Bucket List Relic Find!

Hello Digger friends,
Last Sunday I went back to the castle ruins near my house and spent 3 hours in the woods. Not many finds to report. Mostly .50 Cal casings fired from U.S. fighter planes during WW2. Must have been several strafing runs in that valley because there are hundreds of shell casings! Anyway, I had a faint iron signal that was pretty deep. I worked down through the roots and was surprised to find a medieval snaffle bit for a horse. It wasn't until I cleaned it and did electrolysis that I realized it is actually two mismatched halves that were joined together in medieval times! My German reference book shows the date range to be 400 to 1200 A.D. for this type. Since the castle dates back to the 1190's I am going with a date of 1100 to 1200's for this cool relic. Thanks for looking and here is some pics.

What a spectacular relic, Dave! Was it a clump of rust when you found it? That Medieval iron sure does clean up nicely! Over 800 years old, wow! :shocked04:

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Wow! That is a very cool find. I think I'll throw my 200 year old snaffle bit in the trash. ;) Yeah, the fact that they are mismatched make them extra cool. Well found!

And the hits keep coming!!!
Great find Dave!!!

Antique just isn't good enough for you. YOU just have to go medieval on us!! :notworthy:

The Metalldetektion Deutschland officials are getting a bit tired of all your finds. :lol:

You'll have a museum when you get home! Hugh congrats!!

Your gonna need your own cargo ship to bring all that ancient iron home!
Another sweet find Dave!:thumbsup02:

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Originally Posted by Tony Two-Cent

Was it a clump of rust when you found it? That Medieval iron sure does clean up nicely!

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Tony, I have learned it is the impurities in iron that cause it to rust (contact corrosion). Medieval iron is so pure it comes out of the ground with very little rust. When I dug this up all 4 parts could move freely even though they were a bit rusty.

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Originally Posted by Lodge Scent

the fact that they are mismatched make them extra cool. Well found!

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I agree! Back then nothing was wasted and forged iron was a real commodity for sure.

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Originally Posted by Digger Don

And the hits keep coming!!! Great find Dave!!!

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Thanks Don, only a few more months and the great treasure hunt will be over!

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Originally Posted by Noah

YOU just have to go medieval on us!!

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LOL! Reminds me of Pulp Fiction "now I'm gonna go medieval on his ass."

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Originally Posted by OxShoeDrew

You'll have a museum when you get home!

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Funny you should mention that. I'm up to 5 display cases now in my "little museum!"

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Originally Posted by Ill Digger

Your gonna need your own cargo ship to bring all that ancient iron home! Another sweet find Dave!

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Thanks Tim, yes, that's going to be the trick. Getting it all home without prying eyes or sticky fingers getting to it first.

The better the iron the worse it usually sounds to a detector , high carbon steel holds up much better to the elements compared to wrought iron but wrought iron generally sounds more "diggable" . great find Dave , they sure haven't changed much in hundreds or years .

Dan

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Originally Posted by del

The better the iron the worse it usually sounds to a detector , high carbon steel holds up much better to the elements compared to wrought iron but wrought iron generally sounds more "diggable"

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You're absolutely right Del! This rang up like a puny nail. A more modern piece that same size would be a screamer (or should I say a grunter).

" I went back to the castle ruins near my house" - I have to chuckle. What an area that must be to have to detect. Great relic. WD

Some day when you are back, gonna ask you how you managed to get your loot home, LOL :thumbsup01: