Calm Before The Storm Relics - Digging The Old Stuff

[F350Platinum]

Wanted to get out today, not only is there a big storm coming, but we're getting close to the end of the winter season and spring planting. All my fields flip this year, the fields I hunted all fall and winter will be off limits until next year, except in some cases for a short period before they are sown.

This is about a 30 acre farm I have hunted before with Chase, it's a very old place where I dug a 1690 Spanish cob and dug lots of 16-1700s relics.

It was a beautiful day, but tomorrow we're supposed to get rain, high winds and snow. So much rain that these fields will be muddy, it rained the day before yesterday. I like to get out two days following a rain because for me this ground is just right.

I didn't get any coins today, we've gotten a couple IHP's and some wheats here, also clad near the houses and driveways. Aluminum and iron are plentiful close to the roads, but as soon as you get about 30 feet in, the relics start coming. Just about every good signal you get is going to be a good dig.

Here's what I dug today:

On the left are the buckles and parts, the leftmost might be a newer one. Fragments and a large D. The middle item appears to be a lapped pewter spoon handle:

It's much heavier but about the same feel as Tombac.

To center are 3 studs, one could be a tack. 

Two are pretty ornate.

Got 5 buttons, no backmarks save for one that has a ring of stars, one is Tombac.

My favorite find today was a whole cufflink. As small and delicate as they are, it managed to survive ~200 years of farming and some of the gold is still on them.

That's probably it for this year at this field, the house they are building is almost done, and the field is edge sewn. I said goodbye to the cat 😀 He's indoors at night now. Glad to see he is healthy.

Before I left I had to photograph these cool clouds.

Now for a nasty storm ending with snow. 🤬

Oops, forgot the trash, in 7 hours this is all I got.

[Cal_Cobra]

Beautiful hunting grounds, cat and all 👍

You're touching some early history, although I think we get just about as early as what I've seen you guys post...for the most part 🤠

[F350Platinum]

13 hours ago, Cal_Cobra said:

Beautiful hunting grounds, cat and all 👍

You're touching some early history, although I think we get just about as early as what I've seen you guys post...for the most part 🤠

This peninsula of Virginia was incorporated in the 1630s, but was never known for anything but its rich history. 😀 By that I mean its the birthplace of presidents and generals but there was no Civil War activity, just one skirmish out behind my house and up the river in 1812.

Most places are off limits and under archaeologists' care, but every now and again you come upon a generous landowner. In the last year and a half I have dug over a hundred of these old buttons, it's always great to find them. Most have come from a field right in front of my house.

Thanks! Yeah, and you guys get the gold. I think our predecessors here barely had two farthings to rub together 😀 actually I've never dug a farthing but I've got a couple of KG3s. Still looking.