how do they get down there

[JEBar]

in the short time we've been using our detectors, we have found something over $2 (mostly pennies), a pocket knife, and bunches of other assorted junk ... most items we have dug have ranged from being 1 - 4" deep .... my question is, how does a penny (or whatever) fall out of a person's pocket, land on the surface and over time work its way several inches underground .... I can understand this taking place in a farm field or in other areas where dirt may have been plowed, tilled or even hauled in but with the places we have hunted, that hasn't been the case

Jim

[LeoinPA]

Hi Jim

Just a coupla ideas. Dead grass clippings and decaying leaves on top, Walk on it, Lawnmower tires, Gravity (Metal is more dense than the surroundings), Rodents collecting shiny objects for their den, or possibly any number of ideas. Just to mention a few.

Thanks
Leo

[JoAnne]

I like that Boobie - "a virtual plethora of different reasons"

[drver]

Another vote for what boobieinPa said. I guess it’s kind like my garden, every year I clear all the rocks and every spring there’s more there.

[cjoej]

It has been stated by a leading Archaeologist that the top foot of soil (esp. in a vegetated area) has no discernable layer information. What this means is that the top foot of soil gets churned over by roots, burrowing animals, insects and worms, weather (rain, snow, freezing, thawing, sediment etc.), and traffic (animal, human, machinery) to such an extent that it is in a constant state of change. Thus any objects droped on it will seek a different depth over time as the granules shift due to these forces.

SWC

Joe