Hi Bill, My digging buddies and I have somewhat specialized in ferry crossings for probably the last 20 years. Mostly because we have been Blessed with some opportune locations! I have done the bulk of the research, and have learned a lot ,but am no expert by any means. It is past my bed time and tomorrow I go to Church so I may be somewhat brief, and unorganized. Old maps on "American Memory" or any "Historical" maps that show "very early" roads of your State/area, Notice how they come in and out of use/abandoned.. BLO Maps, Land records for Patents'/ownership.,Topos, and especially Aerials.. Migration Routes, Geneaology/settler/traveler journals Official Records(CW) and don't forget the early Militia Troops and their camps and movements(they are hard to locate)).Most finds will be items lost by folks who spent time(weeks sometimes) camped on high ground waiting for "high water" to recede to allow them to cross.Only time those folks spent near the river and lower ground areas was spent in getting on the ferry and toward the other side, so don't waste a lot of time there. Some relics possibly there but not near as likely as at the campsites. Old Buffalo, and Indian Path crossing sites were the first to originate the crossings and Pioneers followed. Many crossings are much older than you will realize and you will gain a better sense in time, of those old trails and "cuts" when you actually walk some of them. There could be many wagon "cuts" coming to/from the crossing as they would have too, many times move their road over a bit to gain better footing/passage. Besides the wagon roads there will be foot paths, as well as single horse path trails that branch off from the main roads. Also will be all of the same, comming to/from the crossing. In some cases these"cuts" can be seen in the elevation lines of your Topo. And, in the aerials you can many times see the actual road "lines" show in the tree growth and earth depressions(anomalies) Some older roads may hold water from previous high water. Roads and trails are usually on the sides of hills (least resistance for their Beasts) though Troops always had folks on top. Common for sites sometimes to be on sides of hills and out of the wind. The rivers acted like funnels for the wind so high ground near river was good for summer, but not so good for winter.The better campsites would even have a fresh water stream.(beats muddy river water) Overall, the campsites will be pretty strewn out all over the place, so look to do plenty walking, but thats' part of the fun of it. Don't forget to search out the land owner/ferry owner, (land Patents).and his likely "high ground" site, do all your preliminary hunting in AM until something turns up and then have yourself a ball.! Oh Yeah, Take some good digging Buddies with you and it will be much more fun. I can probably come up with some more but that covers a bunch of it. HH, Charlie
