How to Dig for Antique Bottles in Mississippi

Use antique maps of Mississippi cities to locate private and public dumps, as well as homes that haven&'t been renovated. The experts at Bottle Books say that a privy, or outhouse, served as the trash repository for a household in the 1800s, and that digging out an old outhouse can be the best way to find antique bottles.

Choose cities and towns with historic bottle history. Andy Goldfrank, a bottle digging expert, writes in the "Potomac Bottle Collectors" newsletter that Vicksburg, Mississippi, was the birthplace of bottled Coca Cola at the end of the nineteenth century.

Do your research before you approach a homeowner or waste management office. Be sure that the dump or privy location isn&'t covered by a layer of concrete and that is hasn&'t already been dug up.

Ask the homeowner or county waste management office for permission to dig. The experts at 19th Century Bottle Diggers recommend asking politely and showing any proof you have that a dump or privy is located on the property. Outline your digging procedure, your expected time frame, and your method for filling in holes once you&'re done.

Probe the ground for privies or buried trash pits. The experts at 19th Century Bottle Diggers say to look for slight depressions, then probe the area with a metal stake. If the stake goes into the ground easily or has ash on its tip, there&'s likely a privy or trash pit under the surface.

Begin to dig out the pit. Cut out a test section at least 2 inches deep, and look for ash or shards of metal and glass. Experts at 19th Century Bottle Diggers say this is a clear sign that trash has been buried at the location.

Dig below any recent trash. Pro Stock Detectors&' experts say that it may be necessary to dig six or more feet into the dirt to find bottles dating from at least 100 years ago. Some Mississippi dumps or privies may have been in use as recently as 30 years ago, especially in rural areas.

Record any finds in your journal, and take pictures. Mark the date, location of the dig, and any interesting materials you find, recommend the experts at Antique Bottles. Some bottles may be of interest to Mississippi historical societies if they are well documented.

Fill in any holes when you&'re done. Shoveling the dirt into a drum or onto a tarp as you dig will speed up the refilling process.