The study of history through the excavation of discarded items, exploring people's attics, flying drones, and stuff….
We’ve found a massive amount of pewter so far at Willowbrook, and elsewhere on early Greenbrier Valley frontier sites. For instance, most all of the spoons we’ve found have been of pewter. There’s no doubt that pewter was a valued metal, as well as useful – since it can be easily melted and reused/reformed, or … Read morePewter in the Greenbrier Valley Frontier, and other pewter finds….
We finally got the first few dozen books in from the publisher. These are in-stock, so they’ll either ship same-day, or next day shipping. We’ll order more when they’re gone, but why not just get one now? 80 pages of color photos of our finds, descriptions of the fort, etc. And you’ll want volume 1 … Read moreBooks are in stock now: The Scavengeology Journal, Vol. 1: “Discovering Byrnside’s Fort”
“RCA 19” Rifle a.k.a. Chief Paxinosa’s “Smooth Rifle.” There is an argument to be made that this “smooth rifle,” which means that it is built in a rifle in all ways, except for the lack of the actual rifling, is one of the oldest known American longrifles with an existing record for the date of … Read moreThe RCA 19 Rifle – an epic mid 18th century flintlock “smooth rifle” with an exciting history
AVAILABLE NOW! Click HERE to ORDER. 80 color pages of high quality photos of the discoveries, renovations, and explorations at the site of Byrnside’s Fort at Willowbrook Plantation. SCAV-ENG-E-OL-O-GY: The study of history through the excavation of discarded items, exploring people’s attics, flying drones, and stuff. The term “scavengeology” was coined when the author, a major history … Read moreThe SCAVENGEOLOGY JOURNAL – Volume 1 – “Discovering Byrnside’s Fort”
The Nathaniel Vogler Rifle. Made by the Vogler family of Moravian gunsmiths in Old Salem, NC, sometime around the 1815-1835 time period. The expert silver work was likely performed by John Vogler, master silversmith and engraver, as illustrated by the amazing work on this rifle. You can visit his shop in Salem still today. It … Read moreThe Nathaniel Vogler Rifle, crafted at Old Salem
These are letters from and between two brothers from Washington County, Missouri, who were serving in the Union Army in Arkansas during the Civil War. They also happen to be my great uncles – brothers to my 3rd great grandfather, Andrew Bryan. They were all originally Virginians, born in Point Pleasant, Mason County, Virginia (now … Read moreCivil War Letters from Columbus and Bennett Bryan, my Great Uncles
Usually 6th grade history classes end up discussing England’s Glorious Revolution of 1688 , and the consequences in the New England colonies, where the King attempted to control and abuse the colonies. That’s about where they start to fall asleep. But what do you bet they would pay attention if showed them some tangible combat … Read more1691 Dated Powder Horn – a connection with your 6th grade history class
This is something I’ve never seen before – an extremely old looking crutch – found locally in the Greenbrier Valley. It’s early enough not to have the V shape design; nor a handle. It still has the original, or at least a very old, padded fabric on the brace portion of it. I looked up … Read moreAntique crutch found in the Greenbrier Valley
This is a 1830’s military ankle boot, found at the site of the Battle of Camp Izard from the Second Seminole War in Florida. It was remarkably well preserved in the muck. This location is very close to my family ranch where I spent much of my childhood. My great great grandfather served in this … Read moreSeminole War Army Boot found in the mud in Florida
This early 19th century trunk is covered on the inside with circa 1812 Baltimore newspaper pages, and was found at a junk sale, basically. The name associated with the belongings inside, “Samuel Sands,” may not be recognizable to most, including myself at first, but a little bit of scavengeology sleuthing reveals its true historic value. … Read moreEpic Find: the National Anthem Trunk