Found small room in a rock overhang with old shotgun shell remnants.

[OverKill]

Went out in the woods today,and a couple ridges over from where I deer hunt,I found this rock overhang,which looked like it was used for shelter a long time ago. Theres enough room to sleep 4 (LOL). Only enough room to crawl ,not stand. Inside floor had about 4 inches of loose soil,more nut shells than soil (weird) , and some rocks. I crawl inside with my detector,and found 4 shotgun shell heads.
2-Federal Monark No.12 (single ring around primer)
1-Remington UMC New Club No.12 (eight point star around primer)
1- UMC Co. Nitro Club No.12 (single ring around primer)

I believe they are all early 1900's, not sure. Chime in if anyone knows this stuff
Thanks in advance, Ron ...

Might go back tomorrow and get more,my back started getting tight and had to quit today.

 

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[OverKill]

Strange these were so far inside ...

 

[creskol]

That's a really neat photo looking form inside the dungeon outward. Nice post! I wish I could help with the shells, but I am a [COLOR=#0][/COLOR][COLOR=#0]dummkopf when it comes to those! [/COLOR][COLOR=#0]
[/COLOR]

 

[treblehunter]

Try this link.
Shotgun
Good work, keep digging.

 

[parsonwalker]

Way cool how somebody stacked small rock on the sides of the opening! Wouldn't you love to know if they were ancient or modern hands??

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Maybe the squirrels gathered the shot gun shells along with the acorns they maybe stored in there for winter? I'm guessing.

 

[turtlefoot13]

Nice finds! I can help you with fair certainty on two of them. I don't have solid information on the Federal Monark. As best as I can tell, through advertising, it was popular in the 1950's.

The Remington UMC New Club is a bit easier for me to date. This headstamp was used from 1911-1914. In 1915 they went to the REM-UMC style of headstamp.

The best date that I can give you on the Nitro Club is 1894-1910. Nitro and Nitro Club shells are a bit of an enigma. The 1895 UMC Catalog shows the introduction of the Nitro line of shells but makes no mention of the Nitro Club. An 1894 ad in Recreation Magazine lists the Nitro Club shell. A story in an 1895 issue of Forest and Stream talks about a new shell (Nitro) taking the place of the Nitro Club, while an 1896 ad in Outing Magazine is an ad for the new shell - the Nitro Club. On a side note, a noted historian has given me the start date of 1893 for the Nitro Club, but I cannot verify that date!

Here is a pic of the 1911-1912 catalog showing your Remington UMC headstamp.


Here is the "new" headstamp in the 1917 catalog.


Once again, nice finds!
Doug

 

[pepperj]

This link might help you date the shells. The overhang makes for a great blind.

Shotgun

 

[OverKill]

That's exactly what I thought,parsonwalker. It's like they built up the sides to keep the wind out,and I thought,I wonder if Indians were here. I know Indians were in the area,because I live next to Sequatchie River and people walk the river and finds arrowheads all the time.

 

[OverKill]

Much thanks ,Turtlefoot

 

[rock]

You should dig a little to see if you find any artifacts from the Indians.

 

[OverKill]

rock,I plan to go back under the rock tomorrow and search more. Just hard on the back,as you cant stand.

 

[Rawhide]

This is the stuff I like to find too. I keep a pair of Garret pans with me in my pack. One is classifier, the other a pan. They are just great for playing in the dirt. You find any pottery you may want to get a university involved. You find any bones you will need to get the Sherriff involved. Most openings are weakest at the mouth, so a cave in could hurt or kill you. Take a friend or let someone know where you are and when you will return.

 

[kenstein]

You should dig a little to see if you find any artifacts from the Indians.

Would surely have been a place of interest for the Natives, though probably not as living quarters for the same reasons that you couldn't hunt it for very long at a time. However I would spend some time digging around both inside and out.

 

[DocBeav]

That site looks cool! Good luck!

 

[stefen]

not many snakes this time of year...unless you kick open a den...might smell em before you see em...

 

[OverKill]

No snakes now. Still having some warm days though

 

[creskol]

Would surely have been a place of interest for the Natives, though probably not as living quarters for the same reasons that you couldn't hunt it for very long at a time. However I would spend some time digging around both inside and out.

Meeee tooo.. Personally, I would take a sifter to the dirt .. both inside and out !

 

[OverKill]

Yea, Im gonna have to make a sifter. Top 4 inches layer is loose,mixed soil,consisting of compost,sticks,flaked off rock,and nut shells (acorn,and chestnut) ton of them.

 

[OverKill]

Turtlefoot, I just found your site on this info. Headstamp Database , Nice work you are doing,Thanks