Devonrex
Sr. Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2012
- Messages
- 351
- Reaction score
- 1,260
- Golden Thread
- 4
- Location
- SE Virginia
- 🥇 Banner finds
- 4
- Detector(s) used
- XP DEUS, Nautilus DMC IIB
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
Part 2 on the finds at my site that yielded my artillery cache 2 weeks ago. I have been back to the site twice. On my first return visit I found a new area that yielded lots of lead case shot. I dug 69 of them and a few minnies that I am sure were inside shells as well. I also dug several pieces of shrapnel but the only 2 worth bringing home were 2 nose sections from Reed- Parrot shells. One of them was from a 10 pounder whereas the other was from a 20 pounder. On my second trip I finally found what I was looking for. A slight reading led to a shell 3 feet deep. It had hit nose first so the first thing I noticed was that it had a lead sabot. It was under a maze of large roots and in ground that was almost like clay so it took almost an hour to free it. Once out I realized I had found my first Dyer case shot from the site. It has a zinc paper time fuse. Overall the shell is in great condition and will clean up nicely! I also found an area that appears to have been an old homesite as I found a brass piece to a 1700's candle snuffer as well as a huge brass oval top piece to an early colonial powder flask. Some flat buttons and more case shot were found as well. This is my 8th shell from this site!!! It has truly been one of those sites you dream of finding!!! As with all the other cannonballs and shells this shell too is in the process of being disarmed and electolysized. There is no danger to anyone.
I also wanted to repost an item I also excavated at this site that I have been wanting to find ever since I began relic hunting 35 years ago. When I found my artillery cache two weeks ago I found half of a Revolutionary War bar shot. This is pictured in Neumann and Kravic’s book Collectors Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution on page 12 Number 17. I only found one end of the bar shot. I’m hoping the bar and other end is there as well. These bar shots were used to rotate in flight causing massive damage to a ships rigging or disrupting formations of men. This find surely ranks up there in my top artillery finds. The item is pictured with the mortar and cannonballs I found that day in the second picture lower right. I am hoping there will be a part 3 to this story ............stay tuned. HH Devonrex
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