HomeGuardDan
Bronze Member
"what a difference a day makes," is a quote often used. I believe that I defined or illustrated it during the past 24 hours.
Yesterday, my good pal Bill D. and I got together for a short afternoon hunt. We intended on accessing a new property, but were unable to grab either of the two owners that we felt confident in reaching. So, back to one of the old tried and true sites we went. On the way there I told Bill that I wanted to find a trash pit and that I would likely begin looking for one. Bill replied, "I want to give that creek a look again." Well I think I successfully did both. First, while hunting the creek, I dug a nice complete iron 1700's shoe buckle. This one should clean up nice in electrolysis. Then, I explored a deep signal and dug into a nice, but small colonial trash pit. The pewter/lead sheathing is what led me into it and also was the only thing to surface from it (except for broken bottles and nails). I might go back and explore it again one day as it is awfully close to where I located other pits in the past. The rest of the day was surface hunting and I was able to score 8 buttons, including a beautiful early 1800's floral gilted button. I really thought I had a good one when I dug it, but still a nice dandy! The day ended with an amazing sunset and fairly mild/warm breeze. You know the saying...red skies at night...well I think it was wrong this day.
With weather moving in, I decided to try and beat it by getting out before 7am. I knew some snow was expected, but figured just a few snow flurries or showers with little to show...boy was I wrong. Now, I remind you, yesterday it was 61 and mild...this morning it was 31 and snowy. The snow came, and came, and came, until I was a frozen digger. My loop gained an extra pound as it picked up ice and snow, but relics still surfaced as well.
On this day my buddy Dave joined in for a couple of hours (I think Bill was smart enough to stay home). This site had colonial activity and a CS camp and yielded several other good finds a few weeks back (my CS buttons, Georgetown Cadet and 1790's large cent). Dave started off with a good find right away (VA Staff button) along with other odds and ends. During just two quick, frozen hours, he recovered a handful of goodies aside from the button, including a nice silver seated halfdime.
My fingers were frozen but not deterred, and finds began to come my way as well. First a nice US staff officers cuff button from the civil war, and then other flat buttons and odds and ends. In total today I dug 9 buttons, including another eagle button and the staff. My best find was another 1790's large cent and at least this one you can make out a little better detail than the first one I dug. On the long, cold, snowy drive home, I could not believe how the weather had changed so much in less than 12 hours. "From sunset to sunrise, mother nature has a surprise" might be a quote to use in the future. In the total of 7 hours of hunting, I dug 17 buttons, the large cent, and plenty of other brass and lead.
Onward to the next day...just please no returns of pickaxes and frozen ground.
HH
Dan
Yesterday, my good pal Bill D. and I got together for a short afternoon hunt. We intended on accessing a new property, but were unable to grab either of the two owners that we felt confident in reaching. So, back to one of the old tried and true sites we went. On the way there I told Bill that I wanted to find a trash pit and that I would likely begin looking for one. Bill replied, "I want to give that creek a look again." Well I think I successfully did both. First, while hunting the creek, I dug a nice complete iron 1700's shoe buckle. This one should clean up nice in electrolysis. Then, I explored a deep signal and dug into a nice, but small colonial trash pit. The pewter/lead sheathing is what led me into it and also was the only thing to surface from it (except for broken bottles and nails). I might go back and explore it again one day as it is awfully close to where I located other pits in the past. The rest of the day was surface hunting and I was able to score 8 buttons, including a beautiful early 1800's floral gilted button. I really thought I had a good one when I dug it, but still a nice dandy! The day ended with an amazing sunset and fairly mild/warm breeze. You know the saying...red skies at night...well I think it was wrong this day.
With weather moving in, I decided to try and beat it by getting out before 7am. I knew some snow was expected, but figured just a few snow flurries or showers with little to show...boy was I wrong. Now, I remind you, yesterday it was 61 and mild...this morning it was 31 and snowy. The snow came, and came, and came, until I was a frozen digger. My loop gained an extra pound as it picked up ice and snow, but relics still surfaced as well.
On this day my buddy Dave joined in for a couple of hours (I think Bill was smart enough to stay home). This site had colonial activity and a CS camp and yielded several other good finds a few weeks back (my CS buttons, Georgetown Cadet and 1790's large cent). Dave started off with a good find right away (VA Staff button) along with other odds and ends. During just two quick, frozen hours, he recovered a handful of goodies aside from the button, including a nice silver seated halfdime.
My fingers were frozen but not deterred, and finds began to come my way as well. First a nice US staff officers cuff button from the civil war, and then other flat buttons and odds and ends. In total today I dug 9 buttons, including another eagle button and the staff. My best find was another 1790's large cent and at least this one you can make out a little better detail than the first one I dug. On the long, cold, snowy drive home, I could not believe how the weather had changed so much in less than 12 hours. "From sunset to sunrise, mother nature has a surprise" might be a quote to use in the future. In the total of 7 hours of hunting, I dug 17 buttons, the large cent, and plenty of other brass and lead.
Onward to the next day...just please no returns of pickaxes and frozen ground.
HH
Dan
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