Vernon in Virginia~Formerly Alaska
New member
[size=large]Taking my chances of being shot by a deer hunter, I decided to return to the old chimney site this morning. I was packing a .357 magnum in a shoulder holster for protection against bucks in rut... both four legged and two legged (remember the movie "Deliverance"). Before leaving the truck, I checked and rechecked to make sure I had all my gear this time. Even stopped at the store and bought a small hatchet to chop through small roots. Popped the top on another Lesche digger, compliments of Whites gift certificates.I had a sandwich, drinks and deemed myself good to go and ready to launch. Its about a half mile hike through the woods to the chimney site. I started detecting on the sloping side, as shown in the photo above. [/size]
[size=large]My first good find was a heavy brass belt buckle. I dug it from underneath a root, and recognized the shape as being late 1800's, US military. I was really pumped, until I turned it over...[/size]
[size=large]... brushed it off and saw a picture of a ... dog?... dog? Gimme a break! Oh well, at least its old.(Mountain Man says he found it in a relic book, made in 1881 by the Winchester Arms Co. using the same pattern belt buckle as the military one at the time.)[/size]
[size=large]After that, I commenced to dig about 20 canning jar lids (which really give a good signal). Then I hit this round snuff box (?). It was whole. When I got it home, I opened it and discovered about 200 small black ants living inside it, I had to quickly take it outside and rinse it off. Other than the ants, it was empty.[/size]
[size=large]Found two outer rings of pocket watches, and later a pocket watch frame.[/size]
[size=large]Here's a shot of the upper fireplace; oh, if chimneys could only talk.[/size]
[size=large]Hmm... this nasty looking critter is about 3 1/2" long. Maybe I should wear gloves... boxing gloves![/size]
[size=large]Another round box with the word "Melba" written on it.[/size]
[size=large]Harmonica reeds, found 7 or 8 of them in different holes. Must have been a very musical family.[/size]
[size=large]Piece of brown crockery sitting on some stones.[/size]
[size=large]Here's the stuff I didn't throw away. Did find a broken ax head, wagon wheel rings, and the other usual iron you would find around a colonial type home. Surprisingly I found not one flat button, but the ground is still saturated with all kinds of metal, as the detector chatters continually over the amount of trash in the ground. Will need to go back several times and hopefully get a coin or two. Please click on photos to enlarge.[/size]
