Relics of a different kind

[James from TN]

I thought I would post these up just in case anyone else happens to stumble on a site that produces this type of artifact and they are not sold or thrown in the junk box since we all sometimes find little pieces of silver and rolled brass while detecting. A few years ago while looking for Confederate camps in Mississippi I stumbled on a site that had me confused. When I first found the site I found quite a few .36 caliber pistol balls, 2 or 3 rolled brass pieces, a couple of plan 1 piece flat buttons and 2 pieces of thin cut silver. I had no idea the significance of the finds and since I was looking for Confederate camps I didn't want to spend my time on this hill top when Confederate relics are waiting to be found. Unfortunately I sold the rolled brass pieces and cut silver before I thought they could be Indian in nature and don't want this to happen to someone else. A couple of weeks ago when I had no other place to go, I returned to the site and found a cone shaped piece of silver which was identified by a couple of people as a ball and cone trade silver piece and was told I should return to see what else turns up. Last Sunday and yesterday my brothers and I returned to the site and with some hard hunting we were able to find a few more pieces. These pieces are very hard to locate due to their small size and we had to dig a lot of square nails to find them but it was worth the effort.

The first photo is the one that was identified as trade silver and got us to return.
The second photo is finds from last Saturday including the first ball and cone. One my brothers found one that has a red bead attached through the thin silver wire.
next is a cool wolf? pocket knife my other brother found. In the process of cleaning it now. Very thin iron and going to take some time.
next is my finds from yesterday. My brother found a few pieces too but I don't have a photo.
And last are my pieces from yesterday cleaned. I thought the one with the diamond shaped silver attached to the wire was nice.


I wish I knew more about these relics but I don't know anything about trade silver, which I am assuming they are, or have any reference books so if anyone has any more info on these pieces it would be greatly appreciated. I don't know if these piece were attached to a string or worn on the ear or nose. Thanks for looking. James

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[wvwildman]

nice finds congrats HH

 

[surf]

Hey James,

I'd encourage you to take some more photos of your finds and post them down in North American Artifacts. I believe the folks there will really appreciate these and be able to tell you much more.

Thanks for showing us.

Brooklyn Museum: Arts of the Americas​

 

[CRUSADER]

WOW - Looks trade silver to me!

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

That's too cool. You are right I wouldn't have known what they were, I am glad you posted this and I think if I were you I would be bringing my sifter up to that site and cleaning it.
Thanks for posting,
ZDD

 

[monsterrack]

I can tell you with no doubt that those are tinklers. They where used by native americans to make noise when they danced. Due to the item's you found I would say that is a indian camp site that has trade items, I know this because I have found them before in indian site's or it could be a grave site, if item's where found close together. Be carefull my MD brother the Feds don't take to that real good.

 

[kuger]

Try posting em here too
Fur Trade Artifacts

 

[buckshot]

Cool finds! Yes, The items do look like Ball and Cone trade silver earrings worn by native americans in the past as well as the present day. Worn as ear and possibly nose adornment too. I agree! You should use a sifter at that site..... Good Hunting

 

[thrillathahunt]

James, I think that is simply awesome! Thanks for posting!

 

[Ia.FurTrade]

Definately Fur Trade earbob's.....The piece in the middle of the last picture looks like it could be stamped "TS" ? If so, that would be Thomas Stuervesant, a Montreal silversmith.(Off the top of my head, so the spelling may be wrong!)
Dale