Going back in TIME... 1700s Sundial.

pitdiggers

Full Member
Feb 16, 2009
178
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Northern Virginia
Detector(s) used
Whites MXT, Shadow X5, Tesoro Cibola, Minelab XTerra
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

Thanks to my digging partner Monkeyboy this may be my best find ever. The pitdigger and monkeyboy clans hit the woods at a spot that was settled in the 1700's. Monkeyboy has popped out some super early coins that go back to the 1600-1700's over the years. After a few hours of popping out some tombacs, cast pewter and flat buttons I got a huge signal in an area where a natural spring was in the woods.

A few inches in the rocky wet ground I pulled out a large brass disc. The water gave this thing a different looking patina and it was covered in dirt so I carefully put it in my pack and kept digging. I had no idea what I had just found. Once we all took a break I pulled out the disc and handed it to monkeyboy. With a little water he slowly started to see some markings. Without hesitation he yelled SUNDIAL!!! Unreal. All of the roman numerals and markings are hand-engraved with excellent detail. The compassrose is hand engraved or stamped N,S,E,W. I was ecstatic!

After getting home I used a little water to continue to remove the mud and have done nothing else to it. After some research I found out that the early american settlers would use sundials instead of more expensive time pieces. Could be my best find to date!
 

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Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

This has been an exciting couple of days and all of your comments have been great to read. Thanks goes out to chemist100 for hooking me up with the NASS website. This national sundial association has a ton of info and will also be holding their annual conference on the MALL in Washington DC in October. There is some awesome history associated with early american sundials and hopefully I will here something back from them this week.
 

Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

Thats great, I hope you found some useful info. Keep us posted when you hear anything!!! You said in your post that you found this where a natural spring was, it might be possible that the area used to be used as a garden. I read somewhere that these things were placed near gardens and fountians. You should really try to see if you can find the other peice. Again, cool find!!!
 

Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

sweet find!!!!
congrats on the banner :headbang: :headbang:
 

Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

my congratulation!!! very interesting find!
 

Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

wow, I thought I allready posted on this thread.....what a fine peice of history you uncovered. I can imagine people consulting this instrument to find out the time of day. Amazing.
 

Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

SUPER find! Congrats! :thumbsup: Breezie
 

Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

What an awesome relic! :hello2: :headbang: :notworthy: Congrats on the banner! :icon_thumright:


Any luck finding the pointer? ???
 

Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

:hello2: WOW , Thats Beautiful ! Congrats 2 you
vermonster
 

Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

Super Find bud! I'd be thanking MonkeyBoy right about now he is a good dude :headbang:
 

Re: Going back in TIME... 1700's Sundial.

Really cool find !! Never heard of one showing up anywhere!
 

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