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Tools I
use for Locating Pits, Dumps, and Privies part-2
By Tom in
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In last month's article, I
talked in detail about the most important tool used in
locating privies and dump pits, the probe (1). The tools
mentioned next have also been very helpful in aiding me to
locate and dig items from these pits. The metal detector (2)
can be a helpful tool to locate these places. I have
accidentally found trashpits and privies while detecting for
coins and relics. Not realizing what they were at first, I
would dig a deep target and notice the debris coming out of
the target hole. Broken china, iron and nails along with the
dark charcoal filled dirt, started |
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clueing
me in on these spots compared to the "normal" dirt from
other dug target areas. After recovering the target, I kept
digging deeper and discovered I was finding more of the same items
that were found at the beginning of the hole. By listening to the
debris and the amount of it in a given area with the metal
detector, I learned that these spots can be the tops of the pits
or privies. The detector is also useful in scanning the dirt that
is being removed from the hole. I have found many buttons, coins,
and relics while doing this.
The post hole digger (3) can be useful to determine exactly what
the hole is and the age of the hole. After I have found a spot to
check out, I will dig a sample hole with the post hole digger in a
spot that seems to be free of large items. By examining the dirt
that comes out of the test hole, I can usually tell if it is a
privy or trash pit and if it is old enough to dig. This saves time
and effort on my part by not digging a 4' x 4' hole just to find
out that it is a newer one. You want to make sure (by probing )
that there are no glass items in the way of your test hole. Most
post hole diggers have a 4' handle and won't reach some depths to
get a good reading of the hole. I had 7' handles made for the one
I use and they can reach a depth of 5&1/2'. Now, before I go
any further, the tools that will be talked about next,
are only helpful in the excavation of the bottles and relics found
in these pits. The round point shovel(4) is the tool used most by
me in excavating these holes. Most of the places I dig at, are farm fields
and woodlots in rural areas. I don't need to be too
particular with neatness when filling my holes. I still return it
to it's original condition by raking farm field stubble or leaves
back over the spot I dug. If I was at an area where I had to use
care in returning the hole back to it's original condition such as
a private yard or lawn lot, I will have to use other tools to aid
me with this. A tarp of some kind, or plastic swimming pool cover
is needed for the dirt to keep the yard clean while digging. A
flat point shovel(5) comes in
handy to remove the 3-4" of sod on top of the hole which will
be replaced when finished. This shovel slices the sod cleanly and
can be worked to peel the sod from the ground. I roll the sod
strips up and move them off to the side while digging. Once I get
down to the depth where I could start finding bottles, I use
smaller digging tools(6) that won't be too harmful should I
"touch" glass. These were made by my digging partner. The
digging heads are made of a polycarbonate plastic which
"slides" over the glass and prevents scratching or
nicking. The tools have different types of heads for different
types of digging. I should mention here that wearing a good pair
of gloves(7) is important. When I'm down to the depth of finding
glass, it will be broken glass. There is no way not to rub your
hands across broken glass while digging a privy or a dump. You
need to have protection for your hands. I use leather gloves
because they are the most resistant to the sharp cutting edges of
the glass. Thick beaded wool gloves work good too. They provide
better dexterity for the fingers than thick leather. I have a
small saw(8) for cutting tree roots that could be in the way.
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NOTE: use good judgment when cutting large
roots from a landowner's ornamental trees. You don't want to harm
their trees and get a bad reputation from this. I usually use it
for invading tree roots from abandoned wooded sites. Buckets(9)
can help when digging deeper holes. It is harder to throw up the
dirt, the deeper you go. By filling the bucket and handing it to
your partner helps ease the shoveling. I like to use a square
sided bucket because it can scrape the dirt off the bottom of the
hole better and if I need to enlarge the sides of the hole, I can
place the bucket along the side and cave the dirt right into it
without shoveling into it. They are useful for bringing back the
bottles that were found too. I use a sifter(10) to locate
nonmetallic items and things I might have missed with the metal
detector. I have found many things by doing this such as marbles
and buttons. I position the sifter over the hole and sift the dirt
as I fill it back in. The one I use is made from a 2x4 frame
with1/2" screen mesh that is supported or backed by 2x4"
fence wire. The screen and wire are screwed down by 1" thick
wood strips. This keeps the screen mesh tight. See close up pic
for details.
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I use a sifter to locate nonmetallic items and
things I might have missed with the metal detector. I have
found many things by doing this such as marbles and buttons.
I position the sifter over the hole and sift the dirt as I
fill it back in. The one I use is made from a 2x4 frame
with1/2" screen mesh that is supported or backed by
2x4" fence wire. The screen and wire are screwed down
by 1" thick wood strips. This keeps the screen mesh
tight.
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I bring along newspaper and a backpack to wrap
the bottles in when I have to hike to and from a site. This just
about covers all the tools that I use. Next month I will talk
about a sifter that my digging buddy made. You will be amazed at
this invention. So long for now, Tom---Tom
in IL
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