# Is there an biologist or archaeologist in the house? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 27, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-biologist-or-archaeologist-in-the-house/177855 "2003-05-27T19:56:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-biologist-or-archaeologist-in-the-house/177855/61 "2003-05-29T01:38:32Z")
OK, a little further data. The shiny piece directly below the 9 inch mark. It’s a piece of oyster or clam shell. The shine come from mother of pearl or some such. The piece directly below that (long and thin) appears to be the stem of a pipe. It’s hollow and the hollow is completely filled with dirt. It bears a pattern one both sides. Raised lines and top and bottom. Raised lines vertical connecting top and bottom lines. Raised dots in a random pattern inside the squares formed by the lines. The mysterious circle: ([http://www.wooleysark.com/backyard/graphics/052603-02.jpg](http://www.wooleysark.com/backyard/graphics/052603-02.jpg) for reference) The circle is rounded on all sides but thinner at about 1:30. The metal (what I can see) looks as it it was compressed or deformed there. It’s otherwise covered with protruberances that could be metal or dirt cemented on. I’m unwilling to try to break some off right now. The piece directly southeast of the circle is a nut and bolt, nut ON the bolt and unmovable. Northeast of that is a nail of old design. I know a bit about smithwork and this has the appearance of a nail produced on an anvil by hane. Northeast of that is a longer nail with a modern head. The shaft of the nail connects with the head off center. Northeast of that is what I called a ‘spike’ and Scylla calls a ‘file’. More info: not visible in the photo is the fact that on the back (non-visible) side near the top (the wide part) there is a raised section of metal. In effect the piece increases in width by about 50% roughly 3/4 inch to an inch from the top. There are no grooves to indicate a file. How’s that for more data? Specific questions answered when I can. The only university around here would be Shenandoah University in Leesburg. There is one nearby but it’s a political science college exclusively for home-schooled conservative children. No kidding. ---
**Author:** ![Antiquarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Antiquarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antiquarian)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-biologist-or-archaeologist-in-the-house/177855/62 "2003-05-29T12:24:38Z")
I’d almost certainly rule out a gasket for the metal disk. As for the _spike_ I may go with my initial assertion that it is a wood working tool, either a chisel or a spacer. I’m waiting for **Scylla** to see about the gasket… ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-biologist-or-archaeologist-in-the-house/177855/63 "2003-05-29T13:24:57Z")
Well, I’ve looked at that tractor site as well as a few old engine sites, and haven’t identified the ring. The problem is that metal rings are literally ubiquitous in pumps and engines. Still looks like a gasket to me. I can see no other reasons for the potuberances. As for the the spike-file, I could have sworn I’d seen horizontal striations in the picture, but I don’t know of any files that suddenly get 50% thicker at the end. The bottom tapering part still looks more like a tang than something that support a spike being driven from that much mass on top, but it is badly rusted, so who knows? ---
**Author:** ![Antiquarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Antiquarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antiquarian)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-biologist-or-archaeologist-in-the-house/177855/64 "2003-05-29T15:09:21Z")
stretching out on a limb here, but that circular metal object if shapped like this () could be a broken flywheel to a manual sewing machine… ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-biologist-or-archaeologist-in-the-house/177855/65 "2003-05-29T15:17:23Z")
It’s round in both front and cross section. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-biologist-or-archaeologist-in-the-house/177855/66 "2003-05-29T15:25:56Z")
OK, I zinged an email off to the head of the department at Senandoah University in Winchester, VA. Here’s hoping they’re interested. ---
**Author:** ![Antiquarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Antiquarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antiquarian)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-biologist-or-archaeologist-in-the-house/177855/67 "2003-05-29T16:00:37Z")
If I were closer to VA I’d come have a gander. Is the foundation for the original homestead built upon? If not that would be a good place to look for more things. My fiance and I dug up a tin box in an old Barn some years back, it had some old toys in it, most likely burried by a kid long ago. That was fun. Infact I have a set of dice form the box made out of a lead musket shot. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-biologist-or-archaeologist-in-the-house/177855/68 "2003-05-29T16:56:17Z")
Hmm… Maybe we should get one of those metal detecting things. The foundation for the original cabin still has a building on it. Same for the big house. No luck there. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-biologist-or-archaeologist-in-the-house/177855/69 "2003-05-29T17:30:07Z")
Metal detector’s are very fun. The wife and I have one, we like to go to the beaches after labor day and see what we can dig up. It’s fun to take them into old foundations and barns never know what your going to find… Ours cost round about $100… ---
**Author:** ![Antiquarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Antiquarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antiquarian)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-biologist-or-archaeologist-in-the-house/177855/70 "2003-06-02T12:47:43Z")
**Nudge** **Jonathan** - I was just wondering if you had anymore luck this weekend? Any more digg’in? And more photo’s?? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-biologist-or-archaeologist-in-the-house/177855/71 "2003-06-02T14:45:00Z")
No digging or photos yet. I’m divided on whether we continue or wait for the pros. Who, I might point out, haven’t responded to me yet. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-biologist-or-archaeologist-in-the-house/177855/72 "2003-06-02T15:26:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*No digging or photos yet. > > I’m divided on whether we continue or wait for the pros. > > Who, I might point out, haven’t responded to me yet. \*\* And who I might add probably don’t really have time for much. An e-mail yes, but at the dig I was at over the weekend one woman was talking about how people always want them to come out and take a look. She kept saying how she would have no time if she really did. I’d look at it for you but I can’t until your party. You could just open up a couple of pits, give you a good workout anyway. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-biologist-or-archaeologist-in-the-house/177855.md?page=3)