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Farm fields?

S

Shawnbo42

New member
Okay, folks. I've finally got a few minutes to post this. A detecting buddy and I have permission to detect around a property in a town local to us. I previously lived in this town for 15 years or so, so I am fairly well familiar with the area. This particular property is one of the oldest in town, the original home was built around 1765, and is still standing. There are various fields around the property that get mowed a time or two a year. We have been around the yard of the house quite a few times and have found some decent coins. I pulled my best coin ever out of there, an 1810 2 reale coin in very nice shape. We have found 4 or 5 large cents, and I have also gotten an early American cent (flowing hair, no date). Now, on a more modern note, we've gotten mercs, a couple of silver Rosie's, one Washington quarter, and numerous wheaties. The question I have is this, what are we missing in the yard? We have not found ANY seateds, v's, Indian heads, etc.
Now that I've gone off topic a bit, my second question that ties in. I see people posting here all the time about their latest farm field finds. We have been out in several different fields, and tried the centers, the low spots, the edges, by the stone walls, etc, and have found nothing. I don't mean nothing like a little clad, I mean nothing at all. We have a hard time finding trash even. I know for fact that these fields have been around at least a hundred years or so, so what are we missing? Are we just in the wrong fields? Does it matter if it was a livestock field or a planting field? Are we not checking around the right areas? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Shawn
 
Most field hunt are in spots that previously had a house or school or church at one time that has disappeared. Now you can find stuff in just plain fields at times but they are generally stray drops. Research old maps and do an overlay to see spots that are just fields but did at one time have a structure on them.
 
Exactly what belltwo said.....I only hunt where houses, churches or schools once stood and are now farm fields. I overlay maps so that I can get exactly on the right area. In my area there is at least 10 houses tore down for every one still standing, so for field hunting, I will never get to hunt them all.
 
Never considered it that way, thanks. I will have to get busy with the old maps then....any recommendations as to where to find said maps? Other than the towns historical society and the library of course. Thanks, I really appreciate the help, hopefully we can fill the treasure box a bit more!
 
Are you sure that is the right site? Comes up with a list of links that it looks like I have to pay for access, is that correct? I don't mind to pay if it'll bring home the bacon, just want to be sure before I jump in there, thanks.
 
Here is a link

http://www.historicmapworks.com/

It is free, in the search box type in county name and state, it will come up with a list of maps that are available click on the older atlas type map, depending on what state and or county it may also have a township to select. Look and see if it has the free overlay, not every map has that capabilities and unfortunately not every county had an old map or atlas done for it. They do sell maps and do have a pay service that may give more extensive information but I just use the free service.
 
Something that I have found to help pinpoint a possible home site location, is to watch for an area of, larger more concentrated stones, that may not be common to the surrounding area. Keep an eye out for larger stones, that may have been foundation stones, but due to farming they will cover an area some larger than the cabin/house that would have been there. Also, watch for the tell tale signs of broken glassware and crockery shards. These will let you know, more than likely, there was some type of dwelling there in the past. During hunting season, I always watch for these clues when in the fields. Here in the Midwest there were a lot of County Atlases that were printed in the early 1870s. County Historical Societies sometimes have copies of these for sale. I think on Historic Map Works these may be some of the maps that can be accessed.....HH
 
Regarding clues to human occupation in fields......
Years ago, I was taught by an indian artifact hunter to look for unusually dark areas in plowed fields.
He said that human occupation on a site over several generations will darken the soil.
I guess today it would be thought of as a "carbon footprint".

This probably wouldn't work in the midwest where the soil is naturally rich and dark; but anywhere where the soil is normally light in color, it could prove helpful.
When I lived in Georgia, we would find fire pits and village sites quite easily by checking plowed fields after a rain.
I would think if cabins or barns had burned down by accident or on purpose, there should be a definite darkening of the soil.
Just a thought.
 
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