Some River Bank Finds

[Jarl]

Hello everyone,

I haven't been on in awhile. Last few outings with my detector have been somewhat fruitless. I'm in a slump, not to mention that I haven't actually been out as much either. Have been absorbed in other things. I did however find time Sunday to troll along the river bank to see what I might find. I went to some places I had been to many times before with little to speak of. Then, on my way south along the bank I noticed that some excavation had taken place, namely to improve the river trail that was already there. Basically, they widened a portion of the trail and raised the brick work on the bank. This was just under a train bridge. I think they did this to also prevent people from being able to camp around the bridge, because before from above the bridge and river, if a person was down there you could not easily see them. So they leveled the whole area. Long story short...I went over to investigate and started noticing a lot of old glass shards and bottle necks. Also, after picking at the ground some with a stick...I realized that by the look and smell of the dirt that it had a lot of ash in it. Hmmm...naturally I spent what I had left of my sunlight to see what was there. While I didn't find any real prizes, I did get some good clues. I will be returning. By the way, I did not used my detector at all...I left it at home. I'll consider taking it next time, but the area is sickeningly infested with iron.

Among the finds, lots of bottle debris, a bone and clam shell button(found a bone button in this same area two years ago before they leveled it), part of a spoon, a lead lid to something, an 1880 Indian head...it's shot, can't tell if it's '81, '84 or '87 and what I believe to be a fragment of a clay pipe stem. There is a hole all the way through the center and you can tell that it was molded by the parting lines...maybe not evident in the photo, but it's there.

Ok, not glorious but I'll be back for another go hoping next weekend.

GL & HH.

 

[DFX DAVE in M.D.]

Those bottle pieces are late 1800's you are in the right area. I would hit that with a bottle digger rake. I bought a few in the past, think its called a potato rake, it has 3 prongs on it. They work great in hillside dumps, wear glove to prevent blisters on your palms.

 

[Jarl]

Thanks for the info. I know little about bottles...other than what's old and what isn't lol. I'll see how it goes when I go back.

 

[park pirate]

Nice..

 

[Old Dude]

They may not be " glorious" but they give a hint that there just might be something that IS. Good luck on your next trip.

 

[treblehunter]

Not bad for eyeball finds, sounds like you need a tiny coil?
Good luck, also sounds like a good spot to just dig a couple big holes and do some sifting, I like DFX Dave's idea

 

[beez0404]

It's a lot of work but the potential treasures are there for sure. You just have to be sure and go slow and be patient.

 

[dirtlooter]

sounds like a lot of potential

 

[g-olden years]

Very glad you're going back to look for more in the newly disturbed earth! Hoping you find a few intact bottles! Andi

 

[mr helton]

That's a sweet bunch of finds! I gotta ask how you did those pictures

 

[scuba1970]

Great job shooting those pics. Like alot

 

[sponge]

Im posting so I can read about the treasure you are about to uncover.

sponge using smoke signals.

 

[Tnmountains]

Need to get that metal detector in there and see what else you can find. I started out digging bottles and still enjoy them as much as anything. Where it is they might not like a sifter but bet you can get in there this winter when the water drops. Good Luck!

 

[tyrocksalot]

sounds like a lot of potential

Get your detector out there, seems promising. HH.

 

[MLively]

This is why my detector stays in my truck all the time! Lol awesome relics and IH

 

[Jarl]

TN is being strange, I 'liked' everyone's post here, but after scrolling around I noticed that it somehow 'unliked' every comment on it's own. Thanks for all the comments, compliments and suggestions everyone. I agree with everyone. And, as far as how I did these particular shots...the bottle shards were arranged on a piece of frosted glass(found in garbage)...was a sample piece about 1' square. I suspended this on two boxes that were the same height. You could use anything really...I just looked around and pulled a few boxes over where i needed them and 'plop' goes the glass...then the bottle shards on top. After, I placed a homemade soft box I made for my flash facing up towards the camera but under the suspended glass...so everything was back-lit. Glass subjects always look spectacular when back-lit...even old broken bottle shards lol. The other pic the items just arranged on non reflective side of poster board...homemade soft box again but pointed at subject. I could have made it a lot better, but I just wanted to get it done really. There are(to me)some annoying shadows in the photo...but not enough for me to care too much. I know how to fix it...just too lazy.

 

[ATpro5]

I have to compliment on the backlit bottle shards pictures. That's just awesome. It would be cool to keep a catalog of all the broken parts that you find.

 

[highnam]

Awesome camera work on those finds!