some artifact news

[del]

I thought i'd share some new information I received about a few artifacts I recovered for a museum.



A couple of years ago while doing work for the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Museum i recovered a cache of old iron tools along an area of woods . the whole an ongoing story can be read here .
http://www.americandetectorist.com/forum/showthread.php?9955-The-Pequot-War-Saga-%28finding-history%29

This stretch of woods was very near a historic battle that happened in May 26th 1637 and along a retreat route where English soldiers and Indian allies fled for their lives from a much larger Pequot war party. The tools were recovered at about 15 inches and consisted of an adze

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/del1786/Pequot%20Indian%20Museum%20hunt%20pictures/ironadzhead1.jpg (http://s486.photobucket.com/user/del1786/media/Pequot%20Indian%20Museum%20hunt%20pictures/ironadzhead1.jpg.html)

a hammer like tool

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/del1786/Pequot%20Indian%20Museum%20hunt%20pictures/ironhammerhead21.jpg (http://s486.photobucket.com/user/del1786/media/Pequot%20Indian%20Museum%20hunt%20pictures/ironhammerhead21.jpg.html)

and what to me and Anthropologist Dr. McBride looked like a "trade ax"

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/del1786/Pequot%20Indian%20Museum%20hunt%20pictures/irontradeaxupsidedownsideview1.jpg (http://s486.photobucket.com/user/del1786/media/Pequot%20Indian%20Museum%20hunt%20pictures/irontradeaxupsidedownsideview1.jpg.html)

There was much talk and confusion about these items since there was much later activity at these woods. During the 18th and 19th centuries parts of these same woods were farmed , logged for trees and even quarried for stone . It was much speculated that these tools were 1800's era shipbuilding tools apparently thrown out as there were areas of dumping or they were simply lost. I can tell you George (Coinnut) and I had a lot of doubt about this for a few reasons .

That was about two years ago but last week George and I get the same e-mail from Dr. McBride with some news about the iron artifacts . The conservator labs have finally gotten around to cleaning and preserving the tools to reveal two sets of "touch marks" on the the axe.

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/del1786/Pequot%20Indian%20Museum%20hunt%20pictures/axe1005111_zps66284091.jpg (http://s486.photobucket.com/user/del1786/media/Pequot%20Indian%20Museum%20hunt%20pictures/axe1005111_zps66284091.jpg.html)

A touch mark is like a makers mark the blacksmith , tool maker or company they work for put on the tool when the item was made. The axe has three sets of marks on both sides which may indicate weight ( 3lbs) of the particular axe head ( a common practice back then) .

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/del1786/Pequot%20Indian%20Museum%20hunt%20pictures/axe1016111_zps14c46a12.jpg (http://s486.photobucket.com/user/del1786/media/Pequot%20Indian%20Museum%20hunt%20pictures/axe1016111_zps14c46a12.jpg.html)

while they haven't deciphered the mark ( OI ) they are pretty confident its from the correct time period and could of very well been lost during that day of the battle. The other tools like the adze , others have been found almost exactly like it in "period" native Indian burial graves .The hammer may be a brick hammer and an extremely close example to one that was found at Jamestown Virginia .

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/del1786/axehammerandadz1_zpsc70b3321.jpg (http://s486.photobucket.com/user/del1786/media/axehammerandadz1_zpsc70b3321.jpg.html)

The fun for them (archaeologists) is to now piece together as to how exactly the tools got on the retreat route , were they hastely dropped to lighten the load , were they purposely hidden to be retrieved when the individual returned ?? was it some of the "spoils of war" ??



I just love the history and to be a part in finding it for future generations to learn from it is a great feeling. thanks for letting me share this .

Dan

[Bell-Two]

Wow that is interesting! So nice to see that Metal Detecting and archaeologists can work together to benefit both our interests!:congrats:

[del]

Wow that is interesting! So nice to see that Metal Detecting and archaeologists can work together to benefit both our interests!:congrats:

thanks Tony , George and i will be starting our 4th or 5th (its all starting to become a blur :lol:) year with the museum . the people we work with are really great and they share a lot of information , tips and ask for a lot of input as well. I can't tell you how rewarding its been on many levels.

[skribnodsister]

:wow: Dan that's just crazy Awesome! :shocked05: Congrats on finding those Artifacts! :perfect10:

[coinnut]

thanks Tony , George and i will be starting our 4th or 5th (its all starting to become a blur :lol:) year with the museum . the people we work with are really great and they share a lot of information , tips and ask for a lot of input as well. I can't tell you how rewarding its been on many levels.


Yep it's been a great ride and I am psyched for this season. :girlcry: I always felt that them pieces were older than the late 1700's. We start as soon as it thaws :clapping:

[Timewarpdigger]

Congrats and thanks for the giving of your time and efforts in preserving the history of the Native Americans. A history that has been hidden from many and soon may be forgotten if it were not for your efforts. Safe & HH

[Lodge Scent]

That's just too cool Dan. Any thing that can be connected to that very early contact period is fascinating. I know a lot of us are looking forward to hearing about the work you and George will be doing with the museum this year :yes:

[OxShoeDrew]

Has this been in the Courant or other media? These things seem news worthy. Nice job guys!

[del]

:wow: Dan that's just crazy Awesome! :shocked05: Congrats on finding those Artifacts! :perfect10:

Thanks Donna , its an amazing feeling to be the first to uncover and hold an item like this after almost 400 years .


Yep it's been a great ride and I am psyched for this season. :girlcry: I always felt that them pieces were older than the late 1700's. We start as soon as it thaws :clapping:

yup i'm excited to start back up again buddy :happy:



Congrats and thanks for the giving of your time and efforts in preserving the history of the Native Americans. A history that has been hidden from many and soon may be forgotten if it were not for your efforts. Safe & HH

Its great because there is almost no effort on our part to research an area , the archaeologists do all that and just ask us to search here . they have some amazing people who do a great job.



That's just too cool Dan. Any thing that can be connected to that very early contact period is fascinating. I know a lot of us are looking forward to hearing about the work you and George will be doing with the museum this year :yes:

Thanks Jeff , were hoping for a great producing year . to finish up the Captain Mason's retreat route and to also detect another much larger Indian fort and maybe a skirmish on block island .


Has this been in the Courant or other media? These things seem news worthy. Nice job guys!

Drew there have been some news about it in the Mystic and Groton papers and other smaller town and village media outlets but i don't think in the courant .I do know it has made some big news in the archaeology media and community.