Newbies first cellar hole ...... Updated Again PART 2

[bassmstr]

Well let me start by saying I am a newbie. Had my detector less than a week and I love it. Bought it with the intention of doing old foundations. Went out today and braved the bugs and heat and want some opinions if I am on the right track. The town was established in 1721 and this is one of the oldest roads that is now abandoned except for the occasional four wheeler or hunter. This house shows up on a 1881 map I have seen. The main house faces the road and there is another bigger foundation about twenty feet behind that I believe was a barn. Well is slightly behind the house to the right and there is a round grouping of rocks about ten feet behind it down hill. Could this be the privy?
I dug alot of junk metal. Had nails turned off on my machine so none of those. Found some old cast iron pans early with gate marks but all broken. Some stove parts, what i believe is a buggy seat. Alot of broken glass, but no coins. Had a blast though.
I will post some pics of foundation and finds. I do have a ton of questions though
Can anyone date this site by what I found?
Am i wasting my time looking for coins here with a whites prizm 3? I know I have to upgrade to dfx.
The broken glass was found directly behind the main house against foundation is this common or did some kids get everyhing from the house once it was abandoned and break it here?
And ideas on privy? would they put them close to wells?

Anyways here is the pics and any help is appreciated

 

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[tymcmurray]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....

Looks good so far!! Enjoy and be safe.

 

[pjroo33]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....

Not sure where you are located, but the place looks promising. I see the name Charlestown on the one piece in your photo. If you are in South Carolina, the name Charlestown was changed to Charleston in 1783. That would indicate a very old foundation. Of course you could be in Massachusettes in which case nothing I said means a lick. Good luck!

 

[toolman61]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....

Looks very promising to my newbie eyes. Don't know about the detector but i would pound that site hard. I'm sure theres some goodies to be dug up! Good luck and go over it real good and i"m sure you'll find your treasure.... HH Tom

 

[daytondigger]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....

The rock lined pit could be a privy. They weren't real educated on bacteria and such back then. Dig a test hole down a couple or three feet and look for glass, ash, animal bones etc.. On metal detecting, one must have patience on these kind of sites, you may have to remove a lot of junk before the goodies show up. Work the area hard and it will pay off. Good luck diggin'!!

 

[christ-first]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....

i'd say you seem to be on the right track. that area looks awesome ! good luck !

 

[kevo]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....

I would stay put and hammer that place hard. As far as the pottery and all of that stuff goes, remember Buckleboys post about piecing one back together. If you haven't read it yet try to go back and read it. It turns out the right stuff can prove to be quite valuable. The way I look at it, every old foundation is worth hammering to the point of blood blisters and broken shovels

 

[treasurefiend]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....

Looks like a great place you got there!!!

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....

That is one,nice looking site. Stick with that baby, put up with the trash, don't cuss too much, and I expect to see some purdy photos of your finds real soon.
CurbdiggerCarl

 

[49er]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....

Looks like you did your home work...great job.... . Would piece together those plates to determine dates and probe the privy for other items. You should find old coins and such if you work hard, mark out a pattern (grid) and work it in different directions.
Let us know your finds...and again, great job.

 

[Ron B]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....

I've got to tell you the truth. Unless you have a lot of experience metal detecting, an old home site may prove to be very frustrating. Even experienced M-Detectorists sometimes avoid these areas; knowing the dedication and hard work ahead if they choose to proceed excavating the site. It's true; you will need to remove all the clutter to find the good stuff. You won't do it in a day or even a week in some cases working every single day. Do you have ample time? Are you in good physical condition? Is the location convenient? If the answer to any of these questions is no, I'd recommend concentrating on the most promising area within your site. The likely privy area would be my very first spot to grid. If goodies show up there, you most likely will reap many rewards gridding, and carefully working the rest of the area. I'd suggest using no discrimination on your machine. A good stout shovel is a must. 5/6 gallon buckets come in handy for removing all the trash. I'd take all the trash home with me, storing it in an area where I could later sort through it more slowly. I seldom throw anything away.

One more question; do you have a trusted friend (s) who could help?

Good luck!
GRB

 

[SusanMN]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....

Go back and take all the crockery. Some of it can be very valuable, even if broken and pieced back together. In particular, the one with the writing on it.

 

[vegasmetsfan]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....

GOOD LUCK, HARD WORK WILL PAY OFF!!

 

[Mr_Mojo_Risin]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....

Something tells me you're into something good

 

[Midnightrider08]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....

I am by no means an expert but IMHO you've got a pretty nice site going for you. The pottery & crock are very cool. Try not to get overwhelmed with all the signals everywhere and just stick with it. I been working a similar type site for about 3-4 months putting in 10-30 hrs a week as I can and always come home with something as I bring home everything I find. As others have stated you could probably be at the site for years if you tried to eliminate all signals ... that's what I plan on doing. I may never find anything of value but I will find peace. I have since started trying to find more about the persons who lived there. What puzzles me about such sites is the placement of items I sometimes find. I haven't located the outhouse or dump so I been doing just the house foundation itself as the yard is just littered with tons of iron signals. You'll find tons of nails forsure. Locate the dump and outhouse and you'll probably find some awesome relics. I think I here my foundation site callin my name....

Best of luck to you !!!

 

[bassmstr]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....UPDATED

Well me and the wife hit the cellar hole again this morning for about three hours. Found another well and alot of broken glass. I appreciate all the help and suggestions. I am thinking this is gonna be a big long search possibly a year plus. I also want to learn about who lived here so I am going to the historical society next month. They are only open one day a month..... Anyways walked away with my first button, A smoking pipe, A early bottle intact with no seams on it, some iron and a lamp burner that I can make out MAR 10 on. All of this came from one 4' X 3' area directly behind the house.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....UPDATED

Sounds like part of the confusion here is that you really have Several house sites in one spot!

Some of the things you're finding are OOOOOLD, and some are newer.  Part of the china is newer--part of it looks older, but I can't date the pattern.  The stoneware crocks are certainly 19th c. or older.  The pipe you found is Early 1800's at least!  Quite possibly 1700's. 

Someone mentioned my post about piecing together a crock--it was on the banner this summer, so it'll be easy for you to find.  If you can't find it, or need a link, just ask and I'll post one. 

You might have to dig a bit for all the pieces of the crock--and usually you'll find a piece still missing (that's because it was the first piece to break before the crock was discarded).  Get as much as you can of them, take them home, and see what you've got.  Separating them out is a wise move--and if you need any tips on resoration if you get a pretty-much complete one--let me know.

Some guys up north dug one that was made in 1800--and it was in pieces.  They never found the bottom of it, and even without the bottom it sold at Crocker Farm Stoneware Auction for $18,000.00! 

So it's certainly worth saving and researching--even if broken.

Sounds like you have a Large area to hunt--and it'll be a fun one.     As you clean out the large iron and haul it away, the smaller targets like buttons, coins, suspender clips, harmonica reed plates, etc. will start to make their appearances.  Don't give up.  There are Cool goodies there for you.

If you ever need some help with figuring out what you have, answering a question, or would like to voice an idea about your site--feel free to PM me.  I've helped others with spots, and I enjoy helping when I can.


Regards,


Buckleboy

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....UPDATED

Looking at the pipe more, I think it might be Colonial Era.

Look at the stem side that is turned up towards the camera in the photograph. Is there a maker's name stamped into the clay there? If so, it may be possible to date the pipe.


Regards,


Buckleboy

 

[Golden1]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....UPDATED

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!! keep digging there is some good stuff down there

 

[emesis]

Re: Newbies first cellar hole and I need help....UPDATED

Spend time doing the road into the site, no one has mentioned that . I have found quite a few coins on old roads , including silver and indian head pennies.

PFP