Any idea what this could be?

[NOLAseek]

So I was detecting at a closed down golf course the other day, it used to be an old plantation dating to early 1800s. So I'm swinging around random spots. First good target is a putter head, that's to be expected, second was a 1978 penny, nothing great, then I decide to head over to a tree that looks to be well over 100 years old on the top of a mound about 6-7 feet tall. Which is weird because in South Louisiana there aren't natural hills. I start swinging and it's just full of iron, I dig a little and it's brick and junk then I realized that possibly I'm on the old dump pile from plantation. There's so much junk I abandon that spot for now and walk over to a large oak tree nearby. My AT Pro is pretty quiet as I'm making my way over to the tree then all of a sudden it goes crazy. Seems to be to site of the blacksmith when the plantation was there. About 8 to 10 inches down there's all kinds of iron scrap and old brick. Large square nails, flat iron chunks, and whatever this is. I didn't dig as long as I wanted but will return later for sure after some research on the plantation. Anyway, if someone has any idea what this large chunk of what I'm assuming is iron is it may be able to help me determine what the hell I got into.

Thanks


Square piece about 3x3x1.5 inches with a round divot in the middle of one side. For the life of me I can't figure out what it would be used for. The divot is only about a half inch deep.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Family Maps of Hinds County, Mississippi, Deluxe Edition - Grab it through Amazon!

[Backwoodsbob]

The metal looks good for the age.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[Backwoodsbob]

Were there any old missions in that area?

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[NOLAseek]

I don't believe so. There was an old plantation there for sure. It backs up to the levee by the Mississippi. I'm having a hard time finding any info about the specific plantation.

 

[Backwoodsbob]

How close to the levee was it? The levee was built by army corp.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[NOLAseek]

It was a good long way back from the levee. I believe it is very old because it was the same depth and area as the old square nails I was finding.

 

[bradyboy]

looks like an old nut
Brady

 

[Bruce R]

Jesuit nut.

 

[NOLAseek]

Hope doesn't go all the way through. It's just an indention.

 

[Backwoodsbob]

The Jesuit comment is toward me. He know nothing about them.Bruce I have a friend that has a Jesuit site in your state. The mound thing is interesting. That is where I would be looking around for something. If you find something else I might say something about the Jesuits. And it's wouldn't be a nut. They did use square pieces as corner markers. Metal could be used. I have one that is metal in my collection without a hole.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[NOLAseek]

Here is a pic of one of the nails and another piece of iron I can't identify found in the same area.

 

[Backwoodsbob]

Does the square piece fit in it

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[NOLAseek]

It will but it doesn't seem like they go together.

 

[angleofattack]

It is an end piece that holds the axle for a grinding wheel.

 

[NOLAseek]

That's what I thought when I found it. Any idea of what time frame something like that would be used?

 

[Backwoodsbob]

So angle do you think the two pieces work together?

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[NOLA_Ken]

If it's the place I'm thinking of, it was a sugar plantation, so you'd expect to find remnants of the sugar houses and the milling machinery there. It's important to always remember that where the river is now, isn't necessarily where it was a couple hundred years ago so distance from the levee isn't always the best way to gauge a site. If you're where I'm thinking Jeff Parish Historical Society might have some good old maps of the place too....

 

[NOLAseek]

You are probably thinking of exactly where I was. I will see if the historical society has any info. I for sure got on to the spot of some old building.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

The one I'm thinking off has rumors of a Jean Lafitte connection so hopefully you find some pirate loot!

 

[Backwoodsbob]

Keep your location a secret until your through with research

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk