Dump digging

Digging in an old dump in Meaford, Ontario

Dump digging is the practice of finding and excavating old garbage dumps, sometimes centuries old but commonly dating to the late 19th century or later, to recover assorted refuse that has accrued potential value as collectibles or antiques. Among other things, the practice of dump digging is linked to bottle collecting and is a form of historical digging, rather than conventional archaeology. It usually involves prolonged effort working with a shovel and other hand tools, to be successful to any degree.

Background and controversies

Disturbed landfill site.

Dump digging for keepsakes, potentially valuable collectibles, and antiques is an ancient practice, at least as old as the Pharaohs. Dump digging is an activity which attracts a versatile following of tactile seekers. Largely an opportunistic salvage oriented activity pursued in ones spare time, the average dump dig does not require a meticulous technical approach in most instances. However, from an academic perspective all properties are automatically considered unique and vital to the archaeological record. For practical reasons dump diggers often use a much less forensic style than academic archeologists or museum curators would in related situations. There are many exceptions but dump diggers tend to document by collecting, photographing, and circulating stories within an interested underground circuit, and at bottle shows, lectures, and other gatherings open to the general public. Collectively, veteran dump diggers have produced a wide array of antique glass and related items (Lost & Found). Not unlike the privies, cisterns, and wells that historical diggers explore and salvage in, dumps are typically fleeting sources. They are often located on properties which are in the process of being permanently altered by major development and other factors.

Dump digging can be correlated with metal detecting and privy digging, and sometimes even wreck diving and other related pursuits. A percentage of dump diggers become proficient at these accepted fields as well. Arguably, a considerable amount of the recovery of historical material from urban development and related work would be lost without amateur level scavengers, diggers, and salvagers. Much that is known about these particular spots is what has been passed on by dump diggers and other historical diggers (The Manhattan Well Diggers or New York Artifact Art). Individuals and small groups who have been actively salvaging and reclaiming bottles and artifacts in their spare time, and documenting their efforts through photography, article writing, books, film, bottle and artifact shows, and other ways. By 1970 more than 100 clubs related to dump digging, privy digging, and collecting had been formed which supported and publicized the results of historical digging related activities nationwide.

Country dump site.

Dump digging is sometimes confused with treasure hunting and garbology, although actual treasure is rarely, if ever, unearthed on dump digs and excavating garbage is only one aspect of the process. Additionally, treasure hunting and garbology are accepted fields on their own. In league with those skilled with metal detectors many serious dump diggers develop remarkable ability recovering bottles and related objects in a remarkably short amount of time.

Items found

Pipe, circa 1870.

Dump digging can yield different items and artifacts in each location. A town dump can be somewhat different than a farm dump or a railroad dump, but in each case there could be industrial age pottery, stoneware, bottles, china, military relics like musket balls, bayonets, and gun barrels, buttons, marbles, and other things. However, a high percentage of dump discoveries from any period or location are commonly found in severe states of decay, damaged, or broken altogether. Even those things which have stood the test of time remarkably well underground have little if any monetary value presently. There are many exceptions to this general rule and some dump diggers are occasionally surprised by what they encounter while working their sites.

Through a common process known as "tipping", enormous quantities of refuse generated by towns and cities were dumped into harbors, along marshy shorelines, and other areas while forming viable real estate cheaply. Excavating in these areas is also a form of dump digging. Elusive and often deep, small portions of these ashy landfill ‘dumps’ are sometimes rediscovered during major construction and demolition projects. For practical reasons an enormous amount of a given locations trash was deposited in these hard to reach places. The bulk of this garbage is still undiscovered and as the opportunities arise dump diggers work these kinds of sites, while building collections of bottles and other things which do not disintegrate rapidly underground. For centuries active waterways were frequently converted into major dumping spots for household, commercial, and industrial refuse. In either instance only a tiny percentage of an areas actual historical trash has ever been investigated by dump diggers or anyone else. It is generally impractical or impossible to reach by hand tools alone. Along with the vast amount of existing information generated from the efforts of dump diggers and others, a wealth of additional information is contained within these widely distributed landfills. Occasionally the opportunity arises to search small portions and retrieve noteworthy bottles and make other discoveries, such as kitchenware or tableware items, stoneware or crockery, figurines, porcelain doll parts, and many other objects which can survive remarkably well as curiosities and collectibles, in those elusive subterranean environments.

See also

• Garbology
• Historical digging
• Privy digging
• Metal detector
• Midden
• Tucson Garbage Project

External links

• Antique Bottle & Glass Collector Magazine
• Antique Pot Lid Gallery
• Dumpdiggers Blog
• Dumpdiggers Social Networking
• Emmett & Marjories Inkwells
• Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors
• Historic Glass Bottle Indentification & Information Website
• Manhattan Well Diggers
• New York Artifact Art