Where to start?

Captmo47

New Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2021
Messages
10
Location
Watkinsville, Ga
I would appreciate any help with finding old dump sites/ bottle dumps. I see where people dig up huge amounts of “trash” but how do they know where to dig? Is there a list somewhere of old dump sites? Anything you can tell me to get me going in the right direction would be great!
 
Hi Captmo47 and welcome! Looks like you are in a nice old area south of Athens GA. In looking for dumps, back in the old days people would often dump their garbage (and old bottles) over the bank of a gully or creek. That is where I would start, make sure you have permission unless you are way out in the boonies. Old maps of your area, USGS topographical maps show old homesites. Even older maps exist for your area, the local library may have some. Some guys in the SE USA also walk the creeks looking for bottles in the bed of the stream and along the banks, with some good success. Good luck!
 
No, there are no lists of dumps sites. I wish it were that easy. I've been a bottle digger/collector since 1969 and I can tell you, it takes a LOT of researching, searching and exploring. Look for old areas where old houses are/were, woods, fields, along creeks, under old bridges, etc. You'll need a bottle probe to help you find where those buried treasures are. I found my first bottles with a beginner "toy" detector by scanning old yards. Check depressions in yards and woods, as many times those are trash pits that settled and sank through the years. Look for glass, pottery and metal shards on the surface too. You will find a lot of bottles out there, but finding the "good" ones takes more effort. Peruse some of the online bottle sites and learn as much as you can to know what bottles are the collector type. Also look at old posts on this very forum, as there's tons of good info. here too. I have many bottles I've found in my albums on here as well. Most importantly, don't be afraid to ask questions, that's how you "find out". Try to link up with other bottle diggers/collectors in your area. Look at online digging videos. And take your time learning. Don't burn yourself out as some have on here. Good luck!
 
Thanks guys for the info. I’ve got an 1845 homestead I’m working at right now and there is a lot of trash past the wood line going down to a small creek. So far the oldest thing I’ve found is from the 1950s. I will continue to research and hope to find more sights. Thanks again for the help.
 
When I drive along roads that are ditched I look for small sharp rises on the far side of the ditch (possible road or driveway) then I go home and research on a platte map who owns the property. Then to the tax assessors to get there address, then try and get permission to explore.
 
Back in the late 70’s and early 80’s, us kids would do a lot of small game and deer hunting near our rural subdivision. We discovered about ten old dumps within a square mile of home, mostly on the back 40 of old farms, over a ravine or in a low area. We did a lot of digging back then. I even discovered a 100+ y.o. dump over the hill in our backyard.
 
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