean
maps which talk about "Ferry." Am going to try it out. Thanks for a great THing hint.

 

[HomesteadHunter]

Romeo, I saw the show to which you are referring, and it really got my blood pumping. It reminded me of the days when I used to walk the banks of the Detroit River. When the wind was blowing just right, I would walk the rivers edge and look for the original clay riverbed for artifacts. Those days are long gone around here, but you are very fortunate. Your finds are great, and i'd definitely be back there. Its just too bad that you have to deal with the salt. Even if you don't find any coins or colonial treasures, you have a great spot for stone artifacts!

James.
HomesteadHunter.

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

Admitted, I didn't even think about the tides, and this piece could have seen literaly a million of them, which would certainly dull the piece.

After having another look I'm thinking the "dimples" on the flat sides are somewhat conchoidal in shape, that is at least some evidence. Now if the rock is hardness 7, I'd say we (you) have a positive ID.

 

[The Patriot]

Great idea Romeo....after some of this snow melts I may try around some areas that produce some early native plummets and arrowheads.... will be good for the cabin fever...plus I may track down a few new basements in the woods

 

[Woodland Detectors]

I can't wait to see what else you come up with there. Good luck!!!

 

[romeo-1]

Great idea Romeo....after some of this snow melts I may try around some areas that produce some early native plummets and arrowheads.... will be good for the cabin fever...plus I may track down a few new basements in the woods

I actually found a stone foundation on my way back from this hunt...but got a flat out "no" from the property owner. Oh well, there are plenty more out there.

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Interesting finds and a worthy hunt! Just be careful in that tidal area, I watched a Brit Extreme Archaeology show recently, they proved a Roman bridge over a tidal river. The Tide would come in within minutes. HH and good luck Mudlarking, I know of the Mudlarks as well and they make some great finds, Mike

 

[CRUSADER]

you must remember my finds on the Thames just using a stone scrapper?

 

[romeo-1]

you must remember my finds on the Thames just using a stone scrapper?

Actually I don't...you gotta link?