Recent Discoveries - Jaw Harp, Buttons, and the Ruin of the Our Hobby

[Silver Tree Chaser]

I have not taken the time to post for a while, but I found good reason to do so this morning. I wish that my reason was a Mass Silver coin or some other exceptional find, but that might take a good long time to happen. Here’s a quick photo of some recent finds – eagle button, an apparent variant of a nipple button variant, a lightly engraved tombac, jaw harp, 1870 Indian Head (good date), etc. A trifid-spoon handle end follows in the next photo. I hope to someday post a complete trifid-style spoon or another Mass Silver coin, but that’s getting harder in light of what I encountered this morning while scouting for a cellar hole. PLEASE CHECK OUT THE LAST TWO PHOTOS.





I came upon a historical cemetery, and while checking the dates on the tombstones (WHERE PEOPLE ARE BURIED) – this is what I saw.





It seems that a lot more people are taking up detecting, which I believe is largely due to the all the reality TV treasure hunting shows that do a very poor job portraying the hobby - too much emphasis on the value of finds, lots of hype, and other nonsense. These so-called “reality” TV shows with corroded King George copper worth $$$ (completely unrealistic), poses serious problems for those trying to do things the right way. Such TV programs does not serve those hobbyist who are in it for the long haul. Too many people have taken up detecting for the wrong reasons, and now you get this – some inconsiderate jerk who digs a HOLE above a GRAVE, and if that wasn’t bad enough, he leaves the hole unfilled. I understand if the admin. moves this post elsewhere, but I believe we all need to be aware of this ongoing isse and start some dialogue and what to do! For all those new to detecting – don’t be digging in a cemetery, fill your holes, and get permission to be on private property. If you can’t do it right, go take up golf or bowling.

 

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[Argentium]

Wow - amazing site there ! Are you sure that's not a gopher dig ? (just hoping people would respect a grave)

 

[Dug]

What led you to believe this was human versus an animal?

 

[Scrappy]

That's totally lame bro. I just passed a historical (colonial) school site on my way down a trail to my site, and saw the same thing today. Freaking unbelievable! I guarantee if an authority saw that then came upon me detecting nearby, I would have been ticketed (as it is, the grounds are hunt-able as long as you don't leave damage).

So what do I do? I take 20 minutes out of my already short hunt and fill them in. Lame JO's!

Anyway, thanks for bringing this up, I was going to tonight.

Nice couple of finds. Awesome spoon handle!

 

[Silver Tree Chaser]

Shovel marks on some very thick tree roots - sad to say.

 

[Silver Tree Chaser]

What led you to believe this was human versus an animal?

Shovel marks were cut into a thick tree route and too many holes - sad to say.

 

[Silver Tree Chaser]

Wow - amazing site there ! Are you sure that's not a gopher dig ? (just hoping people would respect a grave)

The finds came from another site. I don't believe it was a gopher hole - too shallow and too many holes.

 

[Silvermonkey]

Thank you for making this post. This type of behavior by fellow detectorists is completely inexcusable. Really ticks me off when I run into this type of situation. Congrats on your nice set of finds!

 

[BARKER]

Hi; This has been a problem for a LOOOONNNNGGG time now. It makes me sick every time I see it and that is a lot of times. Makes me Angry for sure. When we were kids we wwere taught to respect the Dead and to stay oout of Cemetaries regadless of where they are so there is NO excuse for this type of behavior, NONE.!!! If I see ANYONE doing this I "will" call the Police, take their pictures and turn them in. That is if I don't whack the scumbag first.!! It is TOTALLY outrageous behavior and I believe that if ANY of us catches them in the act then we MUST do our Civic Duty. Once these idiots are Arrested for it the maybe they will learn the hard way. I'm getting angry just thinking about it so I'm gonna stop for now. BUT seriously Folks, Think about it ok. Thanks. PEACE:RONB

 

[relic nut]

Thanks for your post and Congrats on your finds. Sad thing is some people just don't care. It's all about them, and now. The bad thing is we all are judged by the actions of a few.

HH, RN

 

[Cole55]

I hear you...I have had people ask if I sell the things I find...When I say no. They look at me like I have two heads lol...It's an American history thing. They wouldn't understand

 

[Silver Tree Chaser]

That's totally lame bro. I just passed a historical (colonial) school site on my way down a trail to my site, and saw the same thing today. Freaking unbelievable! I guarantee if an authority saw that then came upon me detecting nearby, I would have been ticketed (as it is, the grounds are hunt-able as long as you don't leave damage).

So what do I do? I take 20 minutes out of my already short hunt and fill them in. Lame JO's!

Anyway, thanks for bringing this up, I was going to tonight.

Nice couple of finds. Awesome spoon handle!

Scrappy - Thanks for the reply and congrats on making banner with your terrific Nova Constelatio copper.

 

[Ahab8]

Hey buddy I'm always happy to see a post from you! I wish this one had a better ending. I'm a bit sheltered from this stuff in Maine. Very few people that detect and for the most part a lot of respectful and level headed people. A post about people hunting in cemeteries came up a long time ago and I was shocked at how many people weren't too bothered by it. If I found somebody digging a hole next to one of my grandparents stones I can assure you it would not end well. Thanks for posting buddy. I hope next time it's a complete latten spoon or a Mass silver. Two of my all time favorite things. I added a couple more complete ones to my collection a while ago. That's 4 now and they are some of my all time favorites. Dont be a stranger buddy

 

[joeyfresh]

This isn't a recent phenomena. Here in central Virginia people have been night hawking civil war battle sites and violating private property for 20+ years. I've seen family cemeteries riddled with dig holes. I haven't encountered any signs of grave robbing, thank goodness, but it's still disrespectful. That being said, those holes honestly look like rodent holes and not dig holes.

 

[Silver Tree Chaser]

This isn't a recent phenomena. Here in central Virginia people have been night hawking civil war battle sites and violating private property for 20+ years. I've seen family cemeteries riddled with dig holes. I haven't encountered any signs of grave robbing, thank goodness, but it's still disrespectful. That being said, those holes honestly look like rodent holes and not dig holes.

I haven't encountered rodent holes before; nonetheless, I'm glad to hear your opinion. Perhaps they are rodent holes and that would provide some peace of mind.

 

[Silver Tree Chaser]

Hey buddy I'm always happy to see a post from you! I wish this one had a better ending. I'm a bit sheltered from this stuff in Maine. Very few people that detect and for the most part a lot of respectful and level headed people. A post about people hunting in cemeteries came up a long time ago and I was shocked at how many people weren't too bothered by it. If I found somebody digging a hole next to one of my grandparents stones I can assure you it would not end well. Thanks for posting buddy. I hope next time it's a complete latten spoon or a Mass silver. Two of my all time favorite things. I added a couple more complete ones to my collection a while ago. That's 4 now and they are some of my all time favorites. Dont be a stranger buddy

Thanks for the reply. Your silver brooch from last year was a stunning recovery.

 

[Johncoho]

Gravesites and cemeteries are off limits. Could that be a critter hole?

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on your finds.

 

[Rhode Hog]

Jim you are so right,we have slob hunters slob fishermen slob campers and now we have slob detectorist.I have a sports complex on my street that was built on the site of an old corn field at a cost of 6 million dollars some slobs detecting have left unfilled holes all over the playing fields ,and now it will be off limits for everyone.As you know my friends and i have been detecting for many years, but in the last few years we have found unfilled holes just about every place we detect.The future of detecting needs the goodwill of public and private land owners to survive so it looks like we are in for more posted land and the end of our great hobby.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Good to see you posting Jim, and congrats on your finds. Your discussion of cemeteries made me remember what happened here on the Yorktown Nat'l Battlefield property back in 2003 right after Hurricane Isabel struck the area. Several trees that were uprooted exposed the grave of soldiers, and they were then looted. A copy of the article in the local paper describing that desecration can be found at the link below. It doesn't get any lower than that. Good luck to you ....

Civil War Graves Took Damage, Too - tribunedigital-dailypress