Years ago, when I started writing for the West Sherburne Tribune, one of the most interesting events I covered was an archaeological dig at an old farm in Becker.

 

It was part of the Bill and Margaret Cox property, and about 15 history buffs braved rainy weather on a cold April morning in 2001 to dig next to old foundations where a house or outbuildings had stood many years before. 

 

The archaeologist, Dr. Richard Rothaus of St. Cloud State, told everyone not to expect to find a hidden stash of gold or silver. Instead, he said the artifacts would more likely be everyday household items like tin cans, bottles and pieces of metal or ceramic that were discarded long before there was any trash service available.

 

I remember a few from the group finding nails, pieces of farm equipment, lots of broken glass and even what looked like a headlight from an old car.

 

That event stayed with me for a long time, because I also live on an old farm. The house was built in 1888 and has had a few additions over the years. All six outbuildings are original - built at different times through the 1930s.

 

About 10 years ago as I was walking near one of the many ponds on the property, I found a small pile of broken glass at the top of a hill near an old fence line that at one time had separated two properties.

 

I didn’t think much of it. I thought someone had just thrown a bottle from a distance and it happened to break there.

 

But over the past few years, as soil has continued to erode, other things have surfaced. In addition to more broken glass, I found fully intact bottles, pieces of metal I can’t identify yet, and what looks like part of an old wood-burning stove.

 

Last weekend I took another walk to the same area. Although there was still snow on the ground, it was less than an inch thick. I could see that more ground had washed away. I found an old intact drinking glass. I could tell it was old because there were bubbles in the glass. But this time I also saw half-buried pieces of an old cement foundation.

 

So far, I can’t tell if it was a complete building or just a pile of broken cement that was carted there. I intend to bring my metal detector out there this spring.

 

If that was the family junk pile, I’ll probably find lots more glass, more bottles and anything that the family couldn’t burn.

 

But if a building actually stood there, I might find something more valuable.

 

Maybe that stash of gold or silver.