The last 7 days were incredible with temperatures reaching the 60's and 70's almost every day. The week started out on Sunday when I hit up some cellar holes with Sam C. The finds were far and few between and it was pretty disappointing. Sorry Sam! I headed out on Monday to some private property to find a cabin site not on any maps with only the well remaining. I couldn't find it but I'm not giving up. That area is extremely old and there's gotta be some goodies hiding out there. Tuesday morning I returned to the cellar hole I found the 1838 matron last week. It was very muggy out and was raining on and off but I kept on digging. I found a small brass ring and was almost ready to give up when I decided to check very close to the cellar hole(s). The place is absolutely loaded with flat iron, I've never seen any place as bad as this one. After digging who knows how many pieces of flat iron, I get a high tone with iron mixed in just like all the other tones. I say "screw it" and pop a plug and reach my hand into the hole. I feel something and pull it out and to my surprise its not iron! Its a colonial shoe buckle!!!. The pins even move! Sadly its missing the frame but that still a great find nonetheless. I left soon afterword's cause I was sweating and had to clean up before class. Wednesday was a disaster as I returned to the property of the cabin site but instead attempting to hit up a colonial road that was used by revolutionary war troops. I found about 10 trails and had no idea which one is the oldest. Next time I go there the property owner is going to show me which one is the correct one. Tons of stone walls back there though. Thursday I hit a cellar on public land pretty close to the college. Place looked like it hadn't been hit to hard but most of the finds were Victorian. I did manage to pull out one colonial tombac button (not in photos), but otherwise it wasn't that impressive. I only stayed 2 hours at the most.
Friday was another disappointment as I hit a public cellar and found it to be the most pounded place ever. No non ferrous signals except for one high tone that turned out to be an ornate piece to a Victorian keyhole.
Saturday I got permission to hit a "1779" house in northern RI. The owner of the house turned out to be the town historian who told me the house was actually built likely in 1733 and proceeded to tell me some cool info about the house. We talked for a while about history, he showed me a few interesting locations on the property and then I started swinging. I hit the side yard and got an 81-83 signal but a little choppy. I dig it and see a silver rim down in the hole. It's a worn 1918 mercury dime, my 8th silver of the year. A few moments later I jumped over to the front yard and pulled out a dateless buffalo nickel. I was off to a good start. I then dug a 1925 wheat penny. Nothing incredible on Saturday got a nice piece to a very old crotal bell, a small cuff button, harmonica reed, ox knob, nothing spectacular but still nice finds. I did manage to pull out a cool badge that says "Rhode Island State Police, 75th anniversary 1925-2000" on the front and "Commemorative Ball April 8, 2000" on the back. Its not that old but cool because there is a lot of history with the state police in the property owners family and they have them on their key chains. I thought that was pretty cool. On sunday I made a return trip to the 1733 house and hit the former farm fields that have been converted to woods. I got a lead bale seal, some other relics but not nothing special until I got a 87-92 signal. I dug the hole and out popped a copper.. Back was in amazing shape when it came out but the front is pretty corroded. It turned out to be a matron head but I haven't gotten a date of it yet. Still ,its my 5th copper of the year so I'll take it. I then dug around in a trash pit located near the outhouse where the property owners have found bottles and pottery on the surface. Pulled out some complete bottles (forget them there though) and a small brass object with silver plating on one side marked 1/10 sterling. I have never seen a marking like this before. Looks older though. That was pretty much it. I will go back the house another time as there is still a ton of ground to cover. Until then, GL and HH
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