Went metal detecting and found bottles?!

bbheigle0605 · Apr 15, 2013

Completely unexpected. I spent 5 hrs digging yesterday and I'm defiantly paying for it today! Ouch. I researched some and most are late 1800's. there is one aqua cloudy blue bottle that I'm having zero luck on. It has the #40 on the bottom. The mold line is somewhat sloppy and not straight. Also, how far back does tabasco bottles go? Have pics of one i found. Thanks! First time digging bottles and I'm scared I'm hooked! Apologize for photos that are out of order.

Bass · Apr 15, 2013

Let me be the 1st to say COGRATULATIONS. That looks like a very successful dig. Welcome to your new life. You will find your metal detector being used less and less and your shovel more and more. Thus stuff us addictive

bbheigle0605 · Apr 15, 2013

bass assassin said:
Let me be the 1st to say COGRATULATIONS. That looks like a very successful dig. Welcome to your new life. You will find your metal detector being used less and less and your shovel more and more. Thus stuff us addictive

Thank you! Haha! I now understand the excitement in bottle hunting. Next time I'm bringing gloves. I have little use in my hands today bc of cuts!

GaRebel1861 · Apr 15, 2013

Looks like you've got some good ones there. That's a nice day of hunting to bring back that many.

bbheigle0605 · Apr 15, 2013

GaRebel1861 said:
Looks like you've got some good ones there. That's a nice day of hunting to bring back that many.

Thank you! I think the reason why I was successful is because it rained a few days before so the soil was nice and loose. Our soil is clay so if it was dry it would be hard as concrete! Hoping to go back today while its still muddy.

I have been researching on how to clean old bottles. How to y'all clean yours?

GaRebel1861 · Apr 15, 2013

bbheigle0605 said:
Thank you! I think the reason why I was successful is because it rained a few days before so the soil was nice and loose. Our soil is clay so if it was dry it would be hard as concrete! Hoping to go back today while its still muddy.

I have been researching on how to clean old bottles. How to y'all clean yours?

Sort of depends on what I've got. I've used a bottle brush with warm soapy water after they were allowed to soak sometimes for a few days or other a week because I got busy. In smaller bottles I've used the lead from a shotgun shell. Poured the bird shot in again with warm soapy water and placed my thumb over the opening a shook it until the sediment was knocked loose. I've also soaked the bottles in either bleach or muratic acid. (NEVER BOTH at the same time) I'm sure there are other ways to clean your finds that someone will share their method.

Metro Retro · Apr 15, 2013

Wow, did you find all of those in the same pit? I hope you're going back and congratulations! The variety is amazing!

Harry Pristis · Apr 15, 2013

Nice trove of bottles! The quart-size, emerald, Carter's master ink may be the best of all.

The round bottom soda appears to be a ginger ale bottle.

Bass · Apr 15, 2013

That carter's emerald is a gorgeous bottle

bbheigle0605 · Apr 15, 2013

Yep all in that one hole. I just scratched the surface. It is on a extinct plantation town owed by the 2nd largest slave owner in the US in 1862 (if I remember correctly). After the civil war, the town hung around until the MS River flood in the 1920's. I think this could be a dump site. Forgot the correct term for a dump site....

Yes it is a Ginger Ale bottle! That is my favorite along with the Carters Ink! Will post more if I find more. Thanks y'all!

Bass · Apr 15, 2013

So did you walk up on some bottles exposed by the rain,, or broken glass on top of the ground or did your metal detector pick up something and you found a bottle while digging?

bbheigle0605 · Apr 15, 2013

bass assassin said:
So did you walk up on some bottles exposed by the rain,, or broken glass on top of the ground or did your metal detector pick up something and you found a bottle while digging?

I got a hit on the metal detector and I ran up on the brown bottle in the last photo. For a second i thought it was a huge piece of brass. Boy i was wrong! I'm a big civil war buff and have been looking for relics. My father and husband love old bottles and this has excited them to no end!

Bass · Apr 15, 2013

Thats great. I think they are not the only ones excited. I think there's more there. You might want to go extra careful with a shovel because you could break some of them. Are you in mississippi?

bbheigle0605 · Apr 15, 2013

bass assassin said:
Thats great. I think they are not the only ones excited. I think there's more there. You might want to go extra careful with a shovel because you could break some of them. Are you in mississippi?

Thank you! Yes, I am! Real close to the river. My husband's family has property just above Vicksburg. I'm hoping I will find one during the war era. We went back today but the Mosquitos were circling us when we stepped out of the truck. Stayed about 15 mins bc we were being sucked dry! We did find 2 more medicine bottles. One could possibly be a flask? I will post them. Found a broken medicine bottle from Vicksburg. Hate it's broken! I'm hoping to fine another one intact! Thinking about returning in the morning when the Mosquitos aren't bad. Hate those monsters!!!!!

unclemac · Apr 15, 2013

clean them up and show them off.....then go back and find us more!

Bass · Apr 16, 2013

Hey bbheigle, i kind figured you were close to vicksburg. I'm in west monroe

bbheigle0605 · Apr 16, 2013

bass assassin said:
Hey bbheigle, i kind figured you were close to vicksburg. I'm in west monroe

Oh really!!! My kids love watching Duck Commander. I bet you're tired of hearing about them ha!

Docpr · Apr 16, 2013

bbheigle0605 said:
Thank you! Yes, I am! Real close to the river. My husband's family has property just above Vicksburg. I'm hoping I will find one during the war era. We went back today but the Mosquitos were circling us when we stepped out of the truck. Stayed about 15 mins bc we were being sucked dry! We did find 2 more medicine bottles. One could possibly be a flask? I will post them. Found a broken medicine bottle from Vicksburg. Hate it's broken! I'm hoping to fine another one intact! Thinking about returning in the morning when the Mosquitos aren't bad. Hate those monsters!!!!!

Thermacells are awesome....They Will keep the Skeeters away...