What exactly is a "Cellar Hole"?

[Anonymous]

Here in Oklahoma we have Cellars, But, I have no clue what a cellar hole is? Sounds quite different...and by my guess...they must be out in the woods?

 

[Anonymous]

yea, usually. It is just the indentation in the ground where a house used to sit. Usually all that is left of the really old homes. You hunt around the cellar holes, not in them. Of course scan the hole, but they usually are a trash dump. But you might find a cache though. Sometimes you run into some that still have the foundation, which is nice because that can really help you date it. Talk to your local game hunters that you might know and ask them if they ever have ran across any in the woods. Someone that has hunted most of his life around there could probably tell you about many around your area!

 

[Anonymous]

cellar holes are found in woods, grown over fields, and even in the middle of a plowed field.where they just plowed around it. It is usually a hole in the ground and you can see at least some of the foundation. At least this is true in NY State. Also good is when a house has been distroyed and has been plowed over completely and is now unrecognizable in a farm field. The only sine is some shards of red brick and some colored pottery.
To find the old cellar holes, get ahold of some old maps of your area from the local, county, state and university ~ historical society, library or highway department.
I have located well over a hundred cellar holes this way. You only find a few coins usually but thay will be old! But once in a while you hit the Jackpot. I have one cornfield site that has provided 27 coins with the newest being 1865 and the oldest being a 1700s King George Copper as well as over 60 colonial buttons.
And if you are interested in relics, they all will have many..
Good Luck..
Jim Vokes NY

 

[Anonymous]

Jim,
I have read your website and I commend you on a very good job. It was a very interesting read and I do go back to it to learn tips on the explorer.
I have a question about old cellar holes. I recently hunted an old site that was a dance hall next to a saloon, next to 3 houses in the late 1800's early 1900's. It is now a corn field and the ground is littered with debris like broken glass, brick, pottery, etc. There is also a ton of iron, mostly in the way of nails. Do you find this normally, lots of iron? I came away with a sack full of nails, but no coins. It was a bit frustrating, but I guess that is the way it goes. The farmer who let me search was very happy to talk and wanted to see whatever I found. Great way to meet people!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the kind words on my web site. Sharing ones knowledge and experiences is what this great hobby is all about.
Trash at these field sites and also the cellar holes is quite common and can make a site practically unhuntable. I have heard of guys that drag a heavy magnet bar over the ground to help rid the trash. I have heard of folks raking the entire site of surface trash before detecting.
You have to balance the amount of trash, the potential treasure value and the amount of work you are willing to put in.
The ideal site is one in which the site was abandoned pre 1800 and the earlier the better. Mainly due to the fact that there was less iron present.
In the case of cellar holes, you might still have the locals using it for a trash dump and causing problems that way.
Don't let this discourage you in any way because just like occupied house sites. Some contain treasure and some are blank for many reasons.
The successful detectorist in this hobby is one who is an eternal optimist and their greatest attribute is "persistence". Your next treasure site and your next silver coin is only a beep away.
It never ceases to amaze me that I dig and I dig and I dig. Then suddenly out of nowhere ... there is that silver seated lady shining up at me from that muddy hole. It is a most unbelievable feeling.
Have a great day..
Jim Vokes NY