Artifact- What is it???

[Johnny Lloyd]

All:

I post here for your viewing a potential artifact from my father-in-law's friend. It was found in a stream bed in close proximity to the Wilderness Battelfield in Virginia.

So I pose the question- what is it? Is it even a relic of the period- probably, considering the circumstances of where it was found. It could even be pre-Civil War.

My guess is that it could be one of the metal bands from the hub of a wagon or cannon wheel. Possibly artillery caisson or piece/supply wagon/hospital wagon in nature... could it be civilian either? How about naval in-nature?

Any educated guesses? Let's open it to the group to have some fun with this. I'm always up for some fun.

Mods, if ya'll need to move this thread elsewhere, please do what you must. ;)

All the best and see ya'll at Bummers if not sooner! -Johnny Lloyd:wink_smil

[David Fox]

Re: Artifact- What is it???

Hmmm. I've not measured mine, but it might be the rim of an artillery sponge or tar bucket. Or a transmission bracket from a '32 Essex.

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: Artifact- What is it???

David-

Yes, it could be post-war. Could be... My guess is still that it could be from the period due to the area it was found in.

Does anyone have any potentially-matching pics? I wonder what metal it is made of.

-Johnny

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: Artifact- What is it???

From the finder... LTC Robert Foster (ret):

There was an old (pre-civil war) mill upstream (just part of the foundation is left now). I suppose it is possible that hunk of iron could be from that. Previous owner supposedly found one of the mill wheels after a flood several years back.

Also, part of the route from the mill out to civilization is now part of the stream, so I guess it could also be to a wagon of some sort.

Beats me why it was sitting on top of a small sand bar… I guess I should dust off my metal detector and check out the area…

Hope this clue helps. -Johnny :wink_smil

[Dignann]

Re: Artifact- What is it???

FYI. The area around the Wilderness Battlefield saw a great deal of iron and gold mining activity (pre and post war). It's not unusual to wander the adjacent woods and find old pits, shafts and associated debris.

Eric

[PetePaolillo]

Re: Artifact- What is it???

Johnny, My first thought when I saw it was a part of primitive iron Bear trap. Some of the teeth might even be there it seems. There is and was a large Black Bear population in the areas in and around Virginia and fur trapping was a huge trade. Just a thought and a guess. Educated guess? debatable

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=16525&d=1253635782

[GrumpyDave]

Re: Artifact- What is it???

It's a part from a henweigh.

[Jimmayo]

Re: Artifact- What is it???

Gee Dave....What's a Henweigh?




Sombody has to ask.

[Gallinipper]

Re: Artifact- What is it???

Ernest Henweigh was a famous writer. I believe he wrote For Whom the Bell Clucks and A Farewell to Eggs.

[briangauthier]

Re: Artifact- What is it???

Well I'm glad someone on the AC has heard of the game Balderdash. Seriously though, what is a henweigh? I googled it and came up with a picture of an old tractor. Is that it?

[Arthur Stone]

Re: Artifact- What is it???

Gents,
I think a hen weighs about 3 1/2 Lbs

[GrumpyDave]

Re: Artifact- What is it???

Thank you Art.:D

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: Artifact- What is it???

Okay... thanks for the foolishness about "weighing hens". I didn't fall for it... ha! :)

Now back on-track for the thread. A neat map is attached below showing where the item was found in the river.

Here is some commentary because he's not a member of this forum:

"Just upstream (about 200 yards) is the foundation of an old mill (pre-civil
war) - "Herndon's Mill". The previous owner of our property said he found
one of the millstones in the stream years ago, so it is entirely possible
this artifact is from that. A portion of the road that lead from the mill
up through what is now my property is now part of the stream, so an old
wagon/cart part is not out of the question. Map extract attached.

I don't know what the mill milled, but there is a bunch of quartz (and gold)
in this area, as noted in another e-mail, and so I would think it was
probably a stone-crushing mill of some sort. Greenwood Mine (shown on the
map and the future site of the friggin' WalMart) was, I believe, a gold and
quartz mine. The above-ground mill road on my property has a pile of quartz
in the middle of it that has been there quite a while. Eventually, I'll
move it and see what's below. I found an old (19th century) broken
cast-iron plow blade in this road, under about 6" of dirt.

It is also entirely possible that the artifact is a remnant of an old piece
of farming equipment, since there is a rather large farm upstream (where the
confederate field hospital was that amputated Jackson's arm).

I have kept the artifact intact up to this point, so I haven't removed any
crustaceans. No holes - threaded or otherwise, but some rivets (best I can
tell). I'll take some better pics and get them to you. Definitely iron
(like strap iron).

Our ferrier is also a blacksmith, wheelwright, cooper, etc. who restores
civil war cannons, carriages, etc. I'll have him take a look at it too the
next time he is out."

This would probably be in-line with the mine theory mentioned earlier in this thread. Then again, could the battles that happened in this area be a contributing factor too???

All the best- Johnny Lloyd:wink_smil

[GrumpyDave]

Re: Artifact- What is it???

Band for a wheel hub? A mill would have have many wheels of many sizes. heck, it could be a bearing for a millstone. Maybe it's a hammerfor?

[PetePaolillo]

Re: Artifact- What is it???

Band for a wheel hub? A mill would have have many wheels of many sizes. heck, it could be a bearing for a millstone. Maybe it's a hammerfor?

Hey Dave what is a hammer for:D...That was brilliant;)..

.....I think Johnny's thread is a good one, Thanks for sharing your find Sir.