I've come for help!

[Donnie123]

Hello fellas,

I am not what you would call a Metal Detector guru at all. In all reality, I've never used one.

However, in a search for a mid 1700's burial plot on old family land. (Family immigrated in the early 1600's) I was told that it was common for metal stakes to be placed around the grave site to keep out animals. (prior to these years, most graves would go unmarked north of Boston to keep the Inidians from finding out how many were killed).

This burial ground contains my 10th generation grandparents, and some of their sons and daughters, as well as grandkids.

We know as of the early 1900's a few rough granite stones were inscribed and still visible, however, since at least the 1980's, these stones have gone missing under the overgrowth of grass and what not. The burial is located in about an area of half a football field or so)

My question to you all is: Can a new guy pick metal detecting easily? Do you recommend me to purchase one? If I was to purchase one, what should I be looking at?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[D&P-OR]

Donnie-----I'll take a shot at your question.-----If you are looking for metal stakes (markers), a metal detector would aid you in finding those.----You could use it in the all metal mode and it will respond to various metal (steel stakes, etc.).----I have helped people find property line markers before in this manner.----If you have never used a detector before, it may be best for you to see if there is an experienced detector user in your area that could help you in the location of these markers.---Also, perhaps a metal detector dealer could help you find an individual in your area to do this if you don't know of anyone.---That may well be the simpelest & easiest way for you.----Bear in mind though---if the markers you are looking for aren't metal based, a detector won't help you (markers of stone, etc.).--I hope this helps you a little.-------Del

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I've never heard of "metal stakes" being put around grave-sites in the 1700s. If it's true, they're going to be iron stakes (I bet) rather than conductive metal stakes. So be prepared to use zero disc. (ie.; hear nuisance nails, and everything).

I kinda doubt it. And not only lack of surface metal to indicate the site (assuming no headstones present), but also figure that the coffin is ........ if done in modern fashion ...... SIX FEET DEEP. So any metal from that (hinges on the coffin, etc...) are also going to be out-of-reach. Perhaps if it's a lead coffin though, you would hear THAT (even at 6 ft. deep).

If you're really hard-core, you can use ground penetrating radar, which shows underground anomolies (ground packed-to-different-degrees), which would show soil disturbance where it had occurred. (and voids, etc...). Outhouse pit diggers, for instance, use those.

 

[MXTerer]

I would hire someone with GPR, they could locate all the graves. I don't think a metal detector would do you much good in this case.

 

[fowlercharles]

Hi Donnie,This may sound a little wierd, but I would suggest you do an online sesarch and see just what your potential success would be to get in touch with some experienced "Grave Dowsers.".."Far out"suggestion for sure , but from what I have read , it works, and can not only locate the graves but tell you male or female. Truly far out , but from what I understand, it has all been proven.As for metal detecting, for stakes etc. that is a very very long shot and most likely would not begin to be successful, as such stakes are not even likely to be... There are other ways , such as "scraping" the topsoil so all the past "digs" would show but I would consider the dowsing method and check out the possibilities . There have been several successful projects such as yours already .. As for metal etecting, it is a great hobby with a great bunch of folks doing it, and I would suggest you check it out too, after your grave progject. I believe you would really enjoy detecting.. As for the most of us though,, we try to never detect around cemeteries or known grave sites.It can sometimes have bad results..Happy Hunting Charlie.

 

[WV62]

Not know what the site looks like, but you say it is about the size of a football field, just a thought you may want to try and rent a brush cutting mower and cut the brush that you can get to and maybe even grid it off so you can keep track of where you have been and where you are going. That size of a area would only take a day or two to cut.

You may have better luck just before winner sets and lot of your weeds will die down and you can see a little better.

You may also try just getting 3 or 4 people and line up a few feet apart and start walking a grid checking your rocks which I assume are flat on the ground and as you go. Also I have stumbled on to old burial sites by watching the change in the vegetation.

Good luck,

 

[azsh07]

Since there are a lot of us here who also live " North of Boston"....you may want to let us know what town or area you live in. You probably can find someone who would possibly come over and give it a try for you and save you the cost of a detector.

For you to go out and try to find the irn stakes would be futile...heres why.

I live here also...and I detect this area all the time...that field is loaded with iron trash and trying to discern between an iron stake and a piece of iron trash would be a challenge for anyone...especially someone new.

The dousing idea is not a crazy idea. If you could find a real douser ( many people claim but are not ) then they could find it also. I have seen true dousers do their thing and it is spooky on how good a real one is.....crazy accurate. Just has to be a person who has a good skill at dousing....not everyone has the same abilities.

Are the stone markers layed flat.....I have seen old colonial graves where the gravestones were layed flat on the ground. They were the size of a regular gravestone just layed flat. If they are of a decent size and the field they are in does not have a lot of surface stones you could take the simple method. Get a few people with some homemade rods to walk and poke into the ground as you walk. When you walk over a gravestone...you will know. You can make them easy enough from Home Depot......just need something rod like that can easily penetrate the top soil and hit the gravemarkers.

I found a lost grave marker this way that was from the late 1790's. Only works if the area is not loaded with large surface stones or ledge.
Scott

 

[TomNH]

G'day
My family came to Cambridge 1635, Concord 1650 then Acton 1701 so I have the pleasure
to have found all but the oldest grave which is unmarked in Concord Ctr. I assume.
I assume yours is a small family plot on private property. If you dont own it GET PERMISSION FIRST !!!
Check with the cemetary dept & historical soc. They may have a better idea where it is.
Also if you can find some old timers that havent escaped (like me) the state ask them.
Grave yards hold a facination to the young & many picniced at them in the olden days.
Old USGS maps & others often show a cross for graves, check old local maps ( library etc).
Old graves cave in. look for rectangle depressions of the right size. Probing with rods
is next, if the land is untouched stones should be just below the surfice.
Also look for "plantings" that look out of place like lilies, roses & lilacs etc.
As far as a metal detector goes I dont think it will help much.
BUT what you do find thats old will probably have belonged to your ancesters. PISSAH !
Ive got things going back to abt 1840 but I wish I had more & older stuff. My G-G parents
had the table Capt Issac Davis ( look him up) ate his last meal at but it went missing late 1800's
I woulk kill to have that back in the family.
Please let us know how you do !
Best luck
Tom Mason N.H.

 

[GunnarMN]

should be depreasions