THE Random Chat Thread - AKA "The RCT" - No shirt or shoes required - Open 24 / 7

[ARC]

Morning WD.

 

[WannaDig3687]

Good morning, Antiquarian, ARC, Bart, Bill, ECS, Duckshot, GB, MSBEEP, Pepperj, releventchair, rook, Simon (wherever you are), Toecutter, Tom, WHADI , and all you other people not sitting on a bench.

I have a busy day, so I’ll catch up later! [emoji3059]

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Good morning WD.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

At least you got out for awhile Dave. The finds are just a bonus to detecting sometimes.
I managed a hour on the property, few squashed leads, horseshoe, various sizes of shell casings/headstamps, and the various sizes of square nails/spikes.
(My reward pre-lawn mowing)

The farmers in my area are telling me that winter is coming in early this year Jim.
I'm just trying to get my 'detecting fix' in before I'm back to work at a 9 - 5 job again.

 

[bill from lachine]

Good morning WD.

 

[pepperj]

I feel this was likely an early Native American settlement, as it was located within 500 yards of what would've been a major river thousands of years ago.

Typically the First Nations settled closer to a water source than 500 yards. It might of varied somewhat if the lands were subjected to flooding then a higher area was used.
Water and the close proximity to it, was key to the 6 main groups of the Early First Nations.

 

[ARC]

Arrrrg another storm to watch.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Typically the First Nations settled closer to a water source than 500 yards. It might of varied somewhat if the lands were subjected to flooding then a higher area was used.
Water and the close proximity to it, was key to the 6 main groups of the Early First Nations.

I appreciate your insight here Jim, I always enjoy learning from your 45+ years of detecting experience.

This map shows where the river used to flow (now dried up) there also were a number of early mills located on this creek, all within a 1/2mile of this farm.
The black line is a road that is shown on my 1865 map but now no longer exists.

The red 'X' is where the arkies dug.

 

[Rookster]

Morning WD and bart

 

[Rookster]

AARC
I saw the storm track. Lotta time but not looking good for the gulf coast and the Ms delta.

 

[RustyRelics]

Good morning.

 

[bill from lachine]

Good morning Rusty.

 

[releventchair]

Mornin all!

Antiqua:
It makes one wonder what the archies found to do a dig there....
Here in the great lakes area and to the North , were feasts of the dead. I'm guessing from memory it was the Ottawa nation here. (But let's not trust my memory too much..) When stored remains would be interred en masse at certain intervals.
Part of ceremonies involved grave goods interred with them. Perhaps that was the interest? IF the low area was a large dug communal grave originally.
This link suggests relocating previously stored remains when a village was moved. The old accounts I read years back detailed the cleaning of bones and their being kept in lodges till interment. No mention of relocating them after the intermittent ceremonial mass internment.
Could be era , or a given nation's traditions , or mixed information .....

If the depression is natural , perhaps it was used as a fortification ,shelter, or wind break.
One South of me with an interesting tie to relics farther North was termed an earthwork , but was really just a single vertical log wall with a ditch on one side.
The ditch was removed earth to strengthen the wall base , but also the refuse pit.
One may speculate why the wall was desired. From attracting smoke to travel up, and to reflect heat. To a visual screen. To a defensive structure/cover. To a wind break. Ect..
Of note , as with many sites it was where/near two rivers converging. Alas , I no longer recall how far from water.
During threat of assault , I could see backing off travel/waterways to be out of sight ,hearing, smell..
And in times of peace /security , being with water at /near hand.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Huron_Feast_of_the_Dead

 

[WannaDig3687]

Thank you releventchair.
That is very interesting information. Raises some questions and spurred further readings. Not sure how much anyone knows about this history but maybe some one does.

- How long did the Wyandot continue the Feast of the Dead?
- When they were forced onto smaller and smaller lands, did they move the dead?
- When the Wyandot were forced out of Ohio and moved to Kansas, did they take their dead?

 

[bill from lachine]

Dave,

In your roamings one thing to keep an eye out for when native camp sites are involved are middens or fire pits. They'd usually be on higher ground near water to avoid flooding or heavy rains. Could be lots of artifacts in and around those pits.

 

[bill from lachine]

Going East Indian for supper tonight.

 

[Rookster]

Evening RC and RR

 

[WannaDig3687]

I had to take someone to Anderson, Indiana this morning. It’s not usually that bad of a drive on the lesser highways. The fog was horrible this morning, though. The colors are getting there.

 

[ECS]

...
In your roamings one thing to keep an eye out for when native camp sites are involved are middens or fire pits. They'd usually be on higher ground near water to avoid flooding or heavy rains. Could be lots of artifacts in and around those pits.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1992-07-31-9207310992-story.html
*NOTE* In Florida it is against State law to disturb a Native American mound.

 

[bill from lachine]

ECS,

Designated historical sites in Canada are off limits also. These would generally involve former fur trade forts or native villages that have been identified, etc...

A random fire pit or campsite unless falling under the list of sites should be ok.