hunting after a river floods

[chadwick]

Was wondering if anyone had any knowledge or experience when it comes to hunting a flood zone.What a flood does to coins in ground , does it bring coins up closer or push them down . Im just curious on others thoughts .Thanks

 

[harryhh]

Hello chadwick,

I have no experience with such a thing, but I thought I would put in my thoughts on the matter. I hope someone with greater experience can give you an answer, instead of my just guessing.

The ground would become slightly softer and more movable. The particles of the soil becoming lubricated by the water and being able to move past each other more easily. Coins being heavier than the soil, they would sink a little. But, unless the ground is made up of relatively recent sediment, the ground is not going to simply liquefy, and the coin may drop only slightly deeper than it would normally in the same given time period. In old ground, it shouldn't make much difference at all. Probably not much different than a good heavy rain.

One thing though. If new sediment is deposited, the coin would be that much deeper.

 

[chadwick]

Harry hh That sounds about right to me , thanks a lot HH

 

[sonnydigs]

Anything in a flood plain is going to be depper (in most cases) due to sediments being depoisted after each flood event..
I have worked on archaeological sites withinn flood plains that were several feet below the surface...
I know of 2 such sites that were over twenty feet below the present day surface and the living surface surface of an indian camp site..
Sites dated to a few thousand yrs old...
If you were looking for fresh finds from a flooding experience where houses have washed down river then it would be no problem with depth...
It typically will only lay a few centimeters of silt after each flood but that can also vary depending on the magnitude of the flood and how much new sediments are deposited..
There is no real formula as to how deep anything will be found in a fllod plain, too many variables involved..
Then on the other hand in some cases things can be washed up from flooding... All goes back to the forces of the flood and conditions...
HH...
Sonnydigs

 

[chadwick]

Thank a lot for your answer makes a lot of sense. HH

 

[sonnydigs]

Thank a lot for your answer makes a lot of sense. HH

You're welcome..
Look forward to seeing what you find..
HH...
Sonnydigs..

 

[Chris(SoCenWI)]

I've hunted some areas that flood on a pretty regular basis. Whether or not silt is deposited or soil washed away is pretty site specific. One thing I have seen is that coins sound different, copper and even zinc cents often sound like silver. Most coins come up with a reddish tinge.

Chris

 

[sonnydigs]

Here is an article reguarding flood plains..
http://www.nps.gov/archeology/sites/npsites/cnocanal.htm