race against time for Georgia Civil War hunt areas

[maxxkatt]

atlanta has been and is growing very fast. a study several years ago predicted based on current growth rates will be one of the largest cities in the US. Why? it has no natural boundaries like older US cities. Most older cities are on the coast so they can only grow in 3 directions.

They predict Atlanta will be from Macon GA, to Tenn and Alabama on the west and SC on the right by 2050.

So what that means to those of us hunting civil war relics is that the sites near CW battle fields will be covered with neighborhoods, shopping centers and office parks. Picketts Mill Battle Field area is a good example. I already see that in the Buckhead Peachtree Creek Battle sites. A choice hunting site is now under Piedmont Hospital and Bobby Jones Golf course. Soon we will lose Dallas, New Hope, Resaca, Dalton and Allatoona plus others.

What are the chances of getting a group together and pooling our knowledge so we can hunt these sites while they are still accessible? Or are we all too protective of our sites. I have shared some of my research with several guys on this forum who live within 50 miles of Atlanta.

Just a thought. I am willing to share my research with a few local relic hunters that are also willing. As we all know one person cannot really clean out a civil war relic area since they typically cover too much acreage for one person to grid out. I have had some luck with some guys on this forum who used to hunt Civil War sites in Atlanta and told me where they found CW relics 15 years ago.

any thoughts or people up for this type of group sharing?

 

[WildDigger]

I have never been on a Civil War relic hunt. I have found some stuff by accident only. I would love to hit some true Civil War sites.

 

[Big Treble]

I have never been on a Civil War relic hunt. I have found some stuff by accident only. I would love to hit some true Civil War sites.

I as well. I know it sounds goofy to non detectorist, but I seriously dream of CW hunting. Probably a good thing I live up north, otherwise I'd either be divorced or fired, lol.

 

[twizzlerlord]

I have some spots that have some potential, but I haven't had the time to get the permissions yet. I am always down to do research and go hunting if I have the time. If you ever want to try and get together and hunt or research just let me know.

 

[MidTN]

We are having the same problem in Middle Tennessee. Franklin, Spring Hill and Murfreesboro. A lot of the farm land has been purchased for home development and shopping centers.

 

[bmcouni3]

Same problem around Savannah GA. Pros and cons to development in my opinion. Pro is when they clear the land for development you find great stuff churned up from trees being torn down and land cleared. Old thought to be hunted out land becomes alive again. Con you have limited time to dig there before the fill dirt comes and spot is lost forever. They are building a new civic center here soon. Waiting for the ground breaking. I'll be there when I'm not working so will be probably 50 other diggers.

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[maxxkatt]

Same problem around Savannah GA. Pros and cons to development in my opinion. Pro is when they clear the land for development you find great stuff churned up from trees being torn down and land cleared. Old thought to be hunted out land becomes alive again. Con you have limited time to dig there before the fill dirt comes and spot is lost forever. They are building a new civic center here soon. Waiting for the ground breaking. I'll be there when I'm not working so will be probably 50 other diggers.

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yep and when you see an area that is going to be developed and dug up, get there quick because with the big yellow machines they can get it dug up quickly and ready for concrete to be poured in a matter of days since they like to work fast while the weather is good.

 

[bukhtr1]

I have found some items, but you have to move fast as others have mentioned. I would be happy to pool our thoughts...

 

[Detectingman]

If you have a specific site, hunt it while you can. I had a nice school I hit some gold at,
went back a few months later and it was tore down and being excavated. When you got a honey hole strike while you can friends!

 

[GLASSHOPPER1955]

This is always a hot topic on some of the antique bottle forums I'm a member of. Those privy diggers out east in Philly and elsewhere are always lamenting when their good ancient 1800s areas get paved over with new development, putting those areas out of reach for many years to come. Not much of an issue here where I'm at.

 

[EmuDetector]

I love to get areas hunted and get things out of the ground, my area is always expanding and I want to rescue civil war relics. My big issue with openly sharing locations is that I know I take great care in digging, filling, and documenting my area. Right now the officials kind of look the other way to the activity, but I'm more worried about the guy who doesn't care and destroys the area and then the punishment comes down on the masses of the hobby.

 

[georgeinsc]

Same problem around Savannah GA. Pros and cons to development in my opinion. Pro is when they clear the land for development you find great stuff churned up from trees being torn down and land cleared. Old thought to be hunted out land becomes alive again. Con you have limited time to dig there before the fill dirt comes and spot is lost forever. They are building a new civic center here soon. Waiting for the ground breaking. I'll be there when I'm not working so will be probably 50 other diggers.

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I have heard that the arkies in Savannah are trying to get metal detecting totally banned in the city of Savannah. The city counsel is scheduled to vote on the ban/

 

[zeemang]

I have no input as far as Atlanta goes, but I am living in a large ever expanding city too. This city has gone from 200,000 in the 80's to over a million now, large developments everywhere on the outskirts. I've lost a few spots already under developments. My advice is hit them while you can, talk to the developers if possible or get to know the bulldozer drivers and ask for a heads up. Right after the bulldozers go in have a field day because after that it is gone forever...

 

[roaddust66]

You are preaching to the choir. I have hunted from Missionary Ridge to Cassville. Things sure have changed

 

[duggap]

Here in Chattanooga we are experiencing some rapid growth because of the VW plant. I have turned to going out of town to do my hunting. Some of the smaller towns still have some virgin sites.

 

[normx2]

Always an interesting topic.

Bulldozers can with state/federal blessing plow theses places under covering or destroying "likely" to exist historical artifacts that will certainly be lost forever.

State Archeologists and the "system" then have obviously agreed that it's ok and Walmart type construction gets the go ahead.

Next time you get wind of one of these "atrocities" as described/defined by state/federal regs walk out to the site with a metal detector just before "construction" and see what happens...Is it fair? of course not!

So in a nutshell? relics, artifacts, stuff over 100 years old, and anything else that was previously labled to be state sacrosanct on the site is now lost forever or worse? destroyed so that the lowest priced Slurpee and cheap jeans kiosks can be enjoyed by the local population.

The last thing they want is for someone to actually find something that might embarrass the experts or archeologically hamper/delay the construction schedule...All the more reason to HUNT PRIVATE LAND!!!

Common sense is not so common.