Beginning Research

[Tgunderson]

I'm extremely new to metal dectecting. I remember from my childhood that my father owned a Whites and it facinated me when he would throw a penny in the yard and he would let me find it again... of course I kept what I found.
Anyway I'm interested in getting into the hobby and I have only heard one account of a "treasure" that has yet to be recovered near where I live. However I don't want to jump the gun, dump money, time, and effort on a goose hunt.
A little bit of this treasure;
According to the (account sourse), rumors persist that $80,000 was buried in 1832 "on the highest bluff **** , in four piles of $20,000 each" during an Indian attack. The soldiers who buried the treasure were ambushed before returning. The treasure was never recovered.
My question is then this... how would you suggest I attempt to confirm this single account?

[kkfry]

HUMMMMMM, I would say the best way to confirm it at this point is talk to the person that found it ! lol but if in fact no one has found it then you might wanna get your self a detector if you know about where it is and start looking as we call it "dirt fishing" and pray and hope you strike gold if not maaybe you might find other relics or old coins or some old silver coins even plain old clad at least you can say you found something !!! kkfry

[kkfry]

Welcome to the TQ family !!!!

[EPC Guy]

If there is actual recorded accounts of the attack that can supply names of the persons involved - you can begin by referencing those names to see if decendants of those folks are still living in the area...maybe they know something...also talk to all the older people in town to see what stories have been handed down regarding the attack and buried loot...check library records, search engines on the internet, etc.

If it happened - somebody has recorded something about it...your job is to find the records and THEN figure out how much of the recorded history is accurate...good luck and happy hunting!

[bigbillinsc]

i want to help any one and every one in this hobby... but if some one is gonna buy a machine just for the sole purpose of findin "ONE" treasure...

i say dont do it...

you could drop a lot of money on a very expensive machine and gadgets and still never find the treasure yer lookin for.

but you could buy a less expensive machine. use it in parks and playgrounds and yards... learn to use it properly... and learn a very fine hobby along the way and then start your search for the " LOST TREASURE"


Ebay, thrift stores, and pawn shops are full of metal detectors that people have purchased thinking old and rare coins and even hidden cahes are gonna jump out of the ground at them. it doesnt happen like that. it takes time and patience and a lil know how with some luck thrown in the mix for good measure, to find the good stuff.


thaht being said. i wanna welcome ya to TQ.

if you want to learn this is by far the best place to do it. many good folx willing to share what they know and willing to help ya out any way we can.

i hope my lil rant hasnt discouraged ya from startin i this hobby. i want you to be sucessful so i thought i would just let ya know up front wht to expect.

again welcome and happy huntin

PS: alot can be said for beginners luck to. so go ahead and give it a try

[LeoinPA]

Originally Posted by Tgunderson

...............................Anyway I'm interested in getting into the hobby and I have only heard one account of a "treasure" that has yet to be recovered near where I live. However I don't want to jump the gun, dump money, time, and effort on a goose hunt.
A little bit of this treasure;
According to the (account sourse), rumors persist that $80,000 was buried in 1832 "on the highest bluff **** , in four piles of $20,000 each" during an Indian attack. The soldiers who buried the treasure were ambushed before returning. The treasure was never recovered.
My question is then this... how would you suggest I attempt to confirm this single account?

Hey Tgunderson

I'm with Bill on this one. If you want to purchase for this purpose alone don't. You could wait until you have more information before you buy. Paper monies in sacks don't show up well on a metal detector. If coin, then gold and silver at face value would be a lot of coins. If at todays prices of more than $600 an ounce it doesn't take many to eat up $20,000 in a pile. If the piles have been buried a long time ago, they aren't going anywhere. There might be a local historic group or librarian who knows about the tale where you want to look. Ask them in a quiet way about military activity in the area of "the bluff". There might be some information in the Ghost Town Thread under the county/parish also. One thing comes to mind: I would confirm that the burial detail were in fact attacked on the way back, and not just leaving the area quietly with the location secreted among themselves to come back later and retrieve it. The internet probably has some historic informatiion to find. Sound like a nice research project to work on.

Now get a detector and have fun with it like the rest of us here finding "stuff" around parks, playgrounds, and old buildings while researching the story. The practice might help for "The Big One". Goose hunts are fun.

Thanks
Leo

[JCWhite]

Researching a treasure that has become a legend is so hard. Talking with others is the first step but then you have to hit the facts. Papers like newspapers and other records can be found many times in librarys but it takes a lot of time to search thru them. I am looking thru my local ones at the moment for references to the fairs. I do agree with BigBill that if this is the one treasure you would be looking for it is probably not a great idea but I get the feeling you enjoyed the simpler finds like dad's penny and that is what keeps us all going as well. I want to welcome you to TQ , the best darn MD forum anywhere and wish you luck whatever you decide.

[gordiesgirl]

Also Have to agree with Bill and want to add, If there was an attack and people died and were burried there. It may be historical registered area and you can be in alot of trouble for digging with out prior approval. Metal detecting is a wonderful hobby and yes, The equipment can be quite expensive, but if your looking to get rich it may take awhile. Welcome to treasure quest and I hope you take time to enjoy the hobby. Happy hunting.

[MinelabMan]

I agree with all of the posts, would just add; do all your research before buying a detector (unless you'll use it for more than this one quest).

Keep in mind also, that if you have this info, chances are others have gotten it also, and someone may have already found it, if indeed it was there, and others may have already scoured the area. There's plenty of books written about unrecovered treasure, if I had a sure thing, I'd be searching for it, not writing about it. I really don't know if you can confirm the account, particularly about being never recovered.

Good luck in whatever you decide, hopefully, you'll decide to make MD'ing a hobby, if so this site will be great asset for you!

[julieburger]

Hi and welcome.