Part of an early chisel?

[Dug]

Recently I walked a newly planted field that had been rowed with pine seedlings. The field is surrounded on 3 sides with pine trees that are about 5 years old and sits on a hill top. The seedling rows drop down steeply into a low wet area. I detected the whole field which is about 2 acres in size but did not find anything until I got towards one side of the field. First item I dug was a chunk of iron (red dot on map). Then on the last row I spotted two pieces of blue edge pottery and a piece of black glass that is not seen in the pics (blue dots). Then I dug a brass buckle (black dot). Everything dug and spotted were on top of the 2 foot high rows. I did not get any signals anywhere else. The field was very quiet with very little iron. It had tons of Indian pottery and a lot of chert chips but only one arrow head was found and that was on the last row also.

After I did a concentrated search near the buckle and pottery I moved into the established pines about 10 feet in (marked in yellow on the map) but no signals. It was getting close to the end of the day and I did not feel like wrestling with the vines in the pines (I'm a poet and didn't know it). I did not try working down the slope but did take a few peeks down the slope looking for anything that might stand out like pottery or arrow heads but did not see anything.

I will be going back in a few days to try to work further into the pines to see where the teasers I found came from.

The iron was seriously rusted and what you see is my close to final cleaning on it. It is 3 inches long. Anyone have any idea what this is or was part of? Assume by the appearance that this was hand forged.

 

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[bartshop62]

Recently I walked a newly planted field that had been rowed with pine seedlings. The field is surrounded on 3 sides with pine trees that are about 5 years old and sits on a hill top. The seedling rows drop down steeply into a low wet area. I detected the whole field which is about 2 acres in size but did not find anything until I got towards one side of the field. First item I dug was a chunk of iron (red dot on map). Then on the last row I spotted two pieces of blue edge pottery and a piece of black glass that is not seen in the pics (blue dots). Then I dug a brass buckle (black dot). Everything dug and spotted were on top of the 2 foot high rows. I did not get any signals anywhere else. The field was very quiet with very little iron. It had tons of Indian pottery and a lot of chert chips but only one arrow head was found and that was on the last row also.

After I did a concentrated search near the buckle and pottery I moved into the established pines about 10 feet in (marked in yellow on the map) but no signals. It was getting close to the end of the day and I did not feel like wrestling with the vines in the pines (I'm a poet and didn't know it). I did not try working down the slope but did take a few peeks down the slope looking for anything that might stand out like pottery or arrow heads but did not see anything.

I will be going back in a few days to try to work further into the pines to see where the teasers I found came from.

The iron was seriously rusted and what you see is my close to final cleaning on it. It is 3 inches long. Anyone have any idea what this is or was part of? Assume by the appearance that this was hand forged.

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First likee. Nice finds btw. wow.

 

[pa plateau hiker]

Is that the letter R at the broken end, or just the way the metal is rusted?

 

[Dug]

Is that the letter R at the broken end, or just the way the metal is rusted?

I don't know, could be pitting but I will pull it out of the vinegar bath and take a look. By the picture it almost looks like additional marking in front of what looks like the R now that you mention it.

 

[releventchair]

Looks like wrought iron.
No evidence of having been pounded on. Though a wood maul/mallet should be used and not a steel or iron tool to hit it with...( A slightly rounded end is preferred.)

Looks a little like a spike for a harrow. But iron had lots of handy uses.

 

[Dug]

Pa Plateau hiker has a good eye. Definitely a makers mark on this item but I can't make out what it is. Looking at the end it looks like it was sheared off on the makers mark; not sure if intentionally or otherwise.

 

[samlarson]

Looks like wrought iron.
No evidence of having been pounded on. Though a wood maul/mallet should be used and not a steel or iron tool to hit it with...( A slightly rounded end is preferred.)

Looks a little like a spike for a harrow. But iron had lots of handy uses.

My vote also goes for iron