Thanks for The Bug Guys.....

[bearfan]

Hey everyone,
Well after my apothecary feasco I did learn one thing. I like digging! LOL My mother in Law has a 200 year old house up in Maine. I was up there yesterday and she was telling me how in the old days they used an area in the woods as a dump site. There was no trash collection back then I guess. Anyways I went looking. The ground had just become loose from the Big freeze of winter. It was cold, wet, and muddy. Then only about 6 inches down I found this bottle. Not worth much but I thought it was a pretty cool find for my first dig. They were Farmers back then. My wifes great grand father had a black smith shop there. Littered around the area were some old ford tractor parts, metal milk containers, and some old rotten shoes. This was all just on the surface. So I guess my question would be, How far do I keep digging in a 200 year old spot? I spent a few hours yesterday using a screwdriver to probe the place. I did not dig very far down. I found several old broken bottles. I also found a phillips blue bottle. Could this spot hold some potential or am I wasting my time here? Enjoy the pic of my first find. And again, Thanks for the Bug! LOL

 

[Maine Digger]

Hi John, let me know next time you're coming back up this way. It would be great to help you explore your site. You might want to give it just a little more time for the frost to get out if it already hasn't, there's always the risk of breakage trying to pry them loose from the frozen soil[] That bottle is an indication you're on to a promising site.

 

[bearfan]

Norm I actually thought of you while digging. I was wondering if you would be interested in helping me explore the site. I will let you know when I am going to be up there again and don't have to do "Family Stuff" I actually thought of everyone in the forum, wishing I had some help!!! LOL I porbably looked like an idiot on my knees poking the ground several times with a screwdriver!! hehe but it was fun. JOHN

 

[deepwoods]

John - Sounds like you could use a good probe of which there are making instructions at this site; also someone mentioned having good results with an old ski pole as a make- shift substitute. Check any gully spots, creek beds,and ravines- early dumpers tended to gravitate to those type of areas and check well any spots that have even a little bit of glass shards, old rusty metal etc on the surface- a sizeable dump after 100+ yrs can be almost completely concealed by falling leaves etc.

 

[Maine Digger]

John (Bear) Where is it in Maine you were digging? If you could give me the EXACT location of the site I will go check it out and make sure no one else gets all the good stuff before you, he he[8D] Seriously, let's try to get it set up. I have some probes and can also get my hands on a metal detector. Also, as the homestead is that old, we might want to attempt to find the privys! I can see a great day of digging in your future, I think there's a least 5 others within an hour or so of our general location who are forum regulars.[sm=tongue.gif]

 

[David E Dearden]

Bearfan I had to stand on my head to read that, but it is too much to have to type anyway. Only that is was manufatured in Canada & USA. If you are in Maine there was a partnership between James I Fellows and Perry Davis & son. Taunton MA. the syrup was introduced in Ca. 1872
Aqua 7 3/4" X 3 1/2" X 2 1/4"

 

[bearfan]

Thank you very much for the information on the bottle.
JOHN