Yah got some good old things there. Not ancient but good relics. I hit a rut every now and then myself and I have been hunting for more than 18 years.
I discovered the wonderful world of research does wonders for the age of your finds. You don't have to get into any great detail with the research but some research into the history of your area does go a long way. For example in my home town, which is about 300,000 people, I found that the part of town where many of the old Civil War units camped was actually closer to downtown proper than I though they would be. In the days of the Civil War, the outskirts of town were about a mile from city center. Now, that area is actually very near city center due to the expansion of the city. I watch for construction in that area. Anything from buildings being demolished to parking lots going in. As soon as ground is broken, (whenever I see bare earth at the construction site), that is like a small window to the past opening for a brief moment. You have to hit it and hit it soon because it closes as quickly as it opens. I mainly hunt construction locations and I have found four good Civil War Buckles as a result, one of them being a rarity of 9 on a scale of 10 Confederate Two Piece Old English Script CS Buckle, about $2,800. I have an 1849 U.S. Buckle that came from under an old sidewalk, a Snake Buckle, and a Confederate Frame Buckle. All from construction areas that I new were in the general area of the outskirts of town during Civil War times. My best time I had hunting was when I knew that a construction site was uncovering an old WWI military camp inhabited during the war by thousands of soldiers. I walked out of there with pockets full of coins, buttons, and other items all predating 1918. This went on for days on end. Most of the coins were silver and most were Barbers. I found a beautiful standing liberty almost mint but the machinery had scratched it moving earth.
If I had any advice to give someone, it would be to go to their local public library, learn the history of their area inside and out. Look at old maps of how the area evolved. Find the locations where old schools, hospitals, Victorian Resorts, etc. were. Learn where the parks were, where the Fairgrounds were, where the swimming holes were and on and on. When you see construction going on in those areas, ask for permission and hit them quick. Your finds will get good in a heartbeat.
As one old timer told me, you got to go to the old places to find the old things! DUH!! Why didn't I think of that. Your river trail hunting is doing you some good and you are on the right track there but remember over the course of time, the river and the trails have changed. What was the trail 100 years ago could now be in the river or ten yards further away from the river than the existing trail. Get some old maps and check them against new ones. Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.
Good Luck and I hope your finds improve!
Jim
) 
lol 
RR
