Welcome to SCAVENGEOLOGY

Recent Blog Posts:

• French Pistols in Colonial New Orleans
  November 1, 2020
  This original 18th century cased set of flintlock pistols are both signed by French gunmaker, Adriaene Reynier, a Dutch-born gunmaker in Paris, France. The box, and one of the accessories inside, are engraved with the initials, "LMS." They represent more than just the beautiful work of the finest French gun-makers, but also the little-known activities of the Spanish in late 18th century America, including plots against the U.S. government with both hostile Indian tribes, and American spies and frontier leaders. …
• Lead and Gunpowder in the Wilderness – Virginia Lead Mines Part 2
  October 25, 2020
  This is Part 2 on the Virginia New River Lead Mines. Check out Part 1, if you missed it.... These blog posts are excerpts of the materials provided to me by my good friend, Jim Webb, a lifelong resident of the New River area of Virginia, mixed in with some of my editing, commentary, and scavenging experience. One little spot in Virginia, now completely abandoned and mostly lost to history, played an amazing part in American history. During the 18th century on the Virginia frontier, this little known spot was the center of activity, and possibly made the difference between life and death.... …
• 17th Century English Sword….
  September 10, 2020
  17th Century English sword excavated at Jamestown, Virginia. …
• A glimpse at the northern exterior wall of Byrnside’s Fort as it originally appeared
  September 9, 2020
  A progress update video of the current state of the Byrnside's Fort preservation. It's interesting to note that this shows the exterior wall logs to have an old whitewash on them, which appears to have faded long before the board and batten siding was installed. …
• Lead and Gunpowder in the Wilderness: the Virginia Lead Mines – Part 1
  August 23, 2020
  This is the story of the logistics fueling the violent struggle for survival on the Virginia frontier. It's a story of geography, geology, politics, murder, suicide, and wilderness warfare. It's taken mostly from the handwritten materials of the legendary Jim Webb, a true Appalachian artist, and a close friend of ours, who is perhaps the last man standing to receive the oral tradition and history, handed down through generations, from the beginning to the end of this story. It's a story about one important spot in Western Virginia, along the New River valley, near the present-day town of Wytheville, Virgina, at a place usually referred to as Fort Chiswell. It's a story fueled by the desire for wealth, new opportunities, and adventure. …