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Sorry for this dumb question, but How do you find Bottles?
- Thread starter Gonzo
- Start date
Angela (Australia)
New member
Gi'day Gonzo,
Detectors don't usually pick up glass. But I did find a bottle dump by accident about three months ago with my detector when I was digging up a good sound. It was on a hillside, and I'm swiping my detector, I get a sound, start digging into the side and a small boot polish clear glass jar falls out of the dirt. Well, lo and behold, more bottles were buried, in fact I'd dug along the hill for about 4 metres. The bottles were buried from 6 to 14 inches down. I'd dug about 150 bottles, plus all the burnt tin cans, old lanterns, rusty pipes, etc. I even had overloading sounds in the general area from rusty corrugated sheets. So it was by pure chance I found these. And as a bottler anyway, I was rapted. But since then I've been detecting in that area several times hoping to strike it lucky again!
Cheers Angela
Detectors don't usually pick up glass. But I did find a bottle dump by accident about three months ago with my detector when I was digging up a good sound. It was on a hillside, and I'm swiping my detector, I get a sound, start digging into the side and a small boot polish clear glass jar falls out of the dirt. Well, lo and behold, more bottles were buried, in fact I'd dug along the hill for about 4 metres. The bottles were buried from 6 to 14 inches down. I'd dug about 150 bottles, plus all the burnt tin cans, old lanterns, rusty pipes, etc. I even had overloading sounds in the general area from rusty corrugated sheets. So it was by pure chance I found these. And as a bottler anyway, I was rapted. But since then I've been detecting in that area several times hoping to strike it lucky again!
Cheers Angela
Angela (Australia)
New member
Gi'day Gonzo,
I do a far bit of research when I want to know where to find old bottles. I get a book of an area and study the old black and white photos to help me locate old building sites and possible tips. I also have been able to acquire old maps dating back to around the early 1900's, which show the sites of old cemeteries, parks and schools. When you're looking for bottles in the old goldfields, look for evidence of broken pieces of glass, like black glass, which is traditionally very old. Keep an eye out for broken pottery, heavily glazed, with cracks on the surface, a good indication of age. Broken bottles laying on the ground often suggests a tip below. In some places I've dug down to about six feet, before getting anything. A metal probe, small detecting pick and shovel helps. I take newspaper with me to wrap any bottles I find, and a plastic bucket. I wear thick riggers gloves so I don't cut my hands on any glass or rusted rubbish. Some places I look in are deep gullies, where bottles over time have washed into. Most early dumps in Victoria were narrow channels. Bottles were sometimes buried at the base of an old pine tree which the Europeans brought over and planted near their houses. Gardens were often edged with upsidedown old champagne bottles. Sometimes miners threw their bottles over the edge of tramways after drinking. I've found many bottles washed up after a good rain, that had rolled partially down a hillside. You could ask your local council or shire about old town maps, or go to the library and look through books for old photos, photocopy them so you have them with you when you're looking around an area. Hope I've helped.
Cheers Angela
I do a far bit of research when I want to know where to find old bottles. I get a book of an area and study the old black and white photos to help me locate old building sites and possible tips. I also have been able to acquire old maps dating back to around the early 1900's, which show the sites of old cemeteries, parks and schools. When you're looking for bottles in the old goldfields, look for evidence of broken pieces of glass, like black glass, which is traditionally very old. Keep an eye out for broken pottery, heavily glazed, with cracks on the surface, a good indication of age. Broken bottles laying on the ground often suggests a tip below. In some places I've dug down to about six feet, before getting anything. A metal probe, small detecting pick and shovel helps. I take newspaper with me to wrap any bottles I find, and a plastic bucket. I wear thick riggers gloves so I don't cut my hands on any glass or rusted rubbish. Some places I look in are deep gullies, where bottles over time have washed into. Most early dumps in Victoria were narrow channels. Bottles were sometimes buried at the base of an old pine tree which the Europeans brought over and planted near their houses. Gardens were often edged with upsidedown old champagne bottles. Sometimes miners threw their bottles over the edge of tramways after drinking. I've found many bottles washed up after a good rain, that had rolled partially down a hillside. You could ask your local council or shire about old town maps, or go to the library and look through books for old photos, photocopy them so you have them with you when you're looking around an area. Hope I've helped.
Cheers Angela
Hi,
I live in the US(Virginia)and we dig at Civil War camps here. We find bottles and other non-ferrous items by locating trash pits left behind by the soliders. To locate bottles you need to put human nature in perspective e.g. throwing bottles off side of hills or dumping it along with your trash. When your machine goes crazy with an area littered with iron...START DIGGING!!!
I live in the US(Virginia)and we dig at Civil War camps here. We find bottles and other non-ferrous items by locating trash pits left behind by the soliders. To locate bottles you need to put human nature in perspective e.g. throwing bottles off side of hills or dumping it along with your trash. When your machine goes crazy with an area littered with iron...START DIGGING!!!
Angela (Australia)
New member
n/t
had to have the old hole in the ground. Many things were dropped into these holes, including bottles and other valuable items. If you find one, dig with patience and caution. I've never done this but have friends who do it and they say you have to carefully excavate these sites inch by inch. Best of luck.
Jerry
Jerry
Angela (Australia)
New member
Hi thinkin2,
Just curious, why do you need to dig these holes real careful? How deep are they usually? Can they collapse as they're dug?
Angela
Just curious, why do you need to dig these holes real careful? How deep are they usually? Can they collapse as they're dug?
Angela
Hi, Angela. No, I don't think you have to worry about being buried alive. I don't think they are extremely deep although, as I said, I have never done this. The reason for being careful is to excavate the bottles, china and other items without damaging them. These old privy sites can be real productive with many valuable items including Charleston Slave Tags some of which can be extremely rare. I would guess old outhouse sites anywhere in the world would be productive. Have a good day.
Jerry
Jerry
Angela (Australia)
New member
Hello Jerry,
Thankyou for your reply. In my town they hardly dug holes, more used cans, and then emptied them in the creek. But the occasional privy hole was first blasted through, because of the rocky ground here, and some are more than 10ft deep. There's usually a plug down to six feet before you got to any bottles, etc. I've been inside such holes looking for bottles.HH
Angela
Thankyou for your reply. In my town they hardly dug holes, more used cans, and then emptied them in the creek. But the occasional privy hole was first blasted through, because of the rocky ground here, and some are more than 10ft deep. There's usually a plug down to six feet before you got to any bottles, etc. I've been inside such holes looking for bottles.HH
Angela
So tell us what you've found in these sites. Some really good stuff I hope. Where I live is very low country, in fact they call it "The Low Country" and the water table is high. I'm only ten minutes from the ocean. I guess if one of these holes were deep enough it could be dangerous but I don't recall anyone being concerned about it. I really don't think they go too deep, certainly not like what you're talking about. Anyway, I'm itching to learn how to go about finding old bottles. The only ones I ever found were in old campsites or on the beach when the sand was really washed out and these were by accident. I think old bottles are really interesting, maybe I will begin a new hobby thanks to this forum. Have a good one.
Jerry
Jerry
Down here we have pluff mud. It stinks to all who don't live here but we have come to love it. When walking the marshes near the tidal creeks and rivers, pluff mud is what borders the water. It can be deep, you can sink down to your waist in it and it will suck the shoes right off of your feet. But, over a couple of hundred or more years, people have thrown bottles and other things into it. A way that the locals use to walk on it is to fashion some boards with straps to fit around your shoes. This allows you to walk, with a bit of difficulty, where you couldn't otherwise. Using a probe, such as a long piece of antenna or something similar, you can go along and probe down. When you hit glass, it will give a distinct feel but you must do it gently. Then you dig. It's a hard way to find bottles but I've known a few guys who have done it with success. I have even gone on a couple of hunts with these guys. It's way too much work for me but for you young, strong guys with similar areas, it's a way. One note of caution, pluff mud is filled with numerous bacteria and I knew someone who almost lost his leg because he stepped on a nail a number of years back. If you get a bad cut or puncture wound treat it immediately. Have a good one everybody.
Jerry
Jerry
Angela (Australia)
New member
Hello Jerry,
I began bottling before I began relic/coin hunting. In the Quattro forum you'll find some of my posts which show some of my finds with the detector. In this forum, I've posted pics of some of the bottles I've found. Most of my bottles were found in dumps running along the side of a hill, off a house site above about 5 to 6 metres. But I've come across dumps found by other hunters, and some of these were holes as deep as 12 feet. I will drop into these holes if I know I can get out again, and found a few bottles that went unnoticed. Bottles used to be thrown down some of the mine shafts, and I've looked down some of these shafts and there are bottles laying on the ground, about 20 metres or more deep. But you need ropes to get down there, and I do have a concern about 'bad air', if you know what I mean. If you are finding bottles at the beach, as the sand washes off, there may be a lot more hidden than you know. I found a bottle dump by accident using my metal detector, going for another sound. You just might be able to stumble on more bottles this way, detecting for other sounds.
Angela
I began bottling before I began relic/coin hunting. In the Quattro forum you'll find some of my posts which show some of my finds with the detector. In this forum, I've posted pics of some of the bottles I've found. Most of my bottles were found in dumps running along the side of a hill, off a house site above about 5 to 6 metres. But I've come across dumps found by other hunters, and some of these were holes as deep as 12 feet. I will drop into these holes if I know I can get out again, and found a few bottles that went unnoticed. Bottles used to be thrown down some of the mine shafts, and I've looked down some of these shafts and there are bottles laying on the ground, about 20 metres or more deep. But you need ropes to get down there, and I do have a concern about 'bad air', if you know what I mean. If you are finding bottles at the beach, as the sand washes off, there may be a lot more hidden than you know. I found a bottle dump by accident using my metal detector, going for another sound. You just might be able to stumble on more bottles this way, detecting for other sounds.
Angela
Angela (Australia)
New member
n/t
Hi, Angela. Yes, pluff mud can be really nasty stuff. The smell of it permeates the air at times and I've seen tourists almost gag from it. Definitely takes getting used to. If I were you I think I would be less worried about air than all of the really dangerous snakes you have over there. We have a few over here but from the nature programs I've watched I think it would take me all day to walk a hundred yards in Australia since I would be looking for Australian Brown Snakes and all of the other really bad varieties you have. You take care and watch your step. Thanks for the post, I'll do a search and look for some pics of some of your finds. I wish I had gotten into bottle hunting years ago. As far as the beach bottles I mentioned, that beach has had two re-nourishments in the last ten years. Those are forever gone. Sometimes progress is sad. Have a good one.
Jerry
Jerry
Angela (Australia)
New member
Hi Bob,
Now that's a nice bottle. It may be worth a few bucks. Also the umbrella ink found may be worth something substantial too. Is it possible to post a photo of the ink? Also, there may be more bottles hidden in the creek, and if it's not too deep, try feeling around the edges with thick gloves on. Some may be imbedded in the bank. A few have been found this way here in Aussieland.
Cheers Angela
Now that's a nice bottle. It may be worth a few bucks. Also the umbrella ink found may be worth something substantial too. Is it possible to post a photo of the ink? Also, there may be more bottles hidden in the creek, and if it's not too deep, try feeling around the edges with thick gloves on. Some may be imbedded in the bank. A few have been found this way here in Aussieland.
Cheers Angela
Brandon/ny
New member
As a kid I didn't have a detector so I just asked the oldtimers. A good spot also is around old rairoad tracks. They used to throw them in certain spots. You can also find asparagas in the spring aroun the tracks. It's always nice to impress your wife or girl friend with fresh asparagas after being gone all day digging in the dirt.
Brandon/ny
New member
signs of broken bottles, the old ones are usually under the newer ones.
Angela (Australia)
New member
Hello Brandon,
I don't know if your asparagus is the same as ours, but if some guy come home after a day's detecting with asparagus for his girlfriend, she might think it was a weed!!!! Nice thought just the same!
Angela
I don't know if your asparagus is the same as ours, but if some guy come home after a day's detecting with asparagus for his girlfriend, she might think it was a weed!!!! Nice thought just the same!
Angela