When the finds don't match the site

[Cherry Picker]

Got out for my first hunt of 2023 and I find a new construction site. Down town dodge where the original front street saloons were located has been torn up. Now the original building was torn down back in the 70s and a parking lot was made, but I just figured there had to be something good there. Hunted the entire site and only came away with 2 pennies, the oldest a 1972, and some pin or something that looks like a cowboy with a rope. Just not what I expected.

In the picture, you see the location and the old building that used to be there. That picture was taken before 1885 because the cityhall burnt down in 1885.

On the bright side at least I got the first coins of the year, and the oldest coin so far LOL. My buddy and I always run a contest who can find the first of each coin for the year and the oldest.

 

[CTCurt]

There has to be some good stuff there. I'd be all over that site, running detector hot. Matt Dillon's badge has to be there somewhere....

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Keep looking!!! Congrats!!!

 

[Xxray]

OMG a street tearout in Dodge City, sounds like a dream ,,, Any chance you can find where they took the tearout dirt to, are the still any mounds ?
I have found laods of stuff in tearout mounds, and the digging is rarely ever easier ,, Of course you have to be a bit nimble to make the most of them, but ground level will do too.

I hit a street tearout 2 years ago that was wild beyond imagination, site of a humongous pre civil war ammunition, arsenal and repair depot in operation from 1825 to the early 1900's - So large it spanned what is now 4 city blocks, a huge park, baseball field and more.
Was finding buttons, medals, bullets, 1800's coins, I was blown out and am a strong proponent of street tearouts.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Old-town demolition sites are always hit & miss. It will depend on if the dirt you're currently looking at is "2nd generation" or not. So that, just because you know the side-of-town dates to the mid 1800s, doesn't mean that exposed dirt will be that date-range. Because : Subsequent road building, sidewalk-generations, building generations, etc... could have altered that street-level-grade. By adding or subtracting dirt at-the-time.