Tried something different (for me)

[invent4hir]

For the past 7 months I’ve been detecting near an old well where I believe a cabin once stood. After 21 visits and 135 hours I have found a 2 Reales, counterfeit 8 Reales, 15 Large Cents, the list goes on and on. Being a debris field, I’ve also found a lot of nails, etc. While waiting on my next permission to come through, I decided to try something different (for me).

Drilled some ¾” holes in the lid of my plastic equipment box, took it to the site and sat it on a rolling cart, then sifted one shovel of dirt through it at the time. Next went over the dirt remaining on the lid w/ a pinpointer and searched it visually. When done, I’d pour the dirt into a pile on the ground and got another shovel full. Once the hole was completely dug (about 16-20” deep), I ran my detector inside it, over the pile, then returned the dirt pile to the hole.

Lots of effort to be sure. In 12 hours over 2 days I found a pair of tiny flat buttons, 17 pottery sherds, 2 pieces of flint, a non-metallic sphere and other stuff shown in the last 3 pics below. Of course there were still a bunch of nails.

 

[Digger RJ]

For the past 7 months I’ve been detecting near an old well where I believe a cabin once stood. After 21 visits and 135 hours I have found a 2 Reales, counterfeit 8 Reales, 15 Large Cents, the list goes on and on. Being a debris field, I’ve also found a lot of nails, etc. While waiting on my next permission to come through, I decided to try something different (for me).

Drilled some ¾” holes in the lid of my plastic equipment box, took it to the site and sat it on a rolling cart, then sifted one shovel of dirt through it at the time. Next went over the dirt remaining on the lid w/ a pinpointer and searched it visually. When done, I’d pour the dirt into a pile on the ground and got another shovel full. Once the hole was completely dug (about 16-20” deep), I ran my detector inside it, over the pile, then returned the dirt pile to the hole.

Lots of effort to be sure. In 12 hours over 2 days I found a pair of tiny flat buttons, 17 pottery sherds, 2 pieces of flint, a non-metallic sphere and other stuff shown in the last 3 pics below. Of course there were still a bunch of nails.

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[Dejure]

This sounds more like my old bottle digging days, but with a detector added, rather than the other way around.

In Billings, Montana, we dug the old dump, which closed around 1918. We went down about six feet. The time there was like finding an abandoned gold mine that was still producing. For example, we got 45 etched glass cobalt beer bottles out of a hole. Many coffin and pumpkin seed flasks, a Reeds Bitters lady's leg. . . .

 

[invent4hir]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

Digger RJ, thanks for the kudos! Heading back again this Saturday - weather permitting.

 

[invent4hir]

This sounds more like my old bottle digging days, but with a detector added, rather than the other way around.

In Billings, Montana, we dug the old dump, which closed around 1918. We went down about six feet. The time there was like finding an abandoned gold mine that was still producing. For example, we got 45 etched glass cobalt beer bottles out of a hole. Many coffin and pumpkin seed flasks, a Reeds Bitters lady's leg. . . .

Dejure, WOW!! I had hoped to find where the outhouse once stood - but not yet succeeded. Who knows, I may eat some spinach (like Popeye) & remove the concrete lid from the old well. Some treasures might await there.

 

[invent4hir]

All, while waiting for another metal detecting permission to be granted and an end to the "moderate" drought - I continued to excavate holes & sifting the dirt near the Old Well. Here are the results and some pics:

Qty​	Artifact​
1​	1836 Large Cent
11​	Buttons
5.5​	Marbles
16​	Flint
3​	Slate
259​	Pottery sherds
80​	Earthenware
1231​	Nails found at Excavation holes #E7-E26 only

As with the artifacts found with my metal detector at the site earlier in the year, including a 1774 2R, Counterfeit Mexican 8R, 15 LCs, 9 flat buttons and more, the artifacts found sifting date from the late 1700s to late 1800s. The excavated holes ranged from 15 to 18 inches deep. Of course most of the buttons found sifting, were near the bottom of the hole. And all were tiny. The 1836 LC was covered with a mixture of limestone soil and rust from a nearby nail. It's surface badly damaged (especially the reverse).

I began to count the number of nails starting with hole 7, and discovered that there were approximately 5 nails/cubic foot. This average does NOT include Excavation holes #E1-E6 or countless nails detected/dug prior to sifting. Not to mention all the other ferrous artifacts. Goes to show the overwhelming amount of debris that was in the area. It’s a wonder the my metal detector was able to display a clean signal, especially when using either the 950 or 10” DD coil!

In all, I learned a lot about the V3i's different settings, got outdoors, and stayed in shape. So a good 9+ months overall.

 

[Gare]

I think you have done outstanding

 

[invent4hir]

I think you have done outstanding

Thanks Gare!