Now I gotta dig a 6 foot hole.

[chopper]

So what's the thing you hate digging more than anything? I'll give you a second to think about it.........
Many of you probably thought "pull tab" or "gum wrapper" or "penny from my own pocket", but for me it's this certain piece of iron.

I found the 5th one today on the same 2 acre spot of my property I always hunt. I don't actually care what it is, it just bugs me that it might be a grave marker. I've already posted it in the "what is it?" forum, got a lot of good thoughts but no real confirmation. I've pulled a lot of nice buttons, bullets, etc. from this spot, and they were all near surface finds and it's not that I'll feel guilty or even stop detecting if there are graves here, I just want to know!

So this time I marked the spot, I figure I might not ever know the answer but I can find out if there's a dude buried here! Don't freak out now, I'm not gonna pluck the breast plate off his chest or anything and for all we know they're just some tractor parts. Seriously though, I know some here are going to think I'm disrespectful to attempt a dig but I've got no real evidence of a grave and if I find out this actually was a cemetery, I won't be rippin' through it with a backhoe again, or building on it, etc. It may be a lot of work to satisfy my curiosity but at least I'll be able to say "well I dug on the spot and there wasn't anybody there, so it's probably not a marker".

So I'm just gonna dig a little at a time, may take me a month no big rush. If I make a discovery, I'll just refill the hole and put back the marker. If I don't, GREAT!

O.K. all that said here are my finds for today, dug a bit of iron and found a few goodies underneath! The bent up horse shoe was at the edge of a 30 foot drop, hope it came off on the way up! Also found my third small buckle, a colt pistol bullet, couple of 3 ringers, a teardrop bullet maybe (32cal?), couple of tent grommets, mangled piece of shoulder scales, large rivet, bridle rosette, and a couple of other items. Can someone tell what the item is in the upper left corner of the last pic? I know I've seen several of these posted. As always, I appreciate anyone willing to i.d. an object or correct my faulty assessment!

 

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[limitedthoughts]

Ooo yeah. Still not sure what they are but id hate to dig up someone too.

Not sure if its a marker though. Almost looks like a part of a tractor.



LT

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

The VERY worst thing I have dug up (and, unfortunately more than once) is hypodermic needles at the beach.

They scare me - its not like they are new, or anything.


If I knew then, what I know now, my kids would NEVER have been barefoot at the beach (or me either, for that matter).

B

 

[duggap]

You are not digging up a grave marker. Those are off of farm equipment, a mower, I believe. Now in case you do dig up a soldier, I guess it would depend on which side he was on.

 

[leslie(nova scotia)]

yo Chopper

From the land of the Bluenose....well me bouy i think that a small John Deere back hoe would be the next thing on your want list. that soil looks like it is like concrete. Interesting finds and looking forward to further ones sir!

 

[Missouri_John]

your mystery item is a knapsack hook. a triangle shaped piece would hook onto the item you found

 

[txkickergirl]

I don't know what they are but I have found them myself, its not a gravemarker though. That looks like a really nice place to hunt. You should be finding the coins soon.

 

[chopper]

I don't know what they are but I have found them myself, its not a gravemarker though. That looks like a really nice place to hunt. You should be finding the coins soon.

I would love to see a pic if you still have one, Txkickergirl. I would also like to know where you found them. Each one is slightly different, a local guy that repairs tractors and knows a lot about antique farm machinery said that he has no idea what they are, this is also a guy thats been detecting the area for 20+ years. PBK thought they might be lot markers, several others on line and in the community said grave markers, others said teeth for some kind of plow, I really have no idea. I kind of went off the other day, 2 feet down now feels like wasting time and energy....maybe I'll just wait for my next backhoe rental.

I have found a couple of coins, 1903 IH penny and a 1905 V nickel. I've got to move on to a new spot though, neighbor's got 50 acres across the street I'm about to start hunting. There were 2 little communities there from the 1820's through the C. War, hopefully I'll start finding some older coins, and more of them.

 

[Goldiver]

Once again, nice going on the finds! That iron stirrup is a cool find! 8) I can hardly wait to see what you come up with at the other property you are going to hunt.

Steve

 

[incajoe]

Grave markers wouldn't be made of iron. They would rust and need upkeep. A grave marker will most times be made of brass or aluminum.

 

[jgowans]

May be that someone buried their horse there.....

 

[chopper]

There are actually some small iron markers at a local cemetery, they have little plates on the face with the name,etc. Some of the names and dates are unreadable. These markers are probably less than 40 years old. I agree it doesn't make much sense, but I guess if you can't afford a better marker it's better than nothing. I think many intend to replace the temporary markers, but it never happens.

The items I've found do have two little spikes that are about 2 inches apart, could have been used to hold some kind of plate. The back has a large 2 and 1/2 inch spike.

16,000 Union troops and 14,000 Con. troops we're in LaGrange at one point during the C. War, 50-60 skirmishes in the area, lot of death related to sickness and extremely cold winters, they burned down half the town trying to stay warm. Under the conditions, I can see them using iron to mark the graves.

 

[Scott (Mich)]

Chopper,

I know I have seen those exact same cutter bar hold down plates somewhere on my dad's farm machinery, I just cannot remember whether it was on a John Deere, Ford, or other manufacturer. I can remember pounding the rivets to hold them in place (bolts with nuts would not be used as the hay or other crops would get hung up on them).

Here is a picture of a cutter bar with similar plates.



Happy Hunting,

Scott (MI)

 

[fortbball9]

That is what I was going to say,Great call Scott.Also very nice mix of finds.Keep us posted on what you dig up.Keep the pics coming!!!!!!!!

fortbball9

 

[chopper]

Scott,
Many thanks for the info! I will begin hunting for a pic of the "cutter bar" plates. It makes me feel hopeful that you've seen the exact same plate on the machine itself. If your dad still has the equipment and you could take a pic I would really appreciate it. Thanks-C

 

[Dirt Dobber]

Chopper, Just my 2cents on these mystery items , I don,t think they are blades from a tractor mower attachment. You couldn't cut enough grass to round them off as they now appear in pic. And yes I to have seen iron markers in cemeteries. The markers I'm thinking about were used while headstone was being made. And yes some headstones never were put up. But you may concider taking one to the oldest funeral home in your area and ask someone what they think about it. Neat finds anyway. D.D.

 

[jgowans]

You can always check the older topo maps.
Many times they are forgotten or abandoned.

 

[fortbball9]

These are not the blades them selves but the pieces that the bar slide back and forth in behind (they keep the cutter bar in the right spot)

fortbball9

 

[mistergee]

could they be plot markers....marks the grave sites until they are sold??

 

[txkickergirl]

I will have to check to see if I took any pics, I know I didn't keep them, because I found mine in a plowed field close to rail road track so I figured they were either tractor parts or something from the trussle.