Got a chance to get out with Todd Hiltz again today. He was researching the site of an old cellar hole in my neck of the woods, and this being the last day of his vacation, he wanted to check it out.
We got off to a late start, heading out after noon. Thankfully the property wasn’t very far away, but the hike into the woods was a haul.
We probably spent over an hour looking for the cellar hole. There were a lot of stone walls, and obvious activity of some kind in the area. Todd scouted out areas as we passed them, while I took a happy breather and waited.
Todd said it should be nearby, and the gps said we were right on top of it. After some time, we decided to swing for a while in a promising area. I got a signal and pulled out a horseshoe. A good sign, I thought. As I’m telling Todd I found a horseshoe, he’s like “I got a nice signal”, and pulls out a coin (probably a King George-yet to be determined). Then he pulled part of a shoe buckle out of the same hole. That really peaked our interest.
Enthused, we decided to devote some time there. I got a nice signal, and pulled out a half dollar size item that looked like a button, definitely colonial, with a nice design, but not a button. Todd got a few more buttons, one pewter and one Tombak. I found a few buttons, but both were broken, sadly. We stayed a while longer, but stopped getting good targets, so we figured it must be an old cabin site, and moved on the find that elusive cellar hole.
Turns out we weren’t too far away from it, and had actually been near it and walked past it in our search. Unfortunately though, it was almost 6pm, and we didn’t have long to hunt before it would turn dark. After hearing the howling from the coyotes in seemingly close proximity, it was probably best we didn’t stay too long anyway.
It didn’t take long for me to find an old spoon, and shortly thereafter, I pulled out a large cent–my day was made–the coyotes could kiss my butt for all I cared. I then followed it up with an eagle button, although not an especially old one.
Todd found some type of engraving or printing plate, part of a croatal bell, and I believe a few more buttons.
Sunshine was starting to fade so we were forced to leave, but I think it’s definitely a site that will produce a lot more, and we’ll return to it when we have more time.
It was a nice day, in good company, doing what I love most.
~~Happy Hunting!
Well done Allison, I’m jealous, I want to be in an older area
Thanks Ron–If you’re up this way, give a holler–Happy Hunting!
Well done on your finds,
Are American Crotal bells of similar appearance and age to British one’s ?
John-
I would imagine so, although I’ve never found one.
For everyone else, they seem as common a find to them as my finding an oxen shoe is to me. The buggers continue to elude me, and are on the top of my bucket list for this year.
If I do manage to find one someday, there is sure to be a dramatic and sensational story in the writing. ~~Happy Hunting!
Envious….
Sorry Dick. I feel bad now.
I agree with Dick.. A couple of years ago I made a trip to Connecticut to see my uncle. He lives in a home that was built in the mid 1800’s. Unfortunately I wasn’t into detecting at the time. I am ready to go back armed with a detector!
Frustrating to think about the opportunities that passed us by before we got into the hobby. Won’t happen again though.
nice hunt Ally! congrats on the LC.too bad we got skunked on the return trip :O(
Thx Dave! We didn’t really get skunked yesterday, we just didn’t find items that were as nice as Todd’s, but we did find stuff. Hey-my oxen shoe and ox knob were in exceptional condition for their age 🙂
But remember …ice cream makes everything better.
See you soon.
We did pretty good for only having a limited amount of time to swing. I am so happy you got another copper on another one of our hunts and that is the nicest looking rosette I have seen dug!.
I am glad you were able to join me on the hunt but I do have to apologize for not being more discreet when nature calls…it’s just habit considering that I usually don’t hunt with females Lol!
Btw, my coin was a 1729 King George II
Yeah we did. I can’t believe there weren’t more targets on the return trip. But, a day spent detecting is still better than a day doing most anything else.
And I’ve been detecting for a while, so I’m pretty used to walking up on guys in the middle of their nature calls, but at least you were partially hidden by the tree 🙂