Unearthing History: A Guide to Bottle Digging and Collecting Antique Bottles
Bottle Digging: A Guide to Finding and Collecting Antique Bottles
Are you interested in metal detecting and history? Bottle digging might be the perfect hobby for you. Bottle digging involves searching for antique bottles buried underground, which can provide valuable insights into the past.
Here is a guide to bottle digging that will help you get started on this fascinating hobby.
1. Research Your Area
The first step in bottle digging is to research your area. Find out where old dumps or garbage sites were located in your town or city. Look for areas that used to be popular picnic spots, campsites, or areas of historical significance.
You can also search online databases such as historic maps, aerial photographs, and local archives to find potential excavation sites.
2. Get Permission
Before starting any dig, it’s important to get permission from landowners or local authorities. Bottle digging without permission can result in legal troubles and damage relationships with property owners.
3. Invest in Quality Tools
The right tools are essential for successful bottle digging. Some useful tools include a metal detector with a small coil, a shovel or spade, gloves, knee pads, and a pickaxe (for harder soil types).
4. Understand Soil Types
Understanding soil types is essential when searching for antique bottles buried underground. Soft soil types like sandy loam are easier to dig through than hard-packed clay soils that may require more effort to excavate.
5. Know What You’re Looking For
Antique bottles come in different shapes and sizes depending on their age and use. Knowing what type of bottle you’re looking for will help narrow down your search.
Some common types of antique bottles include:
– Medicine Bottles: These are small glass bottles used by pharmacists dispense medications.
– Soda Bottles: Old soda bottles have distinctive designs featuring brand logos.
– Beer Bottles: Dating back over 100 years ago beer was served at home from large bottles that were refilled from the local brewery.
– Whiskey Bottles: These were often shaped like flasks and used to transport alcohol during the prohibition era.
6. Learn How to Identify Antique Bottles
Identifying antique bottles is another crucial aspect of bottle digging. Some ways to identify old bottles include:
– Check for embossing: Old glass bottles typically have raised lettering or designs on them that can help identify their origin or manufacturer.
– Look at the color: Glass color can also be an indicator of a bottle’s age. For example, older bottles tend to have more pronounced colors like aqua, green and amber.
– Examine the shape: The shape of a bottle can indicate its use and age. Older medicine bottles are usually small with narrow necks while soda and beer bottles are longer and thinner.
7. Be Patient
Bottle digging requires patience as it may take some time before you find anything valuable. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find anything on your first few digs because persistence pays off in this hobby.
8. Clean Your Finds Properly
Once you’ve found a bottle, it’s important to clean it properly without damaging it in any way. Use warm soapy water or a vinegar solution to gently remove dirt, debris, or stains from the glass surface.
9. Store Your Finds Safely
Storing your finds safely is essential for preserving their value and protecting them from damage over time. Keep your antique bottles in secure storage boxes away from direct sunlight or humidity that could cause discoloration or breakage over time.
10. Join a Bottle Digging Group
Joining a group of like-minded individuals who share your interest in bottle digging can be helpful for learning new techniques, finding new locations, sharing tips on cleaning methods, etc., but most importantly building friendships based around this amazing hobby!
Conclusion:
Bottle digging is not only an exciting hobby but also a great way to learn about history and the ways people lived in the past. Follow these tips, invest in quality tools and equipment, be patient, and enjoy the thrill of discovering hidden treasures buried underground. Remember to always respect property rights and local laws when digging and most importantly have fun!