TIME 2 BUCKLE DOWN ON THIS 17TH CENTURY SITE!

The white metal buckle looking thing...

Is this a buckle? Its a white, cast metal.

CIMG5099.JPGCIMG5100.JPGCIMG5097.JPGCIMG5103.JPGCIMG5104.JPGCIMG5107.JPG
 

Bill D. (VA) said:
Those are some really nice early buckles - definitely mid-1600s thru early 1700s. I've found some like the smaller one shown in your first few pics with the stud chape. But the larger one I haven't specifically seen, especially with those markings etched all over the frame. For a great reference on early buckles you download the following: http://www.reenactor.ru/ARH/PDF/Whitehead.pdf

I also have a book on 17th century spoons that has a large number of maker's marks listed. But yours is not shown. But the majority of these spoons date between 1650 and 1700 which is in line with your other recoveries. If you want a copy of this book you can download a free pdf at the following: Old Base Metal Spoons - Frederick George Hilton Price - Google Books

Love to see you post the coins, buttons and other artifacts that were dug at this site. And I hope you pursue locating the trash pits too as that could be a very fun and lucrative find. Good luck!
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Thank you for the downloads. I do appreciate that. Yep, we dug hundreds of targets - half of it was lead. But aside from a few shotgun shells there is no garbage. Pretty certain there is a pit because there are areas so thick with shell we can barely dig. Thats where the spoon came from.
 

Silver Searcher said:
Yes, and if I'm not mistaken it's even earlier, I will have to look further into this one. The one I'm looking at on my resources says it's made from pewter, similar to yours.

SS
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Earlier is good. I've never found a buckle like this so its new to me. I thought it looked medieval. Maybe it is medieval leftovers. Lets hope.
 

Cross Potent said:
Earlier is good. I've never found a buckle like this so its new to me. I thought it looked medieval. Maybe it is medieval leftovers. Lets hope.
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The pattern is very similar to the single loop buckle of the late medieval period, so you could very well be onto a very early colonial site...very interesting .:thumbsup:

SS
 

Cross Potent said:
Thank you for the downloads. I do appreciate that. Yep, we dug hundreds of targets - half of it was lead. But aside from a few shotgun shells there is no garbage. Pretty certain there is a pit because there are areas so thick with shell we can barely dig. Thats where the spoon came from.
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I love sites like that. Oyster shells can be a great sign, but a relatively shallow but broad areas of shells usually is not indicative of the main trash pit unless this is the site of a huge, early plantation. Most deep trash pits I've found are irregular in shape, usually no more than 10-15 ft across, and there's usually more than one. And at the earliest sites they're located very near the house or kitchen. You should dig few test holes in the shell area to see what's going on, but I'm betting its not the pit you're looking for. A probe will help you determine the debris depth and save you some unnecessary digging.
 

Bill D. (VA) said:
I love sites like that. Oyster shells can be a great sign, but a relatively shallow but broad areas of shells usually is not indicative of the main trash pit unless this is the site of a huge, early plantation. Most deep trash pits I've found are irregular in shape, usually no more than 10-15 ft across, and there's usually more than one. And at the earliest sites they're located very near the house or kitchen. You should dig few test holes in the shell area to see what's going on, but I'm betting its not the pit you're looking for. A probe will help you determine the debris depth and save you some unnecessary digging.
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I have a probe and a homemade shaker screen set up neither of which has ever been used. Thanks for the tip. We've got a lot of exploring to do here not to mention theres a lot of field to check yet for other sites.
 

Wow great early finds. Man I love complete buckles. I'm excited to see what comes out of that site man. They don't get much earlier over here
 

Now those two buckle are really great looking, and the shape and with a great patina on them, congrats.

The bigger buckle might be a spur buckle as shown in the finds link. Yours is way nicer than any of the ones in the link. 17thCbuckles
 

Killer buckles all the way! :notworthy: Google Buckles Through The Ages - lots of good info on that site.
 

Very nice buckles, hope you pull lots more from that site!
 

No better medicine, than swinging your coil! I love finding old buckles, although I've never found any that old. Those are so cool and have a story to tell about our history. Great finds and looking to seeing the coins and other finds from your honey hole. Big Congrats!!
 

Very nice finds! Congratulations!
 

Im feeling much better today so tomorrow my wife and I will be back at it. Im hoping my wife pops out a cob. That'd be pretty cool.
 

The buckles may be bronze and look as if from 1700s . How and the hell do you people find these sites . Anyway great finds!!!!!!!!vanzutphen
 

sutphin said:
The buckles may be bronze and look as if from 1700s . How and the hell do you people find these sites . Anyway great finds!!!!!!!!vanzutphen
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If 1700s must be very early 1700s like 1730 or earlier. So far the evidence is this place was gone shortly thereafter.

How to find? Find some farm fields in an area settled in the 17th century. Plenty in Md! Then find a creek where the fields touch it at some point. Get permission and scout. Its that easy. It wont take very long before you find your first site. You'll probably pocket a few old buttons just scouting for a site.
 

Congrats on some really nice buckles. You got a really good spot this time! GL&HH.
 

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