Field 2 - Week 1 - Finally Figuring out the Netherlands

[BioProfessor]

Hi Folks,

Well we moved to a new spot where some of the maps indicated there might have been more activity. It's a big field and it is dry as a bone but I think we are making progress. We got to a place that is about 100 meters by 100 meters that produced things that might be associated with habitation and/or commerce. Since the pasture has never been really plowed, things are not scattered vertically or horizontally much. So there will be a place you will find a few things and then no signals for a pretty good ways, then more "clusters." I like the area here better than the other fields. The finds are a bit more intriguing. I think it is harder work for the targets but that is the way it is sometimes.

Since the area has not been plowed, we don't get the normal "clues" on the top of the ground - like pottery and pipes. We have to stumble across them when we dig a target. As we have moved over the area, the pottery and pipes we have found are old. So that is good.

So here are some of the things coming from the area the maps says should be better.

Some information about the items.

The yellow and brown pottery shards set off my PI Pin Pointer. Think they used a bit too much lead.

The copper coin is a 1578 Double Duit and the silver coin next to it is a counterfeit 6 Stuvier and it has a countermark. Go figure

Seems somebody was in the military as the spur and the ramrod guide could have be "bring backs" from some campaign.

I thought it was interesting that the lead seal for "SATYN" from Leiden was for a bolt of Satin cloth. Maybe somebody here had money.

The beehive thimble is cast bronze. Thick and heavy and would not have been fun to use. Maybe 14th century??

Enjoy the pics. It was a LOT of work and the temperature has been in the 90's here.

Daryl

 

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[umrgolf]

Some nice looking finds These are from Minnesota, or have you relocated? ... Nevermind, just saw the obvious title

 

[BioProfessor]

I wish I could find stuff like this in Minnesota. I am in the Netherlands for the summer and these fields are in an old part of the country between Amersfoort and Utrecht. A part of the Netherlands that was not under water until about 100 years ago. The Dutch like maps so I learned to use them. Sure beats hunting tot lots in the summer.

Daryl

 

[CAgem]

Nice stuff, Daryl!

 

[BioProfessor]

Thanks. The big problem is coming back to the States and expecting to find stuff like this. It takes a while to get it out of your head. I find myself looking at piles of dirt and construction sites and nice "bumpy" pastures and wondering if there may be some Roman stuff there. Problem is, I'm in Beaufort, SC.

Daryl

 

[cuzcosquirrel]

Spanish armies fought in an around the Netherlands in the 1500's and 1600's.


"The area concerned was part of the Habsburg Empire and known as the Spanish Netherlands. Up to his abdication in 1555, the area was run by Charles V and for all his faults - especially his financial burdening of the region with regards to taxes - he was a Burgundian and he spoke Flemish. His successor, Philip II did not and he was also not a Burgundian. He was seen as being cold and arrogant and after 1559 he never visited the Spanish Netherlands.

The population of the Spanish Netherlands was 3 million with about 300 cities. There was immense local patriotism in the area which was split by language. There were seventeen provinces. The fourteen northern provinces spoke Dutch dialects while the three southern ones spoke Walloon. The nobles spoke French though more so in the South than in the North.

Philip needed the region for its wealth. Antwerp was the centre from which bullion from the New World was distributed and its financiers were experts in raising loans - a point not lost on Philip.

By the mid-C16, the spread of Calvinism in the Low Countries had taken hold. The Habsburg-Valois Wars had ended in 1559 so movement throughout western Europe was easier. Calvinism found support from the lower classes, lesser nobles and town leaders. In 1566, Calvinism within the region was based in Antwerp. The religion spread rapidly. The flood of Calvinism took place after Charles V’s reign. As a strong catholic, Philip had to be seen to be taking on Calvinism. Philip determined to rid The region of heresy."

 

[BioProfessor]

That's cool information. That explains why we also found Spanish silver coins in another field about 2km from this field. We know they both date back to at least the 1600's. I think it is neat to find them but odd that they lost them. I guess the invention of pockets, buttons, etc. made a difference but then there were pocket holes, lost buttons, etc. A win for us (no pun on last night's Football final) but a loss for them.

Thanks!!

Daryl

 

[civilman1]

Cool dig's Daryl What do you think the "pin's" were used for in pic #5....nail's?

 

[BioProfessor]

Thanks. It's fun now that I'm finally finding some interesting stuff. Hard digging but fun.

I wish I knew what they were. I'm thinking about posting them in the "What is it" section. They don't seem to be nails as the heads are not beat up. They are old. They are bronze. I think they are older than the Rosehead nails or other hand-forged iron nails.

I was told they may be pipe cleaning tools but I think the guy was just guessing. I just put them in the finds from this new field as I like them and they seem to be period.

Ideas anybody?

Daryl

 

[robfinds]

Nice finds, so that's what this is, a ram rod guide .had it a couple of years back, wondered what it was. What date is it roughly ?. Once again great finds

 

[BioProfessor]

We find things that look similar in the US when I hunt there. One is a ramrod guide for a musket ramrod - called a ram pipe, one is the ramrod guide for a pistol - also called a ram pipe -, and the other is a drum stick holder from a drum.

From what I can tell, what you have is one of the middle pipes - as mine is. And you also have what appears to be the guide that would have been at the top to help guide the rod when you were busy trying not to get killed as you loaded your "hope it fires" flintlock.

As far as age, that's tough. I would say that the ones like I have are from guns not older than the 18th century. When I find things that are stamped out of metal and not cast, I have a hard time saying they are older than that.

I'm no expert on these as I have never really investigated the ways to tell and I have not seen a reference like we have for buckles and such.

Here is a Brown Bess one. That would date early to middle 18th century.

Daryl

 

[SoreKneesDayton]

Daryl,
You amaze me! When you said I should come to Europe to hunt I thought wow, but would never find anything. But you have found great stuff and it looks like a great time.

Now I need to find out how to get there for free! lol

SKD

 

[BioProfessor]

Easy. Go to the airport and wait by the ticket counter until someone comes along and they are taking their dog with them. Say you are the handler and must accompany the dog through the check point. Then climb in the crate. They are really big. They don't fly cargo. It's nice where they will put you.

I'll pick you up at Schiphol.

Daryl

 

[robfinds]

We find things that look similar in the US when I hunt there. One is a ramrod guide for a musket ramrod - called a ram pipe, one is the ramrod guide for a pistol - also called a ram pipe -, and the other is a drum stick holder from a drum.

From what I can tell, what you have is one of the middle pipes - as mine is. And you also have what appears to be the guide that would have been at the top to help guide the rod when you were busy trying not to get killed as you loaded your "hope it fires" flintlock.

As far as age, that's tough. I would say that the ones like I have are from guns not older than the 18th century. When I find things that are stamped out of metal and not cast, I have a hard time saying they are older than that.

I'm no expert on these as I have never really investigated the ways to tell and I have not seen a reference like we have for buckles and such.

Here is a Brown Bess one. That would date early to middle 18th century.

Daryl

Daryl, many thanks for the information. Good hunting
Regards
Robert.

 

[BioProfessor]

Hope it helps and it is just what I've been told by people I hunt with when we find these type things.

I'll be over in your neck of the woods for 10 days the first part of September. You guys still have the best stuff.

Daryl

 

[robfinds]

Hope it helps and it is just what I've been told by people I hunt with when we find these type things.

I'll be over in your neck of the woods for 10 days the first part of September. You guys still have the best stuff.

Daryl

Where in England will you be Daryl ?.

 

[BioProfessor]

I've been invited to hunt a country estate that has never been open for detecting. It has the ruins of a 14th century church and some other foundations. I'm sure it has been hunted but it has never been hit that hard. The closest town is Levington. I have permission to search the adjoining estate as well and a 10 acre corridor leading all the way to the original town church. I know it is old as the town maps go back to the 1500's and much of the land in the estate was the town "Commons." I hunted for a bit a month or so ago in Chelmondston and saw a couple of Gold Saters the farmer had found. So the Romans were across the bay pretty early. We'll see.

Daryl

 

[robfinds]

I've been invited to hunt a country estate that has never been open for detecting. It has the ruins of a 14th century church and some other foundations. I'm sure it has been hunted but it has never been hit that hard. The closest town is Levington. I have permission to search the adjoining estate as well and a 10 acre corridor leading all the way to the original town church. I know it is old as the town maps go back to the 1500's and much of the land in the estate was the town "Commons." I hunted for a bit a month or so ago in Chelmondston and saw a couple of Gold Saters the farmer had found. So the Romans were across the bay pretty early. We'll see.

Daryl

Suffolk a good county to search, good luck. A chance of finds from lots of ages, what do you most want to find Daryl ?.

 

[BioProfessor]

Peace, love, and happiness.

You??

Daryl

 

[robfinds]

Peace, love, and happiness.

You??

Daryl

Found them long ago the secret is not to look too hard