Basment Digging

[DiggerDave21]

I just recently moved into a house built in the 1870's and was wondering how common are there to be dumps in the basement. I started scratching the surface in one of the openings down there and was finding pieces of A. & D.H. Chambers Union Fruit Jar Pittsburgh, Pa. Not sure anything about the fruit jar or should I keep scratching and dig out one of the craw spaces. Would it b worth it to dig it. I will post pics tomorrow of the many crawspaces I have in the basement

 

[appliedlips]

Crawl spaces are always worth checking, I have found a ton of bottles,pottery and other goodies in them. Good luck.

 

[Oldihtractor]

Yes do so... Sometimes people put full canning jars on ledges etc down there to store them in the cool dark area.. I have founf some greeat Jars that way!!

 

[crozet86]

I have found everything from poisons,meds,beers,sodas fruit jars and coins in crawl spaces and old dirt basements,so yes search it good.

 

[DiggerDave21]

Some history of the house. It was used at as boarding house/ hotel in the late 1800's. It was a stop for the underground railroad.

 

[crozet86]

I would also metal detect the yard and surrounding area you may find some slave tags Since there is history of the underground railroad.

 

[JGUIS]

It was built in the 1870's and used as a stop on the underground rr? That's amazing. So is the time machine under the stairs? I would definately flip at least the first foot of dirt anywhere under the house, all the way to the foundation.

 

[Bixel]

Dig it for sure.

 

[VA is for Diggers]

If the dirt basement or crawl has access from outside, then you can bet there will be some bottles under the dirt that has washed in over the years; in the worst case, do a test dig. In a shop I was renovating, we had to dig at least 18" under the floor joists. the fluffy layer produced some good local meds and sodas, then we hit clay and were surprised that other bottles were in this hard packed layer. A total of 30 bottles in a 850 S.F area! Shows you never know what to expect.

 

[crozet86]

All of these lexington,va. locals came from a crawl space and basement. PLus a common halls and another patent med rest are locals to me.All were found in less than 6 inches.