Colonial-Era Artifacts Still Being Found Today
The colonial period in North America (roughly 1600-1780) left behind a material record that detectorists are still uncovering. Objects from this era are among the most prized finds because they're genuinely old, often handmade, and connect to the earliest European settlements on the continent.
Common Colonial Finds
- Coins: British halfpence and farthings, Spanish reales, French colonial issues, and rare colonial mint coins. See coins in American soil.
- Buttons: Pewter and brass buttons with cast shanks. Plain face buttons are most common; decorated ones indicate higher status.
- Shoe buckles: Brass and pewter rectangular buckles. A hallmark find of the 18th century. See buckle identification.
- Musket balls: .69 and .75 caliber round balls from French, British, and American muskets.
- Thimbles and sewing items: Brass thimbles, straight pins, and scissors fragments.
- Pewter fragments: From spoons, plates, tankards, and other tableware.
- Religious items: Crucifixes and medals, especially at sites with French or Spanish colonial influence.
Where Colonial Artifacts Turn Up
The eastern seaboard from Maine to Georgia is the primary zone for colonial finds, with concentrations around original settlement areas. Church sites, tavern locations, ferry crossings, old roads (especially where they differ from modern routes), and original town commons are productive. Local historical societies and deed records can help identify these locations. See researching old maps for techniques.
Identification Challenges
Colonial artifacts are often in rough condition after 250+ years in the ground. Pewter crumbles in acidic soil, brass develops thick crusts, and iron may be reduced to an outline. But the handmade quality of colonial items is distinctive once you develop an eye for it. Cast surfaces with file marks, irregular shapes, and hand-applied decorations all point to pre-industrial manufacture.