recent finds on archaeological dig ... what are these things ?

ouachitacaveman · Jun 28, 2011

The first item is approx. 2 inches long , apparently copper ? and is hollow, with
a hole in each end about 1/4" diameter. It looks like a coupling for a copper line in a way, except for the ornate designs on it. Sorry, this is the only photo I got.
The second photo shows an " I " button. Is this confederate ? If so, are they rare? Approx. the size
of a penny . Is the other item in the photo a boot sole tap ? It is about 2-1/2" X 2-1/2". Thanks !
All items shown came from an excavation in S. Arkansas along the old Southwest Trail.

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These next two photos show what I think
is a gold-broach ? The stone is turquoise ?
Sorry for the bad pics, but these were taken in
the field under less than ideal conditions.

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RelicHunter97 · Jun 28, 2011

Using my current knowledge, I would say that that is a confederate BlockI infantry button. Nice digs!

allan · Jun 28, 2011

pic one may be a fireplace poker handle and that coin looks recent lol, nice I button, can you get a pic of the back

ouachitacaveman · Jun 28, 2011

Not sure about the fireplace poker handle, the piece
is only 2 inches long, but I reckon it's possible.
Can't get more pics, the items are now at the university ....
Thanks for the info !

:hello:

TheCannonballGuy · Jun 28, 2011

The I button in the photo is strictly a Confederate-manufactured button (for CS Infantry soldiers) ...not made by a Northern button-maker, nor made by a European manufacturer and imported through the yankee Naval blockade. Alphaeus Albert, author of the famous book on American Military buttons, referred to Confederate-manufactured military buttons as "CS Local" buttons.

The 2-piece low-convex form of the button in the photo is characteristic of "Western Theater" local-made infantry I buttons. This form is rarely found in Atlantic-coast states.

timekiller · Jun 29, 2011

Just tagging along as I dug something like that one piece of yours a couple hunts ago.The design looks somewhat similar.Only thing I can add is that my piece came from a site that I've dug stuff from that dates around 1820-1864 as the last things to be dated lost there was 1864 2cent piece & civil war button.I'll also add no electricity ever at this site as it's a island.The last known people of it left after a huge hurricane in the early 1900's.