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Metal Detecting in Georgia – Coins, Relics & Buried Treasure

Treasure hunters in Georgia have no shortage of places to hunt!

Georgia is a state that boasts a ton of wonderful, rich history for the earliest days of our nation.

Here, we will be exploring a bit of the history of Georgia and where some of the best places to go are for treasure hunting. Whether you are want to find arrowheads and other Indian relics, or you are a metal detectorist in search of old coins and lost silver, you will be right at home hunting in Georgia.

 

Artifact Hunting

 

Long before Georgia was ever even settled by Europeans, it was inhabited by Native American tribes. The territory was first inhabited by various bands and tribes of Native American’s for thousands of years before a humble Spanish omnipresence was in turn developed during the latter 1500s, mainly centralized upon the work of Catholic missions.

Georgia has a perfect climate for these tribes, and the abundant natural resources made for easy living compared to regions further north.

Artifact hunting in Georgia

So many relics were left behind, hidden in the dirt. Artifact hunting is a popular hobby in Georgia with such an abundance of artifacts. Arrowheads are one of the biggest prizes to find, along with grinding stones and bowls.

Finding a place to hunt is the real trick when you are hunting for artifacts. You can find the odd artifact just about anywhere, but to really be successful you need to identify the old campsites that the Indians used. These were usually near a river, where there was an abundance of fish and game.

 

Early Spanish Explorers

 

While the Spanish had mainly left by the early 1700s, the vast majority of them remained close by in Florida, and the presence of the Spanish actually left very little impact on Georgia. The 1730’s brought about English settlers who were led by James Oglethorpe and the name “Georgia” was given to the area after Britain’s own King George II.

Most of the treasure stories relating to Spanish conquest of Central America are based in present day Florida, along with the many shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico. There is however a few lost treasure tales associated with Georgia too.

 

Gold Rush to Georgia

 

The discovery of gold in Georgia brought on a rush to the area that was unrivaled. It followed the original discovery of gold in North Carolina by a few years, but the gold deposits in Georgia were considerably larger and covered a larger area.

Gold nuggets can be found with metal detectors. Treasure hunters should take special note of this, as many of the old mines still have gold left to be found.

The most productive areas are usually around old placer diggings along creeks and rivers. Smooth, waterworn nuggets can be dug from the old tailing piles.

Hard rock mines can also produce some gold. To find gold, scan the waste rock piles with a good gold detector and try to find rich specimens and coarse nuggets.

Anywhere that had old mining activity is also a great place to find old relics. Mining camps will often produce old coins, mining equipment, pick heads, square nails, and other cool relics.

Gold in Georgia and Alabama

 

Civil War Relics

 

Georgia seceded from the Union in February of 1861 to join forces with other Southern states in order to form the Confederate States of America. Georgia alone devoted upwards of a hundred thousand Confederate soldiers to the war effort at the start of the Civil War.

The first major battle that was fought in the state was the Battle of Chickamauga, and was a Confederate victory. William T. Sherman’s armies invaded the state during the Atlanta Campaign in 1864 and the burning of Atlanta (a vital railroad hub at the time) was quickly followed by Sherman’s infamous March to the Sea, which decimated a broad stretch of land expanding from Atlanta to Savannah.

Relic hunting Metal Detectors

It was these staggering events of which became iconic in the memory of the state and also of which led to an economic blow that brought the entire Confederacy to its knees.

Civil War relics are abundant in Georgia, and probably the most popular items that treasure hunters look for. Metal detecting old battle sites can result in all kinds of interesting finds.

Bullets are the most common item, but all kinds of things can be found including buttons, assorted metal pieces from uniforms, guns, and belt buckles. And of course, there are always old coins to be found as well.

Metal Detecting for Relics



 

Metal Detecting Historic Georgian Homes

 

With a state that has so much history, it’s no surprise that old homes are one of the best places to hunt for treasure. There are no limits to the types of items that can be found at old home sites.

Most of the items that you will find with your metal detector are various lost items, but sometimes treasure hunters will get lucky and recover buried caches. People in centuries past didn’t trust banks very much, and they often buried their valuables behind the house. You never know what you could find!

 

Lost Treasures

 

The rich history of Georgia provides an abundance of different sites for a treasure hunter to explore. Some of the best places are now overgrown and overlooked by others, so proper research will be the most important key to your success.

This is especially true if you want to seek out individual lost treasures that are believed to be buried in Georgia. Now that we have taken a look at a brief history of the state of Georgia, let’s move on to some lost treasures that are believed to be buried here:

metal detecting for treasure

  • Near the forks of the Mule Creek and Okapilco Creek, it has been said that French explorers buried 2700 pounds of pure silver during the late 1700’s.
  • In a cache somewhere close to Kingsland, legend has it that Union troops were said to have buried upwards of two million in gold and silver coins in 1865.
  • Savannah alone is said to hold millions of dollars in buried treasure. Due to the fact that prior to the arrival of Sherman’s troops, the citizens of Savannah buried their valuables, and when the city fell into ruin most of the treasures simply could not be relocated.
  • It has been said that Confederate President Jefferson Davis buried roughly $10 million in gold bullion throughout the area of Washington located in Wilkes County.
  • Approximately 2 miles south of Little River, legend has it that a plantation owner by the name of Jeremiah Griffin buried $100,000 in gold along the banks of a small creek. Griffin died in 1847 and never revealed exactly where the treasure.
  • It has been said that upwards of $100,000 in gold was buried during the Civil War. Supposedly buried about 300 yards northeast of the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railroad tracks, deep in a hollow close to a spring on the Cobb County area of the Chattahoochee River, and “not far” from the old Marietta Road, close to Marietta.
  • There are many, many tales of lost treasure and buried caches during the Civil War. During these tumultuous times, there were undoubtedly thousands of valuable caches that were buried. Some of them are surely still hidden today.
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    Next: 7 Rivers in Georgia Where You Can Find Gold

     

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