I live in Southern NJ and have recently been searching a deeply plowed farm field close by that I have been metal detecting for a few years. I'm now 6 hunts in and a friend has accompanied me for 4 of them. The field is a good long distance from any source of water (although creeks do run on the 2,000 acres the owner has) and possesses a few small hills rolling across the farm. In 6 hunts, I have filled 4 paper dinner plates mounded with flakes (yellow, red, and popcorn jasper, quartz, argillite) and my buddy has 2 full plates. Pieces range from 1/4" to almost 2" across. We have each located a half a dozen points but none that are high quality, some broken points, very few pieces of pottery and loads of clay pipe stems. I only started seriously point hunting this year and I'm confused now with this farm. Of the 1,000 acres that are currently plowed, 90% of the fields possess rounded river gravels. Only one small field with one small hill has angular gravels and produced points and flakes.
Anyone know why the rest of the farm would have such different gravels and not produce any artifacts? In addition, why would this lone small hill far from water produce such a huge volume of flakes but very few actual artifacts? I'm stumped. The soil strata seems to change at about 1 foot to 1.5 feet into a more clayey sand and silt, while the top foot is a silty sand. I wish I could dig and sift but the field is due to be seeded soon. I appreciate any help and insight. I could also use a few pointers or tips to be better at finding where I should be looking.
Thanks,
Jason
Anyone know why the rest of the farm would have such different gravels and not produce any artifacts? In addition, why would this lone small hill far from water produce such a huge volume of flakes but very few actual artifacts? I'm stumped. The soil strata seems to change at about 1 foot to 1.5 feet into a more clayey sand and silt, while the top foot is a silty sand. I wish I could dig and sift but the field is due to be seeded soon. I appreciate any help and insight. I could also use a few pointers or tips to be better at finding where I should be looking.
Thanks,
Jason
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