hunting farm fields

[mainah]

I am reading a lot of you fellas detecting corn fields and hay fields lately. I was wondering if you do some research to see if the field has had a house on it at one time or not, or just take your chances and see whats in the ground. I have tons of agricultural fields around me, but I have never hit one. I think to myself, its just a cornfield, and the chances of me finding the spot where the farmer pulled out his hanky to blow his nose and lost a dime is like a needle in a haystack. I would really like peoples input on the theories of what people do and think about agricultural fields... thanks in advance

 

[Mark in S.E. IA]

Yes, all of us that MD farm fields do our research first to see if their ever was a farm house, 1 room school house, church, horse track or a fair grounds in that field. You have to look at old plat maps, aerial photo's if you have any for your area and even talk to the old timers, they can be a lot of help. I never MD a field until I know that their was something there. Some times you will know that their was a old place out in a field but you may not know right where it was. I start off on the highest area and listen for a lot of iron hits and look for broken glass on the ground. when you find those 2 things your in the right area.

 

[NebTrac]

Talk to the older generation and above all, read and research where these things happend and what was there. The antique Plat maps are great and have gotten me into some fields that are very close to where I live. Also, if you have any local historical society or museum, this is the place to start your research.

Happy hunting and researching.

NebTrac