Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Purchase or rent a metal detector. Practice using it before setting out on a hunt for Civil War relics, to get comfortable with the device and ensure it works properly. Enlisting the help of a friend, for safety, is a good idea when setting out on a treasure hunt.
Consult history books to determine nearby battlegrounds, historical sites, trails, military routes, and other Civil War locations of interest which may prove to be valuable relic hunting spots. A local historical society, museum, library, or historian can help, and they may have information on who to contact for permission to hunt for relics on the premises.
Decide on a location to begin the search for Civil War relics. If this is a historical battleground or a site belonging to the state, an organization, museum, or a private owner, ensure that permission is granted to search the premises with a metal detector. If the property is open to the public, not privately or federally owned, it would still be best to check with the local town hall to make sure special permission is not needed.
Visit the site on a day when the weather is decent, since the process of treasure hunting with a metal detector typically is time-consuming. It is best to ensure that the weather will be tolerable -- not too hot, rainy and cold, and so forth. Bring along a shovel, some tools, and a garden spade in case they are needed to dig for the relics.
Dig carefully when the metal detector picks up an object underground, since the majority of relics found this way will be bullets or perhaps a belt buckle or button, depending on the metal detector and what it is capable of finding. Some metal detectors will pick up jewelry also, which can make this a very profitable hobby.
Take the items discovered to a Civil War relics specialist to determine the best way to clean them. The specialist can also help determine the approximate value of the items found and may be able to set the treasure hunter up with a Civil War relics auction or a private collector interested in buying such items.