Frustrated....

[scguy2473]

I'm sorry if this ends up sounding pathetic but I gotta vent to somebody because my wife won't understand....I've been artifact hunting in my area several times now over the past year and I've found NOTHING!!! I don't know what I'm doing wrong or if I'm just that unlucky....I live in an area of South Carolina that supposedly had lots of indian activity and I've done my research (maybe too much)....I just haven't been able to find anything and I'm getting very down on myself....My thoughts now are maybe the beard and sandal crowd from the local university have picked over many of the "good" sites in the area....which is sad because these "scholars" just pack away stuff like arrowheads and they get stored somewhere never to be seen or enjoyed by ANYONE...Sorry....I just had to vent to someone who might understand...

[Indianasmith]

Don't be too discouraged . . . when you find that first artifact, the others will suddenly start coming. See if there is someone from your area who will mentor you in the hobby. I've been a "gatekeeper" for NE Texas collectors for years.

[longtimefree]

my brother just came back from there , and he said the same thing, he met a guy who gave him acouple things though who said he found them i a plowed field, keep on looking go to the universitys and librarys and look up local sites,keep looking , your bound to stumble onto a virgin site no one has dug yet and ,it will all be worth it

[Old Stones]

Yep, you find that first one and then it gets easier, but you still have to put in the miles. Keep your nose to the ground.

[drdave514]

Are you hunting fields, creeks, beach, what? Maybe if we know the situation a little better we can give some good mojo tips.

Other than that, all we can do is show a little empathy. I haven't been able to get out for 2 months and it's starting to hurt.

[marksimerson]

Thats why they call it hunting..not finding! Try new spots often...In this hobby you pay your dues in miles. Try google earth to find new areas and ask lots of questions to locals. And like Indy and Paul said..once you get your "eye" for what your looking for they will come.

[ghost recon]

Don't give up just keep your eyes peeled and keep looking for anything promising. Any erosion near water is worth a look, creeks, fields, construction sites, etc. One of, if not the best thing you can do to find some hunting ground is network with locals. You'd be surprised how open and helpful some people are.

[zachMA]

You're in a great area with lake murray right there, I've always wanted to look in that red soil. They're definitely out there, you can spend hours on end looking before you find your first, then it'll all be worth it!

[CMD]

Most state archaeology societies will have plenty of surface hunters in their membership and as others have pointed out, networking and finding mentors is key to getting the jump start every beginner needs if they can find it.
Although my state amateur society no longer exists, meeting other hunters there was how my wife and I learned of good places to hunt, etc. Here's a link to your state society. I see they have local chapters, maybe there's one near you. I also see their having a field day in October and suggest the public bring their artifacts, so again if you can mingle in a crowd at such events you may get the leads and contacts that will make all the difference.

Archaeological Society of South Carolina, Inc.

Another way to look at it: best way to find out if you're doing something wrong is to get together with people who are doing something right.

[silver lake]

You might like to join Piedmont Archaeological Society. Through them you may be able to locate fellow hunters in your area. You would also receive the Central States Archaeological Journal which would provide you with some interesting reading as well as information concerning artifact shows in your general area. Might be able to meet some helpful people there. 4 Journals (quarterly), six news letters still $23/yr. I believe.