Battlefield and Military Artifacts

As metal detecting enthusiasts, few discoveries connect us more profoundly to history than battlefield and military artifacts. These relics of conflict speak to us across centuries, telling stories of courage, struggle, and the human experience during wartime. Today, I’m sharing some remarkable military-related finds from my detecting adventures that have deepened my appreciation for history and those who lived through these challenging times.

Civil War Era Fragments and Bullets

The collection of fragments and artifacts shown in the image below has a special place in my heart, as it represents my first serious foray into battlefield detecting. I had just upgraded from my starter detector to a more advanced model with better discrimination capabilities, and I was eager to put it to the test.

Through a friend of a friend, I gained permission to detect on private property that bordered a known Civil War skirmish site. The landowner, an elderly gentleman named Mr. Thompson, told me stories passed down through his family about soldiers who had crossed his ancestor’s farm during a retreat.

I’ll never forget the crisp fall morning when I first walked that field. Frost still clung to the grass, and my breath fogged in the air as I methodically swept my detector back and forth. The first signal came within minutes – a twisted piece of lead that I initially didn’t recognize. But as the morning progressed and more items emerged from the soil, the pattern became clear.

By afternoon, I had recovered the scattered remnants of military activity shown in the image. With each find, I carefully marked the location on a hand-drawn map, noting the distribution pattern across the field. Mr. Thompson joined me for part of the hunt, his eyes lighting up with each new discovery that confirmed his family’s oral history.

These small fragments of history – buttons, buckles, and bullet fragments – may seem insignificant to the casual observer, but to the informed detectorist, they’re invaluable historical documents. I still remember the weight of responsibility I felt as each item emerged from the ground, knowing I was likely the first person to touch them since they were lost during those tumultuous days over 150 years ago.

What makes these finds particularly fascinating is their connection to specific units and battles. The buttons sometimes bear regimental numbers or insignia that can be traced to particular military units. When found in concentration, these items can even help historians verify troop movements or precise battle locations that might be unclear in written records.

Musket Balls and Ammunition

One of my most memorable detecting experiences happened completely by accident. I had been researching Revolutionary War troop movements in our region and had identified several potential campsites. After securing permissions (which took months of respectful requests and relationship building), I was disappointed to find that most sites had been developed or heavily detected.

Somewhat discouraged, I decided to take a break from serious hunting and just enjoy a casual day of detecting at a friend’s farm where I’d hunted many times before. My friend Mark mentioned that he’d recently cleared some brush from an area near the creek that I hadn’t searched before, so I decided to give it a try.

I was barely paying attention, enjoying the spring birdsong and warm sunshine, when my detector gave a solid, deep signal. Expecting another piece of farm equipment, I was shocked when my digging revealed a single clay musket ball. Then another. And another.

By day’s end, my pouch contained the handful of clay/stone musket balls and what appears to be a carved arrowhead tip, seen in the next image. I called Mark over, and we speculated about how these items came to be on his property. Consulting historical maps later, I discovered that a little-known militia gathering point had been located nearby during the late 1700s.

The uniformity of these balls suggests they were manufactured as military ammunition rather than for civilian hunting purposes. Mark joked that I had done more research on his family’s property than he had in the thirty years he’d owned it. He now displays some of these finds in a small shadow box in his home office, a tangible connection to the history that literally lay beneath his feet for centuries.

Finding ammunition in this quantity offers valuable insights into the intensity of fighting in an area. Their distribution pattern across a field can reveal firing lines and positions of opposing forces. I’m always careful to document the precise location of such finds, as this spatial information can be extremely valuable to historians studying battlefield tactics.

The worn white appearance of these musket balls suggests they’ve been in the ground for a considerable time, possibly from the Revolutionary War or early frontier conflicts. Handling these objects creates an immediate connection to the soldiers who once carried them into battle, perhaps hundreds of years ago.

Cannonballs and Artillery Projectiles

The collection in this next image represents the culmination of a five-year passion project that tested my patience and persistence to their limits. It began with an obscure reference in a 19th-century diary I found at a local historical society. The writer mentioned a “proving ground” where artillery was tested before being shipped to front lines during a military conflict.

For years, this was just a fascinating historical footnote as I couldn’t pinpoint the location. Then, while helping an elderly neighbor clean out his attic, I discovered an unlabeled map that showed a property marked simply as “testing grounds” near what is now farmland.

After months of research to identify the current owners and secure permission, I finally stood on the ground where those tests might have occurred. My first day yielded nothing but farming debris. The second day was the same. By the fifth trip, I was questioning my research and assumptions.

On what I had decided would be my final attempt, I expanded my search area to include a wooded section that bordered the field. Within an hour, my detector screamed over what would turn out to be my first cannonball. The excitement I felt in that moment is indescribable – a perfect blend of vindication, historical connection, and pure treasure-hunting thrill.

Over subsequent months, I carefully and methodically searched the area, eventually recovering the impressive array of cannonballs and shot of various sizes shown in the image. These heavy iron projectiles remind us of the devastating firepower deployed in historical conflicts. The different sizes correspond to different artillery pieces, from smaller field guns to larger fixed position cannons.

Working with the landowner and local historical society, we were able to document this previously unknown testing site and add a significant chapter to our region’s military history. What began as a casual interest became one of the most rewarding historical contributions I’ve made through this hobby.

Finding artillery projectiles requires a detector capable of handling large iron targets at significant depths. When I located these, I was using a detector specifically configured for relic hunting, with discrimination settings that wouldn’t filter out iron. Many beginners make the mistake of eliminating iron signals, not realizing they’re potentially missing some of the most historically significant artifacts.

It’s worth noting that unexploded ordnance can be dangerous even after centuries in the ground. I always exercise extreme caution with artillery finds and consult with experts when necessary. The preservation of history must never come at the expense of safety.

The Meteorite Find?

While not strictly a military artifact, the intriguing dark stone in the image below has perhaps the most unexpected story behind it. I was detecting with my nephew Tyler, who was 12 at the time and had just received his first starter detector for his birthday. We were searching an old farm field where I’d previously found some colonial-era relics.

Tyler was getting frustrated after an hour with no significant finds, digging up nothing but nails and pull tabs. I was about to suggest we move to a different area when he called me over, excitement evident in his voice. His detector had signaled over something large and solid.

Together we dug, eventually unearthing this unusual dark, dense stone. Initially, I thought it might be slag from old farm equipment, but the weight and texture seemed unusual. Tyler was immediately convinced it was a meteorite – influenced no doubt by his passion for astronomy. I was skeptical but encouraged him to research it when we got home.

To my surprise, his initial research suggested he might be right. The object had several characteristics consistent with meteorites: a dark fusion crust, high density, and what appeared to be regmaglypts (thumb-print like depressions) on the surface. We took it to a local university geology department, where it’s still undergoing testing to confirm its extraterrestrial origin.

Whether it proves to be a meteorite or not, the experience ignited Tyler’s interest in both detecting and science. These extraterrestrial visitors have fascinated humans throughout history and were often considered omens during times of war. Native Americans and early settlers sometimes used meteoritic iron for tools and weapons, making them relevant to our understanding of historical conflicts.

The day remains special to me not just for the unusual find, but for the shared experience with my nephew, watching his excitement as he potentially discovered something that had journeyed across the solar system to land in that ordinary farm field.

If confirmed as a meteorite, this would be an extraordinary find that transcends typical metal detecting categories. The distinctive surface texture and density are promising indicators, though professional testing would be needed for absolute confirmation.

Responsible Battlefield Detecting

When detecting on historical battle sites, I always follow strict ethical guidelines:

1. Obtain all necessary permissions and permits – many battlefield sites are protected
2. Document finds meticulously with GPS coordinates when possible
3. Report significant discoveries to local historical societies or museums
4. Never sell historically significant military artifacts if they could contribute to public knowledge
5. Research thoroughly before detecting to understand the historical context of potential finds

The artifacts we recover aren’t just collector’s items – they’re irreplaceable historical documents that deserve proper preservation and study. By approaching battlefield detecting with respect and responsibility, we help ensure these tangible connections to our past will be available for future generations to learn from.

What military or battlefield artifacts have you discovered? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments section below!