Today's finds from a 7 mile hike round trip to two old sites

[GerryL]

So Robin and I hiked again today; this time to an area where I know there was some activity over 100 years ago. The finds above my digging tool were from the oldest site. The staples and funny looking horseshoe like things were all found in two piles at each side of a stone wall opening (I'd call it a bar way from when I grew up). What's the deal with these shoe looking things? They are pointy and odd shaped. Apprentice blacksmith learning? Or something else? I also found the knife near a big rock where someone might have sat down to eat an apple. They must have been bummed to lose it. I lost my Benchmade last month, and Robin and I searched and searched, and finally gave up, accepting that I lost it. Then I moved a brush pile I stacked in the yard and found it under it! I was a happy camper to see that knife again!
The finds below the digger were from a more modern site.
But anyway, we didn't find the actual home site I was looking for; there is a lot of ground to cover there, and it's dense woods now. Maybe another time. It sure was a nice hike though. And I love the Deus for these kind of hiking days.


Then we had an eyeball find that was neat. Quite a burl!


Ooops, I forgot we found something that we thought might have been a coin! I always scan shallow brooks and streams when I think someone might have gotten water or washed there. I hit a good signal and Robin pinpointed a disk in the gravel under a few inches of water. We couldn't see anything at the time, so I zipped it in my pouch. I just ran out to the car to get it and get some macro photos. I definitely see a 5 on one side. Is this a shield nickel? It's pretty toasted, but neat to find anyway.

 

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[Vhoov]

Perhaps they were unfinished and had to be worked more in the pointy ends?

That burl brings in some big bucks!

 

[Rookster]

Maybe tree anchors for temporary shelter. Just guessing. Those are interesting finds.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on the nice relics!

 

[ticndig]

maybe drive them into a tree for steps to a deer stand.

 

[Ogre1190]

Nice! Looks like a Shield to me! 🙌 Good job.

 

[huntsman53]

Nice finds! The horeshoe looking staples/anchors, I am pretty sure were used most often for making a crude gate. They could be driven into a tree with a Iron ring which was attached to a wooden or Iron gate. They had other uses but were mainly for anchoring something to a tree or hewn log/timber. Also, that is a really nice Burl and Burls are worth a pretty penny depending upon the tree that it developed on. It is somewhat hard to identify in the pic but it looks like a Hemlock tree.

 

[Vhoov]

Nice finds! The horeshoe looking staples/anchors, I am pretty sure were used most often for making a crude gate. They could be driven into a tree with a Iron ring which was attached to a wooden or Iron gate. They had other uses but were mainly for anchoring something to a tree or hewn log/timber. Also, that is a really nice Burl and one that is likely worth a pretty penny depending upon the tree that it developed on.

That makes sense, I like it. Plus they were found on opposite sides....the theory makes sense.

 

[GerryL]

I was wondering about that since we found some on both sides of the wall gap. And the pointy ends really threw me off. Sounds like a good possibility!

Nice finds! The horeshoe looking staples/anchors, I am pretty sure were used most often for making a crude gate. They could be driven into a tree with a Iron ring which was attached to a wooden or Iron gate. They had other uses but were mainly for anchoring something to a tree or hewn log/timber. Also, that is a really nice Burl and Burls are worth a pretty penny depending upon the tree that it developed on. It is somewhat hard to identify in the pic but it looks like a Hemlock tree.

 

[Whyme]

Nice shield nickel! A bucket lister for me!

 

[A2coins]

Well done long hike!!!Nice relics That tree looks like its going to gibe birth to a dew bushes

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!!

 

[Reanm8er]

If you get back that way look and see if the burl might resemble a knot. One of the ways people used to mark trail was to tie a small seedling in a knot. This is what that would look like many years later.

 

[GerryL]

Huntsman53, you were spot on with this explanation. There are several hundred acres in this area, and we went back today. We found another opening in a wall (bar way), and decided to scan both sides; guess what? We got one on each side! Awesome ID work! Here's a photo from today.

Does anyone know what the tool is above the bar way units? Obviously the wood is gone that was in the middle, but I'm not sure what it was.

Nice finds! The horeshoe looking staples/anchors, I am pretty sure were used most often for making a crude gate. They could be driven into a tree with a Iron ring which was attached to a wooden or Iron gate. They had other uses but were mainly for anchoring something to a tree or hewn log/timber. Also, that is a really nice Burl and Burls are worth a pretty penny depending upon the tree that it developed on. It is somewhat hard to identify in the pic but it looks like a Hemlock tree.

 

[ToddsPoint]

A burl like that would be worth money IF you could slab it and dry it without having it check (crack). Gary

 

[Hawks88]

Nice bunch of finds. I like the nickel. Congrats

 

[huntsman53]

Huntsman53, you were spot on with this explanation. There are several hundred acres in this area, and we went back today. We found another opening in a wall (bar way), and decided to scan both sides; guess what? We got one on each side! Awesome ID work! Here's a photo from today.
View attachment 1630407
Does anyone know what the tool is above the bar way units? Obviously the wood is gone that was in the middle, but I'm not sure what it was.

If you are referring to the two pieces of metal which are somewhat still connected with the pins with heads on each end, then it is likely a gate brace. The hewn gate boards would have been between the two pieces of metal which was secured with the pins and the brace would have locked into a makeshift hinge anchored into a timber or a tree by the large Iron staple nails.