I used to only dig test pits in flat open fields. Now I focus on tree line edges near old fence rows.

For years I wasted entire weekends digging in plowed fields and coming up with nothing but rocks and rusted plow points. Then about 3 years ago a guy from the local historical society told me old farmers always dumped their trash along tree lines where the plow couldn't reach. I tried it one afternoon near a 1920s farmhouse foundation and pulled out 3 complete medicine bottles and a clay pipe stem within 2 hours. Has anyone else had better luck switching from fields to boundary edges?

2 comments

2 Comments

anthony88312h ago

Maybe it's just me but I wouldn't call a few bottles and a pipe stem "better luck" unless you're doing it for fun and not profit. Seems like a lot of hype over a hobby.

cameron77012h ago

Haven't you heard of the difference between metal detecting and actual bottle digging though? A few bottles and a pipe stem might not sound like much to you, but sometimes the whole point is the history behind them, not the cash value. I've seen guys pull up old medicine bottles from the 1800s that are worth a decent amount, but even the junk ones tell a story about what people used back then. It's not always about profit for everyone, but calling it "hype" kinda overlooks the fact that some folks treat it like a real hobby with real finds. You might not see the value in it, but that doesn't mean it's just a fad.