Your thoughts, River Bank & Woods

[osros]

I am still doing research on a large area of public land that goes back to the 1840's which also has a river along side of it. After looking at photos, maps and such I cannot clearly see any places, promising places to hunt such as old houses, farmstead, or any area I can say for sure that people gathered or seen some traffic.

Of course there is so much you can see in photos or maps. I know the land is being used now lightly for hunting, and some camping. I want to find older coins or relics, my question is if I dont find evidence of early period dwellings or other signs is it worth metal detecting there?

Is it worth just metal detecting such a large area of the river banks and the woods BLINDLY or RANDOMLY? Any thoughts welcome.

[Buster]

I would research it still, maybe finds some older folks that remember the area and maybe they could put you in the right place. They are the best info you can get.. And also I would still hunt it. You still might find some things around the area ..Good Luck and happy Hunting...Keep us posted on what you find..Buster....

[EBCIII]

As to the river banks. Do you have a public boat landing near? Go up during the fishing season. Talk to the oltimers going and coming. See if they remember any old landings. Heck if the present landing is used a bunch I would hit around it. Cold wet hands, and a ring, slips off?

For sure ask around. The old timers may remember old homes, maybe a pinic area or such. Good luck, Beale.

[PAPPY]

Are ALWAYS good places to detect if you have information that at some point people lived along the river. As stated in another portion of our forum... ( ANTIQUE BOTTLE TALK: Old town dumps),Back in the early days people did not have any way to dispose of their unwanted items except to dump them on their property and along the river banks. I have located many a bottle dump and trash dump along river banks...Then I start looking around in the woods to see where the trash may have come from...Time consuming...YES...Rewards...Well worth it.

['E']

If I had the time I would detect it all, never know what's lying around there.

[EPC Guy]

As long as you know you're in the right area - I'd hunt it! The very LEAST that will happen is that you spent some great time outdoors doing something you love!

[Zman]

I would hit it. Continue with your research. You never know, it could have been an old picnic grove and LOADED with coins and relics. Good Luck.

[Inspector]

I would hit it. Thats what I did this summer when the water got low when camping with some friends on Memorial Day. I was shin deep in the water scanning when I found a 500-1000 bc copper spear point. Now that is old :). Good Luck!

[MinelabMan]

Our club has had a guy in with a slide show presentation that sometimes detects CW areas for archaelogists, and gets paid! It's amazing the signs of old inhabited areas he pointedout that would be very easy to miss.

So, yes, I'd give it a try.

[deadhead]

I would look for old trees,stumps of old trees.They could hold 100 years or more depending on where you are.I like to find spots between old trees/stumps that could have been used to hang a tent or hammock.Found about 9 wheats and my 1909 wheat between two very old trees.If they could only talk!!!

In large areas where theres not much to go on,check old maps as the rivers over 200 years sometimes move.If you read clive cusslers "sea hunters II" he talks about finding a civil war iron clad in the middle of a farmers field where the river had been 150 years earlier!! (great read by the way for all MDers).

also look for old trails or road beds that dead end into the river-these could be way points.and think, if you were in a canoe,what would be the ideal place to land?

Good luck and happy hunting!!!!