Treasure Hunting The Civil War

Treasure Hunting the Civil War can be a fun and profitable venture for anyone with a metal detector and a little bit of research. Even after all this time, there are still plenty of great artifacts to find and treasures to seek.

A little bit of research will go a long way. It may be helpful to study the battles and troop movements. Pay attention to such things as the terrain. Horses and mess areas need lots of water, so streams, springs, and natural ponds are always good places to look for. However, try to avoid flood areas, since you will only dig really deep modern trash. Alternatively, high points also make good spots since they command a defensible area for a campsite or battle position.

Good treasure hunting tools will also be a big help. Metal detectors aren't just for the beach anymore. There are detectors made for hunting gold nuggets, deep buried treasure and those made especially for hunting artifacts. A good all-around metal detector is the Bounty Hunter First Texas Pilot. The 1st Texas metal detector is a perfect mid-level detector with features of metal detectors costing hundreds of dollars more – It's easy-to-tune and easy-to-use. Perfect for Civil War battlefields.

To find the really great Civil War artifacts, like belt buckles or swords will require you to hunt in States where there were significant battles. Try looking in states like Tennessee, Virginia, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina or Mississippi. Do your research and read about some of the major campaigns likeManassas, Gettysburg or Lynchburg.

It may also pay to read some of the biographies of the major commanders like Grant, Lee or Sherman. Get online and delve into some of the many great historical archives available. Pay special attention to quartermaster records.

Once you have found a good spot to search, it will help to know what you are looking for. Common finds are buttons, bullets, musket balls, various knapsack buckles and hooks. It is also possible that you may find things like belt buckles and plates, pocket knives, weapons and swords and coins. Get a good book to help identify your finds or take a few photos and post them on one of the many Civil War or Treasure Hunting forums to help in identification.

It is OK to hunt on private land, as long as you have the owners permission. Public lands will require a little more research. Read up on the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, the Antiquities Act of 1906 and the Mining Law of 1872 Stay away from State Parks and Registries. Always try and be courteous, non-destructive and fill all of your holes.

For some real fun, start researching some of the old Confederate tales about the Knights of the Golden Circle. The KGC were (are?) a very secretive group who were rumored to have stolen and hidden millions of dollars in loot in the hopes that the South would rise again. A good place to start would be with Jesse James and doing some research and how to read treasure maps and treasure signs.

Hopefully these tips have provided a good starting place for you. Do your research, actually get out and look and have fun!

(For more information about treasure hunting, manly adventure, gold prospecting, shipwrecks and OOPArt's, please visit Treasure Hunting News)