Old North State Detectorists Club

"Rediscovering the Past"

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 ROBERT UNDERWOOD'S NEWEST FIND

 

Robert Underwood was hunting a CSA surrender camp near the NC-VA border November 2, 2014 when he excavated a Virginia State Seal staff officer's button using his Garrett AT Pro.  It retains about 70% of its gold gilt and has a partial New York manufacture backmark common to many Confederate buttons during the American Civil War.  The top rim has 13 stars  denoting staff officer and the bottom banner displays the Virginia mottto "Sic Semper Tyrannis" or " Thus Always To Tyrants".  John Wilkes Booth shouted these same words at his assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The button type matches Tice's VA261A.

Historical & Archaeological Work

The club has been asked on different occasions to assist the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources and History in their continuing investigations at the Alamance Battleground Historic Site. ONSD members, under supervision of the state research historian and staff, searched marked grid areas seeking metal artifacts that date from the 18th and mid 19th century. This was a great honor for the Old North State Detectorists club as only a handful of battlegrounds in the country have allowed metal detectorists to assist their state historical and archive personnel at these strictly off-limit sites.

The ONSD club appreciates the opportunity to have assisted the State of North Carolina during our six visits in completing this project. Some items found during our visits are on permanent display in the Visitor's Center at the battleground.

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park - Greensboro, NC

Club members were asked in May/June 2011 to participate in an archeological excavation at the park in an attempt to locate the original site of the Guilford Courthouse. The ONSD assisted the University of North Carolina - Greensboro Archaeology Program and its students in the locating, mapping and recovery of various metallic objects as well as some old pottery artifacts from the suspected area. During the initial recovery work, a piece of cannister shot was found and led to several more items of military origin to be uncovered. This was not an unexpected event and may lead researchers of the battle to possibly request future digs to further explain the time line and location of troops and events on March 15, 1781.

The Old North State Detectorists appreciate the opportunity to assist the University of North Carolina at Greensboro's Department of Archaeology and thank the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park personnel and the National Park Service for their permission to allow us to work this hallowed ground.

Mendenhall Plantation - Jamestown, NC

ONSD club members have worked cooperatively with the Trustees of historic Mendenhall Plantation in Jamestown, NC in searching for and recovering items of historical value from around the property. The Trustees have set up a display of these found items which are available for viewing at the annual Village Fair festival held on the grounds each July.

Travis Creek School - Elon, NC

The Old North State Detectorists Club partnered with Elon University in Elon, NC to search the grounds of Travis Creek School, the oldest standing public school house in North Carolina, which is located on the campus. A short video of the school hunt can be seen here on our ONSD-TV channel at YouTube.