After several days with work and chores I had a day off and decided to spend it in the Luftwaffe workshop/camp near the lazarette I ve been digging a dumping pit in this season. Last year I found a LW vehicle license plate and some other goodies so my hopes were up for this trip.
It was supposed to be a relatively dry day according to the weather reports, but while I was driving there early morning it began raining a little. By the time I had turned on the metal detector on site, I was soaked. And it was pretty cold as well, only 5 or 6 degrees Celsius. The first couple of signals I dug was an old electrical cable coiling itself around the area, but it hadn`t gone long before I found the remains of a small fire place. Rusted nails, chains, bits of melted glass and some rifle casings. But also a few interesting items had escaped the flames. A Norwegian uniform button, produced by Scully Ltd in Montreal, Canada, and what I thought was a small coin. Later when I cleaned up a few of the finds I found that it was not a coin, but a silver disc with "H. M." engraved, prehaps part of a bracelet. On the side of the fire place a bakelite drinking cup seemed to have been untouched by the fire, and the same with a thick walled shotglass.
Continuing with the search I dug up a big Pertrix battery, a lighter and the bakelite housing of a elecric bell. The next signal from the detector wasn`t the best, but I dug on it anyway and a few minutes later I had won two German gasmask canisters! It felt like both of them had the contents intact.
Here and there k98 ammo had been tossed around, some single casings and some full clips. The next signal hid under a few rocks. It was a small dumping pit with a couple of bottles, a set of keys, a bell, and a German helmet! Parts of its liner looked to be intact and I could see both green and white paint between soil and rust. Pieces of a fishing net were stuck to it as well and could possible have been used as a camo cover.
After a break I discovered a large shrubbery of plants that usually grows on disturbed soil, so I moved towards it and soon the detector became noisy. Here was a quite large spot blanketed with signals, so I just began in a corner by digging out a bicycle, prehaps a Truppenfahrrad.. Between rusted buckets and food tins lay broken bottles, and sometimes a piece of porcelain. Bigger bits of metal from vehicles and carts, but smaller personal items also turned up. For example a very nice brass cylinder for red lipstick, from a popular `30s brand, "Louis Philippe".
One of the coolest bottles I ever found while digging came out from under a sheet of metal. A green pear shaped bottle embossed with "A. Smit & zoon". I thought it was for alcohol, but after doing a little reading I think that it had held some kind of leather treatment fluid.
The rain had picked up and it was late on the day so I began dreaming about dinner and warm chairs in front of the fireplace, but I dug on for about an hour more. It was an productive hour and made my backpack rather heavy. First I found a type of vehicle heater or portable stove, then a rear carrier rack for a truppenfahrrad and the last signal before I packed up was twelve pairs of Gebirgsjägers snowshoes! They were in too good condition to just be left behind so I fought with them till I reached the car, soaking wet and tired.
The next morning the air felt fresh in the bedroom when the cheerful Girlfriend came to tell me to look outside the window. The world had frozen. Everything was covered in tiny ice crystals. It was a beautiful and calm view, until I look down at the garden and realize the frost had wiped out my spice garden.
I hope the real winter wont arrive just yet, there is still so much to dig :D
It was supposed to be a relatively dry day according to the weather reports, but while I was driving there early morning it began raining a little. By the time I had turned on the metal detector on site, I was soaked. And it was pretty cold as well, only 5 or 6 degrees Celsius. The first couple of signals I dug was an old electrical cable coiling itself around the area, but it hadn`t gone long before I found the remains of a small fire place. Rusted nails, chains, bits of melted glass and some rifle casings. But also a few interesting items had escaped the flames. A Norwegian uniform button, produced by Scully Ltd in Montreal, Canada, and what I thought was a small coin. Later when I cleaned up a few of the finds I found that it was not a coin, but a silver disc with "H. M." engraved, prehaps part of a bracelet. On the side of the fire place a bakelite drinking cup seemed to have been untouched by the fire, and the same with a thick walled shotglass.
Continuing with the search I dug up a big Pertrix battery, a lighter and the bakelite housing of a elecric bell. The next signal from the detector wasn`t the best, but I dug on it anyway and a few minutes later I had won two German gasmask canisters! It felt like both of them had the contents intact.
Here and there k98 ammo had been tossed around, some single casings and some full clips. The next signal hid under a few rocks. It was a small dumping pit with a couple of bottles, a set of keys, a bell, and a German helmet! Parts of its liner looked to be intact and I could see both green and white paint between soil and rust. Pieces of a fishing net were stuck to it as well and could possible have been used as a camo cover.
After a break I discovered a large shrubbery of plants that usually grows on disturbed soil, so I moved towards it and soon the detector became noisy. Here was a quite large spot blanketed with signals, so I just began in a corner by digging out a bicycle, prehaps a Truppenfahrrad.. Between rusted buckets and food tins lay broken bottles, and sometimes a piece of porcelain. Bigger bits of metal from vehicles and carts, but smaller personal items also turned up. For example a very nice brass cylinder for red lipstick, from a popular `30s brand, "Louis Philippe".
One of the coolest bottles I ever found while digging came out from under a sheet of metal. A green pear shaped bottle embossed with "A. Smit & zoon". I thought it was for alcohol, but after doing a little reading I think that it had held some kind of leather treatment fluid.
The rain had picked up and it was late on the day so I began dreaming about dinner and warm chairs in front of the fireplace, but I dug on for about an hour more. It was an productive hour and made my backpack rather heavy. First I found a type of vehicle heater or portable stove, then a rear carrier rack for a truppenfahrrad and the last signal before I packed up was twelve pairs of Gebirgsjägers snowshoes! They were in too good condition to just be left behind so I fought with them till I reached the car, soaking wet and tired.
The next morning the air felt fresh in the bedroom when the cheerful Girlfriend came to tell me to look outside the window. The world had frozen. Everything was covered in tiny ice crystals. It was a beautiful and calm view, until I look down at the garden and realize the frost had wiped out my spice garden.
I hope the real winter wont arrive just yet, there is still so much to dig :D
Bakelite cup.
Norwegian uniform button.
Shotglass and MG belt starter tab.
Battery.
Electric bell.
Lighter.
Gasmask canisters.
k98 ammo.
Bell.
The helmet, with remains of fishing net stuck to it.
Bits of a bike.
Lid for a jar.
Porcelain.
Cart wheel.
Vehicle part.
Cool bottle. A.Smit & Zoon.
Old lipstick.
Portable stove.
Truppenfahrrad carrier rack.
Thermos cup.
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