Hunting Southern New England beaches

[CMD]

Thought I'd give a try at offering tips, based on my own experience, on hunting for artifacts on beaches in southern New England. And I want to use the first photo in this thread to try and draw some lessons. It's a photo of my wife and hunting partner scanning the sands for points in the Fall of 2010.
First off, notice you don't see any big waves crashing on this beach. I much prefer to hunt the sandy shoreline of sheltered harbours, bays, and marine estuaries. There are lots of great Atlantic coast beaches in RI and elsewhere in New England, but I go to such places for summer fun in the sun and surf, not to hunt points. Not saying it's impossible there, but what you see in this photo is a very resource rich area and the things you don't see in the photo is what made such a place attractive to the natives. Year round waterfowl.
In the Spring and Fall, migratory waterfowl. Under the water, all kinds of fish, stripers, bluefish, tautoag, etc. Crabs. And maybe most abundant of all, shellfish. Hard and soft shell clams, scallops, etc., etc. The Indians loved shellfish as much as anyone today. Most of the fields I hunt would be considered coastal sites and all the ancient refuse pits the plow churns up are chock full of shellfish remains. So first I'd advise people to find a sandy beach on a sheltered bay, harbour, or estuary.

The large body of water in this photo is the Narragansett Bay marine estuary.
Notice there is a stream entering the bay in this photo. If you can find a beach to walk where a stream enters, all the better. Although this little stream doesn't support a fish run, if you know of a stream or river that supports a Spring herring run, check out the mouth of that stream. If it has a sandy shoreline with rocks the size of your average point, you may find a real hot spot. In the Spring the natives would have been there with their nets for easy pickings. And the bay waters would boil with bluefish feeding on those herring, another reason for the Indians to fish there.

Notice all the nice size rocks in the foreground. You want to find beaches where the rocks are neither too big, nor too small. Walk to the waters edge at low tide. Turn around so your back is to the water. Walk back up the beach, staying below the high tide line. Turn and throw your gaze to the right or left, parallel to the water line. Do you see seperate and distinct rows of rocks running parallel to the shore? The incoming and outgoing tides sort the rocks in those lines. Walk the lines where the rocks are mostly the size of your average points. Not lines of boulders, or just sand and mud with no rocks showing. Now walk above the high tide mark, in the sand. Are there lots of good size rocks? The wind and rain expose those areas. Look there.

Sand and gravel bars located in marine estuaries, and showing lots of good size rocks, are washed every day by the tides. Look there.

When we drive to fields in southeastern RI we have to cross the Braga Bridge, which spans the mouth of the Taunton River, the opening of Mt. Hope Bay on our west, and the Taunton river on our east. I always look down on the river and see a great looking sand and rock beach. I've never hunted there but I know there are things to find there. The Taunton River drainage is one of the richest archaeological zones in Ma. More early archaic bifurcate points then anywhere else in Ma. So if you're from Ma., the Taunton River and the fields on its' drainage are great places.

Second and 3rd photos are points we found that day last fall. First one shows algae stain. And that's a little piece of asphalt above and to the left.
That's what you see, as well as way too much glass at times, when you're urban beach hunting in southern New England!

[CMD]

Guess the post was too long, so here are the three pics. Notice the nice rock coverage in third photo. That's what you want to see.

[CousinLarry]

Thanks for the tips! I shall try again at the beaches around me!

[cgode]

Great post Charlie, all good info and very accurately described!

[SmokyHill]

Originally Posted by CMD

Thought I'd give a try at offering tips, based on my own experience, on hunting for artifacts on beaches in southern New England.

Very informative post CMD ...well done.

SH

[marksimerson]

Thats a pretty spot to hunt Charlie, much prettier than plowed fields!

[CMD]

Originally Posted by marksimerson

Thats a pretty spot to hunt Charlie, much prettier than plowed fields!

Yeah, mother nature's beauty is a definite bonus, that's for sure. We're lucky to live near alot of shoreline. Years ago, when our focus switched from picked over fields to area beaches I looked at it this way: now we'll have to hunt spots that earlier generations could afford to skip. Luckily, those spots have kept us in the hunt.

[CMD]

Thanks for the kind words, friends!

[zachMA]

Great advice and awesome hunting spot! I've always wanted to find a taunton river bifurcate.

[Indianasmith]

Excellent, informative post. I might do something similar on river hunting if we EVER get any rain to turn our river over again!