The publication for diggers and collectors of history

In this issue:

My Texas
When you can metal detect a mid-1800's community that was named for one of your direct ancestors, you know you are living in the right state. By James Savage

Sherds of Blue and Green
Ignoring fragments of china found on a site also means ignoring vital clues in dating the location. Read what this author has to say about the seemingly random old china sheds that we sometimes encounter. By Mike Wheless

Deja-Vu All Over Again: Part II
As we discovered in the previous issue of American Digger, 2013 was a year for the books as far as colonial and Civil War artifacts recovered by this digger. We conclude the tale with the second half of this two-part article. By Bill Dancy

Taking the Rust out of Restoration
Over-cleaning an artifact can undo centuries of historical patina in the blink of an eye. But there comes a time when steps have to be taken to preserve what remains. By Charlie Harris

Soldiers No More: Mexican War Relics in the California Gold Fields
While researching a regimental history from the Mexican War, a California relic hunter discovers a story of gold fever and some unexpected military relics far from the battlefields. By Mike McKillop

Big Joe and Sweaty Bob in Mexico: The Trip That Went very Wrong
Relic hunting remote areas can be an adventure under the best of circumstances. In less than ideal circumstances, it can turn into a case study of Murphy's Law. By Bob Roach

Hijacking the Swastika
When a Coco Cola watch fob with a swastika was dug, the finder began a quest to learn just what this emblem meant before the Nazi Party adopted it in the 1920s. By Foster W. Fleming

Plus recent finds, columns, letters and much more