Good Friday Hay Field Hunt. I Got 1/2 DOZEN!!

[drkp88]

Crotal Bells, that is. I went to a hayfield that my buddy got permission to hunt (he's been working it for a month - Barber half, a few coppers, bunch of musketballs). My first dig was a toasted IH. Then I found the six crotal bells in the same general area near the old farmhouse. Later I found a couple toasted coppers (one turned out to be a LC after soaking in peroxide overnight. This field is NASTY to coppers.) Also found a misshapen musketball and an oval floral design button thing.
Easter I had a couple hours after spending the day with my girlfriend so I headed to one of my stand-by parks. 5 wheats, 1908 IH, 1952 Rosie.
Thanks for sharing, Bruce

 

[sgoss66]

Nice job, drkp. Can you fill me in on what a "crotal bell" is? Looks like some sort of "sleigh bell..." Where were these used (i.e. for what purpose, attached to what?)

Steve

 

[drkp88]

Hi Steve. Crotal bells originated hundreds of years ago and were commonly used in Britain and Colonial America up to the later 1800s. Single ones were sometimes strung around animals' necks or numbers of them would be attached to collars around horses necks or directly to the vehicles they were pulling. On winding country roads, they would warn other travellers of the approaching vehicle. What we think of as "sleigh bells" were usually lighter in costruction and attached to harnesses or straps. Crotal bells are a bit heavier and usually made of brass or bronze. I'm no expert but this is my basic understanding.
They're a fairly common thing found by anyone who detects colonial areas - especially here in New England. I believe the ones pictured here would date from the late 1700's to early 1800's.
Bruce

 

[Great Republic]

Great hunt Bruce. Ya! Those coppers are as bad as the last two that I found. WTG

 

[sgoss66]

Very cool info, thanks drkp! I have heard them referred to by detectorists, but didn't know the usage of them. Now I do!

Thanks!

Steve

 

[Eddie in Poulsbo]

Bells are ringing for sure Bruce. Nice finds all around even if that injun was toasted. HH.

Eddie

 

[MikeO]

WTG on a great hunt.

 

[MNCoinhunter]

Cool finds !!