Where do I look on this settlement?

[itzyoboyandrew]

Its a big farm, Indian pottery/flint shards from one side of the 49 acre field, to the other.. When the bull dosser cleared the area... there were smashed vases/bowls through out the area... But this field is by a street... so im guessing theirs more across the street.... i have a 3ft probe... i could probe the whole area... but its to much to go over.. I spotted a Trail tree.. Do i start probing there? What should I look for and where do I start probing this huge area... I know theres more jars out there.. just im not sure where exactly to start looking..

 

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[eastTNJoe]

Sounds like you have lots of hunting ahead of you…what is a trail tree? If you are referring to a living tree, I doubt it would still be around from ancient times. Maybe you should just till the area and look after a big rain? I wouldn't know where to start, but it sounds like a nice problem to have!

 

[itzyoboyandrew]

Here are some examples, im not sure if there legit things but they look interesting:
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Edit: theres arent the ones i saw exactly but there examples

 

[eastTNJoe]

Interesting…but my point is that most species of trees don't live longer than 100 years or so? I know redwoods and sequoias can last centuries, but most native trees in North America would have gone back to the earth in the years since even Mississippian cultures were around…right? If I'm wrong…my bad…those pics do look like some unusual trees for sure…and either way…sounds like you have a promising spot to hunt.

 

[Mark Todd]

Yes, you can throw out the "trail tree" idea it's BS . Instead show your recovery finds. Look for discolorations in the bladed soil and probe there, good luck!

 

[Hot diggity]

I'm not sure those trees will help you. I look for old growth trees near the water. Oak's n' such. Generational. Perhaps going back thousands of years. Even then there is no guarantee anybody ever lived there. Old sunken pits are a good place to start probing. Metal detecting has led to unexpected stone or pottery as well. Imagine where you would spend your time without electricity etc. Finding this stuff is more sociology than archeology IMO. Good luck

 

[itzyoboyandrew]

Yes, you can throw out the "trail tree" idea it's BS . Instead show your recovery finds. Look for discolorations in the bladed soil and probe there, good luck!

Oh ok, i was wondering!

 

[oxbowbarefoot]

I would look for areas that are slightly elevated. Many times, habitation sites were situated on knolls. Then, I would look for concentrations of pottery or flakes and begin sifting material. See if you can get below the bulldozed area or plow zone. Can't wait to see pictures!

 

[Indian Steve]

If you start seeing concentrations of periwinkle shells, that is a good sign of trash pits. Periwinkles are the little snails that you find in creeks.

 

[monsterrack]

If you have permission to dig then go to work probing . In the lot that was dozer worked if you can still see the dirt, look for soil change in color and probe no more than 1ft down, the dozer may not have gotten all of them. If you don't know how to use a probe right you will break a lot of stuff. Have fun and a probe can find you a lot of nice stuff, but you might want to check the laws on digging in your state.

 

[stefen]

Probe for what?

There are no cellars or outhouses.

Grid the area and start searching.

 

[itzyoboyandrew]

Probe for what?

There are no cellars or outhouses.

Grid the area and start searching.

Probe for jars/vases... I did find 1 piece of pottery but nothing really old like indian

 

[monsterrack]

Probe for what?

There are no cellars or outhouses.

Grid the area and start searching.

Probing for pots has been a practice by hunters for a long time, I even know some guys that probe to find stone artifacts. It gives you a point to start digging.