Stupid question

[Jake]

I am sure this sounds like a stupid question. First my family owns a plantation that is still worked and controlled by my cousins. The question is where to look? I know where the old slave houses were, my late father showed me. I do not know if there was any civil war activity there. All the old pottery was busted up by vandels. The field around the slave quarters is full of broken pottery. They had cattle pins build on this spot but we took all that down. Yes I am very new to this.
Thanks Jake

The only stupid question is one that is not asked.

With that said, since you find old pottery there I bet you will find some fantastic finds to unearth. We will be awaiting anxiously to see what you discover.
Glad to have you onboard

[Jake]

Thanks Boobie. What could I possible find there? Have any idea. I am sure coins are out.

[mlee1969]

Welcome to TQ! Sounds like you've got yourself an excellent place to hunt. I wouldn't count out finding any coins just yet. I found this IH penny in the middle of nowhere just today. You never know what lies just beneath the ground.

HH...
Mark

[warsawdaddy]

You could find anything--old bottles,smoking pipes,tins,slave tags,tools,who knows,until you look???Goodluck and welcome aboard.

[rip]

Hey Jake,sounds like a great place to find coins and all kinds of other goodies.I would look around any large trees,or other landmarks,the old well,around the house front yard back yard dang give me a few days and i'll come on down and show ya !!! lol.

[Toadie]

Most notations about dances and balls and such that I have found tend to lead to the west side of the main living quarters. Reason being is set up for such parties and all was done earlier in the day (in the shade) and they tried to take full advantage of all the daylight possible when having a function, then used lanterns, torches and bonfires to light up the area. Another good place to look is out around the barn and cattle pens. Barn raisings were popular and contrary to popular belief, do not underestimate the slave quarters. How many times have you heard about some slave buying his freedom? Most slaves were allowed to procreate and most plantations were not like what you have heard about. Several slaves were given areas to plant their own crops and were allowed to market the produce providing they gave an incentive to the plantation owner. Several were given certain days off to go into to town to get things. Some of these slaves may had had caches buried and for some reason or another had to leave them there. They may have been consripted into the Union Army or serving the CSA with their masters and gotten killed.

Remember, if the plantation was of any size, there has to be a dump site for all the refuse as well. The bigger the plantation and slave quarters the more trash they produced, just like apartments do today. I recommend locating the original property lines and start searching from the area farthest from the main quarters. Probably in an area that could not be easily cultivated.

Good luck and I hope to see some of your postings in the future.

James

[RingDancer]

Plantation!! Now that's a place I would love to hunt!!!! Can't wait to see your finds!!!

HH
Pat

[Monte Pollock]

a lot of good tips already,I would also add the dog kennels,and chicken coops.My grand ma kept Whiskey "for medicinal purpose"and kept it in the hen house so the hens would raise a ruckus whenever granddad would try to take a nip.I guess he was often sick and self medicated himself.Sounds like an exciting place to search,Happy Hunting

[Dugday]

Good luck hunting....let us know what you locate out there