Bottles, Jars and Stuff
One great passion for many people is bottle collecting. Bottles as far back as the early 1800's are uncovered all the time and they can reach into thousands of dollars if you're lucky enough to find the right one. Sometime just rooting around in grandma's attic will uncover something that she stuck in an old bottle fifty or so years ago. No I don't suggest you sell grandma's collection of goodies but it would be cool to own a part of history included with sentimental value.
Not to sound like a vulture or anything but when our elderly friends and family pass on much of what they have collected over the years is just thrown in the trash, after all who wants a bunch of old jars and junk in their basement. So respectfully make your wishes known before hand if possible.
Where to find bottles
Unfortunately bottles tend to end up in the worst places. Here I will list a few good places to start. Please always use caution when bottle hunting. Broken glass is only one thing to be concerned with.
Dumps
Dumps are obviously a good place to look but the stuff you want is almost always on the bottom. Be very careful when searching dumps. Critters are one concern. Even in the winter it is possible to disturb a sleeping critter burled into the rubbish. Broken glass is always a concern but it can multiply the injury in a dump with all the bacteria and crap infection is a big concern. Wash and treat any cuts and watch closely for blood poisoning and infection.
Old moon houses
An old outhouse can be a treasure trove of goodies. I don't recommend digging if it is still in use! Outhouses used to be a way to get rid of the items that could not be reused or burned. If you know an old homestead location well ya know there was an outhouse. Ask the owner if they know where it is. If you can't get the location from someone who remembers there are ways to find it.
Look for depressions close to the house location and probe with a steel rod. It takes hundreds of years for earth to pack tightly after being disturbed. People didn't have flashlights so the location will not be far from the house. I recommend not searching more than 100 yards from the house.
Probe various locations. The steel rod will likely penetrate the ground easier in the outhouse location.
Check local historic maps and pictures. If in city limits some times the city or library will have pictures or town maps that have the locations marked. Also check with family members. There could be a picture of great grandpa in the back yard and the outhouse in the background.
Cisterns and wells
Cisterns and wells are also good places to look. In many cases when an old cistern or well was no longer useful they became trash dumps and once more they can also be a great place to pick up a bug or critter. Be very careful if you choose to look here. They can usually be spotted fairly easy. If you can't find it open you probably don't want to bother digging. They are normally pretty deep and if they have been filled in most of the stuff would be broken anyway. But hey. if you have the time and nothing else to do then why not. I would!
Under outbuildings and the house
If there are still structures in place don't forget to look under them. Sometimes the treasure you seek may be laying on top of the ground!
Always be ethical
Always be ethical! Always get permission! Always leave it clean!
As treasure hunters we depend on property owners to let us do our thing. Always get permission! Anytime someone trespasses and digs on private property it hurts everyone. The land owner and anyone he knows will never allow anyone to search after someone trespasses.
Be courteous! Speak clearly and never use profanity especially when asking permission. Even if the property owner is cursing every other word maintain you composure! He will remember what a nice person you were if you ever need to search again. It will also give a good rep to the treasure hunting community.
Never litter! Not even a cigarette butt. One butt on the ground can make you look like a disrespectful slob.
If you need to remove a structure like an outhouse or what ever, offer to take it away and dispose of it. Ask the owner if they would like you to throw out some grass seed in the place you dig. There can be benefits in doing this too. Some of the old outbuildings have red oak, walnut, cherry and other woods in them. Sometimes a stack of worm eaten pine or nice piece of walnut can be worth your time.
Because the owner let you dig on his property you could be several thousand dollars richer. Share the booty! Come back and offer a few bucks for his time. Show him some of the treasures you found. They may not have a clue what you are talking about or even care but they will think it was cool of you to show them especially if it puts a few bucks in their pocket.
Always remember when you are treasure hunting you are representing all of us. How you are perceived by the land owner will have an affect on the entire community. As the old saying goes "one bad apple will ruin the whole bushel".
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