Current Site, Input Needed

[FrankieG.]

I just began my fall metal detecting season last weekend hitting a site that I've been several time since last fall. I'm hunting a friend's land in eastern Prince George County, VA and she owns maybe a couple hundred acres. So far I've only concentrated on the open fields just hitting random spots in search of a hot spot. In the process I've checked some of the high ground but nothing exciting in the way of finds. Two of the more promising finds have been a flat button smaller than a dime and a Civil War equipment rivet.

My friend told me that years ago she found clay pipe stem fragments and also fragments of a plate which I think dates to the early- mid 1800's. I can't remember what type of plate it is but I'll mention it when it comes to me. Other than those finds, the early history of the land is largely unknown. The land came into her late husband's family sometime in the early 20th Century and was farmed for generations before being divided among family members. Here are some photos of the area I'm searching.

The first photo shows some areas I've checked so far. The area to the far right outlined in red is where I've thoroughly checked. Nothing much there but the usual trash. The area circled in red is where the plate fragments were found. Down toward the bottom marked in blue is where the pipe fragments were found. The rectangular marked area at the left is where I found the flat button and equipment rivet.

 

[FrankieG.]

Here's another photo of the land. The triangular marked area at the top left is where a tobacco barn used to stand. Currently the area is among heavy brush and someday I want to check it out as there may be a few coins there. But I'm fearing the large amount of trashy targets which are probably in that area.

The field to the south hasn't yielded much- mostly small caliber bullets from the 20th century plus buckshot(?) of various caliber. In the marked area I did find part of a horseshoe and a suspender buckle from an Army M1910 haversack made between 1911-1914. That was 12 inched deep.

 

[FrankieG.]

Here's a map of the area circa 1863. My friend's property is marked in red. No house sites, but who knows what was here during the colonial period. I will check the site again today, thoroughly checking an area I will mark out.

 

[CSA GHOST]

Hopefully your research and detecting will discover something other than the usual vintage trash and scattered relic. The water source looks promising so don't overlook scanning the creek bottoms and banks. Good hunting!

 

[teleman2525]

ive been hunting 1700 cellar holes alot lately the section were pipe fragments were found is your best bet ild start there first clay pipes were yarly trade item i usuly find nice finds in places were these fragments are found have fun good hunting

 

[olddigger]

FrankieG, I live in Prince George have hunted different areas of the county for the last 25 years. The place on your map looks like its east of River Road not for from Merchants Hope Church. The only Civil War relics I've found in that area is near the river or near old roads. I did find a couple old home sites that were not on any maps. Good luck hunting and let us know what you find.

 

[JCJEXPLORER]

Frankie G, it looks as if the area was wooded during the time of your map. I would go for any high ground and or were there is prominent terrain features. That turn in the old road is a good spot. ( Why did the road turn there?) The road it's self and creek crossing. It looks like the pond is newer than the map. Here in Virginia and I assume in other states as well, old home-sites can turn up in the weirdest areas. Give the whole piece of land a good lookbefore moving on.

 

[FrankieG.]

I've been trying to orient the new map vs the old and I have it somewhat figured out. From the old map it looks like the road passes through my friend's property. But she did mention that there was a "stage coach" trail north of her property and that it curves around a hill. Maybe that's what the road is?

I did sample the area where the pip fragments were found but it's heavily mineralized and the soil is washed out going downhill. I'll probably check it again but crank up the ground balance on my Nautilus. I haven't even checked the woods yet so that will have to wait to the weather cools down more.

I'm heading back out tomorrow but this time I will mark out an area with flags then thoroughly check that area.

Thanks for all suggestions so far.

 

[FrankieG.]

Ah! The pottery my friend found was a willow pattern plate much like this one. I felt that it dates from the early/ mid 1800s but also much later through the 20th Century. The fragments look like it can make a complete plate. But I did notice that the glazing wasn't cracked like you find on pottery fragments several centuries old.

http://www.thepotteries.org/patterns/willow.html

 

[FrankieG.]

I hit the field to the north of the gravel drive and found a few items- back of a Colonial era button( the type where the shank passes through a cast back), part of a Colonial shoe buckle, and 1943 dated dime. Hopefully more Colonial era relics will show up.

 

[GRAY GHOST]

hey frankie g, just keep hitting random spots until something good turns up. there's already good signs of old habitation there. as olddigger suggested, the closer you get to the river, the better your luck might be. but... you never know, do you? i think it's a big piece of ground, and your're still in the exploratory stages. so, with a little patience and some more random hunting, something good just might turn up. let us know how it goes. olddigger and i are just minutes away from you, so pm me if your're interested. one or both of us could meet up with you and give some pointers to help you out.

we've been at this for a long time, and don't mind helping out a fellow hobbyist. in fact, you just might wanna go down to dinwiddie co. with us sometime. got plenty down there to detect! good luck, and hh!

 

[FrankieG.]

hey frankie g, just keep hitting random spots until something good turns up. there's already good signs of old habitation there. as olddigger suggested, the closer you get to the river, the better your luck might be. but... you never know, do you? i think it's a big piece of ground, and your're still in the exploratory stages. so, with a little patience and some more random hunting, something good just might turn up. let us know how it goes. olddigger and i are just minutes away from you, so pm me if your're interested. one or both of us could meet up with you and give some pointers to help you out.

we've been at this for a long time, and don't mind helping out a fellow hobbyist. in fact, you just might wanna go down to dinwiddie co. with us sometime. got plenty down there to detect! good luck, and hh!

Yes, the site is huge so I'm hoping on luck there. I went out yesterday afternoon and turned up a large flat button with silvered front plus fragments of what I believe may be a heel plate. I could use some help at the site but the lack of good targets may bore you and olddigger. I'd love to MD with you two one of these days and help save some relics from the developers.