On this website in the "Relic Log Book" tab you will find a few examples of how I document the relics I find. It is important to document the location of each relic to understand it's relationship with other findings at a later date, whether it be other relics, building locations, etc.
I have created a binder with a description of each relic found, with photos of the relic, it's location described and mapped, as well as the depth at which it was found. Remember don't dig it up if you can't preserve it. Once a piece of metal comes out of the ground it begins to deteriorate rapidly. Be prepared to preserve the relic soon after it is dug. For instance with an iron relic I prefer the wax method, where the relic is boiled in wax at 200 degrees F to seal it, after it has been properly cleaned. There is a load of information online describing different methods for different materials, you will preserve an iron relic different than something made of brass for instance. Do your research first before you start digging, practice the preservation methods you choose to use on something insignificant before you do it with your prized relics. Be careful, some of these methods can be dangerous, take all safety precautions. Save everything you dig! I keep containers of stuff that I can't identify. I bag each item in a zip lock bag with a note describing it's location. That item may turn out to be quite significant later once it is identified, and might help tell the story of your property's history. Research your property's history. The relics you dig will be more interesting if you know a little about the people who owned them, and how these items may have been used. The two needles (another good reason to wear gloves) were found only a few feet apart. Although the house was used as a hospital during the Civil War, and was owned by a Doctor at the time, I don't think this is that old. If I had to guess I would say this was used on farm animals in the early 1900's. If anyone has a good reason I should believe different please let me know. The piece I thought was a syringe turns out to be a bottle topper from the 1950's pictured below This piece was found just a few feet north of the circle drive west of the pole light. It is manufactured in layers held together by small pins. Pictured below is a break barrel Smith & Wesson revolver from the mid 1800's. I have circled a piece of the gun that is strikingly similar to the piece that I found. I was recently contacted by a relic hunter from Kansas City Missouri who identified this piece as the hinge mechanism on a 19th century ruler pictured below. A special thanks to Steve for contacting me, and giving this piece its proper identity. The first archaeological dig here at Springdale on 07/03/14 wasn't sexy, but necessary to mapping the property, and I learned a lot. We did find some 18th century ceramics, and some ancient Indian pottery, as well as a lot of 19th century ceramics and glass.
I will be hosting an archaeological dig at Springdale 07/03/2014. I will have two professional archaeologist with their interns, and several amateur archaeologist digging test plots on several locations around the property.
CAN YOU DIG IT? |
AuthorI Dig History CategoriesArchives
May 2015
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