Recognize excavated iron object?

Discussion in 'Metalware' started by springfld.arsenal, Nov 20, 2017.

  1. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    FC97DE06-FFD5-40D2-BFD2-306AC1E4988F.jpeg This iron object was excavated recently in Cecil County, MD. The finder consulted a museum to have it identified, and the museum asked me. I don’t know, do you?

    9BA5F6E3-BDD0-430E-A7F9-329B53BB7AE1.jpeg
     
  2. terry5732

    terry5732 Well-Known Member

    Looks like it may be just bog iron. Topography of find would be a clue to that.
     
  3. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

  4. KingofThings

    KingofThings 'Illiteracy is a terrible thing to waist' - MHH

    Any chance there were any sea battles with the British nearby?
    Maybe it’s a hot shot or rigging and sail scrap shot?
     
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  5. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    i'd have it x-rayed...
     
  6. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    I re-read the finder’s email. He says he found the item in the Lower Susquehanna River in Cecil County.

    Any chance it could have looked like this long ago?

    C14B09F6-D292-4A89-AB66-678AF7346DB5.jpeg

    388DFBF8-ACD6-4FC9-89F4-F2CD378EE533.jpeg
     
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  7. LIbraryLady

    LIbraryLady Well-Known Member

    Seems believable to my eyes.
     
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  8. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    me too...but on the one shown....that handle ain't goin anywhere...any time soon....so..?
     
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  9. terry5732

    terry5732 Well-Known Member

    It looks to me like it was rough before it corroded
     
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  10. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    Thanks for the comments. I recommended x-ray and also that he consult a professional regarding how to preserve it. I’m guessing the sudden transition from fresh water immersion to dry air will have consequences, and probably soon.
     
  11. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    Why would you wish to preserve a 5 inch piece of rusty iron ?
     
  12. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    At least long enough to figure out what it is.......
     
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  13. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    Good question. The finder thinks it is an artillery projectile possibly from the War of 1812. I’ve given him my opinion that it isn’t. Whatever it is, the finder is very fond of it and suspects it may have significant historical value. I think he’d be very sad if the piece crumbled to dust, thus my suggestion to look into preserving it.
     
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  14. KingofThings

    KingofThings 'Illiteracy is a terrible thing to waist' - MHH

    Hmmmm.... heard that idea somewhere before...
    ;)
     
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  15. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

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  16. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    If he wants some historical finds,tell him to visit France,it is estimated that 12 million shells still slumber in the soil near Verdun alone.

    Each year’s spring planting and autumn plowing are known as the “iron harvest.”

    These shells are charged and still active
    They pull up around 50-100 per day and will do for at least another 50 years.

    Or he could go to Laos, the most bombed place on the planet.
    More than 2 million tons of ordnance were dropped on Laos by the United States during the Vietnam War — the equivalent of a planeload of bombs every eight minutes, every day for nine years. Up to a third of those bombs didn’t detonate.
     
  17. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    Thanks, his focus is the War of 1812, he authored a book on the topic.
     
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  18. Steersman

    Steersman Well-Known Member

    A museum conservator once told me, for old iron in general:

    1) Warm it gently and slowly to dry it out. Just hot to the touch all the way through. (I put stuff on top of the woodstove for 1 day or sometimes half the winter if I like looking at it.)

    2) Dunk in beeswax.

    3) Warm again enough to remove excess wax.



    (Certainly not for possibly live projectiles of course.)
     
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  19. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    Thanks I’ll pass to the finder.
     
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  20. say_it_slowly

    say_it_slowly The worst prison is a closed heart

    I think the last conservation person I worked with said no to beeswax. Metal conservation is difficult but I think they were using Paraloid/Acryloid b-67 or b-72 but you can probably check online.
     
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