Pointers for my first real hunt

[In2Deep]

Writing this in between lightning strikes.. Short and sweet

I got permission today to detect in town where they have several blocks of pavement down to dirt. Monday morning it will be paved again.

I am guessing its 4 or 5 blocks.

Any pointers that I should know? This will be my first "real" hunt and I am on my own. Nobody around here to give me pointers. I been reading Andy's book like a bible.

Will check back in the morning, I am gonna try to leave around 5am.. Shutting down the computers now

It is the town of Coliville in case anyone wonders haha

 

[ken-ks]

If I was doing it, I'd cherry pick, nothing under CO30, unless it was a CO13 begg'n to be dug. 4 or 5 blocks, you'll have to keep moving to even get close to covering it in a day. Good luck, and hope you find a pouch full go goodies! HH ken-ks

 

[JohnnyI]

In2deep, it's hard to say how much gravel was deposited on the old road before it was paved, so if you plan to detect the whole thing I'd take a large coil just to be safe. Your finds will probably be on the sides of the road where it is to be widened however, and for this you should be prepared for some trash, so take a small coil also. remember also, in the old days the road was probably narrower than it is now, and many front yards extended into what is now road. Check your library for 19th century maps showing house and business sites. If you find a very old house, an Inn, or a hotel on the strip that dated early on, you might do well to concentrate a little harder on the edges of the road in front of such places, rather than waste time on the whole thing. It sounds like a great opportunity! Don't forget to post your finds, I can't wait to see them.

 

[In2Deep]

I had the Sandbourne (spelling?) maps with me. It was a serious let down, I wish I had some more experienced guys with me.

I had a few tones here and there, they were pretty deep. I started with the 18" SEF, but ended with the 6" eq2. The problem was it took us 30 minutes to dig one hole 6" deep for a piece of Iron. I blame years of traffic and a steam roller or 2 for making it a bit hard to dig. Well, a bit hard is an understatement. Dynamite and a rock pick would of been more appropriate.

Funny though, a border patrol guy drove buy... My son says "Run, they are coming to get you". He was of course kidding, but the border patrol guy turned around and headed back towards us. I was a bit nervous but I did get permission first. haha.. He just wanted to know how the hunting was and if we had found anything cool.

Maybe someone knows, Down about 4 or 5" there was some matting down, it looked to be really old and like asbestos. Anyone know what this is? I think the question would be more appropriate on a construction forum, but I am curious.

Ended up at the park practicing pin pointing. It was a fun morning. I think I will go back again tonight after studying the old maps some more.

I wish I had some good finds to post, but there was just a couple more dimes from the 80's. But if you were like my 13 year old son, you would think that dime from 1980 is old

Thanks for the advice though, wish it was not such a let down.

 

[txrpls]

The matting is called Geo Grid and it used to stabilize the sub base. On a road rehab your chances of a find will be pretty poor. Typical construction in recent years (30 plus) stabilized soil (read compacted) typically with lime mixed in. Then the base material (crushed limestone in most of Texas) Then Asphalt on top of that.