Tips for Finding Relic Sites: Leveraging University Theses to Discover New Metal Detecting Locations

How Thesis Papers Can Lead to Finding Hidden Gems From Old Homesites, Battle Fields and Other Historical Locations.

One of the things that we metal detector enthusiasts battle with is how to find new and intriguing locations to uncover hidden treasures from the past.  How often have you heard the phrase “There are no good places to go anymore”, or “Those old timers have already gotten it all”?  Well I am one of those old timers and I am here to tell you that both of those statements are patently false.  Does it take a little more effort to discover unsearched places…..absolutely yes in this instance.  Is it worth it?   Again, it truly is worth it. 

I am a HUGE advocate of door knocking.  I routinely go to a strangers house (mainly out in the country) and knock on their door, introduce myself, explain I love history and I metal detect.  I will chitchat a bit with them about their property and find out what they know about it, history, etc., and then I ask if I may metal detect the property.   I do this at old homesites and within small towns or big ones with old neighborhoods, I prefer older home neighborhoods and I choose corner lots much of the time because they tend to have more traffic. 

Today however, I want to open a door for you by showing you a resource that I bet few of you reading have ever considered.  So buckle up fellow history buffs and lets see what we can do>

One largely overlooked resource you can use to discover promising historical sites is the research of early history-related theses from universities. Using early 1900s to mid 1900’s presents a  significant advantage  in finding old historical sites. The types of information you can obtain and the historical leads that can be unearthed from the thesis itself as well as the reference materials cited within these academic works.  It can open doors in many ways, and it can give you explicit information about a detecting site that has not been touched by anyone ever.  Dissertations are much greater in detail on certain subjects, but for me, a Graduate Master’s Degree Thesis has proven to be all I need. 

What is a Thesis?  A thesis is a written document that presents an authored research findings and arguments, usually submitted as part of completing an academic degree such as a Masters Degree and serves to demonstrate their knowledge and ability in a specific field. Essentially, it’s a detailed paper outlining the  author’s original research and conclusions about a particular topic. It is the research portion that we want to pay particular attention to. The beauty of what I am sharing with  you is that the early theses which we can access from many universities that didn’t have computers for researching, and so candidates had to do hard hands on research.  Also the person writing the thesis as well as the material cited and persons interviewed  were closer to a period of time for which first or second hand knowledge of events and locations were present in the memories of the people interviewed. 

I live in Texas, so I am going to discuss what I do, but universities in every state should have the same information available online. 

The Many Resources Found in a University Thesis

Detailed Historical Context

A graduate level thesis on history offers a wealth of detailed historical context about specific locations, events, and people that the thesis author would have to study and retain for the thesis itself. These documents were meticulously researched by graduate students and often include comprehensive background information on various historical sites. By delving into the papers that were published in the early to mid 20^th century you will discover many things that 80-100 years later no longer are known.  Follow the details you discover by performing a bit more research online using today’s computer resources, and you can gain very specific information on old homesites or historical locations, and you may also find references within the thesis to battles, or grist mills, swimming holes, camping spots, military crossing, and more,  which can then be used for further identifying specific sites to explore.  And many will be virgin sites.

Unpublished Data and Findings

Virtually all of the thesis papers I research go back to the 1930’s through the 1960’s.  They are readily available online at university websites.  As I said earlier,  I only research the older thesis papers which would be of interest to those of us that swing the coil of discovery.  Know upfront that  you will have to figure out how to navigate each university’s online access (go to a university online and search theses or thesis) , but you want specific keywords (such as history, Texas, California, etc) and then if possible sort them by oldest first.  It is not hard to do and you will find most likely that many universities use the same engine to find the Graduate level documents. 

Thesis papers  frequently contain data and original findings that are not available in more modern mainstream history books. This unique information can provide fresh insights and lead to the discovery of lesser-known historical sites. For instance, a thesis on a specific region might include details about forgotten settlements, old trade routes, or the locations of historical events that are not well-documented elsewhere.  I have found that many battles and details about events that occurred in a small town inside the thesis itself.  These may be quite specific, or they may lead you to gain further knowledge with a targeted google search, or perhaps reveal an old book cited as a source for the thesis. 

Primary Source References

One of the most valuable aspects of university thesis papers is their extensive use of primary sources. These primary sources, such as letters, diaries, maps, and official records, offer firsthand accounts and evidence of historical events and locations. By accessing these primary sources cited by a thesis, you can uncover precise details about the whereabouts of significant locations such as gathering places, grist mills, baptismal locations, swimming holes, blacksmith shops, etc.

Bibliographies and Citations

The papers  are also rich in bibliographies and citations, directing readers to a multitude of other valuable resources. These references will include books, articles, and archival materials that can further expand your knowledge and lead to new discoveries. By following these citations, you can further explore and identify potential metal detecting sites that may not be immediately apparent to the average detectorist out there.

The Knowledge Gained from Historical Leads

Locating Old Homesites

Researching thesis papers can reveal the precise locations of old homesites that may no longer exist on modern maps. Historical leads from these documents can guide you to areas where old foundations, wells, and other structures once stood. These sites are often rich with artifacts, providing a treasure trove of finds for the person who takes the time to use them.  Once you identify a site of interest, you can go to google earth, or to historicmapworks.com or historicaerials.com  for further assessment, or just go to the site and knock doors.

Understanding the Historical Significance

Gaining knowledge about the historical significance of a location helps prioritize areas that are more likely to yield valuable finds. For example, a thesis might reveal that a particular homesite was once the residence of a notable historical figure or the site of a significant event. Understanding this context increases the likelihood of discovering historically important artifacts.

Identifying Old Trade Routes and Pathways

Old trade routes and pathways are prime locations for metal detecting, as they were frequented by travelers, traders, and settlers. The thesis papers  often detail these routes, including their exact paths and the locations of waypoints and resting spots. By researching these leads, metal detectorists can trace these routes and explore the areas along them for potential finds.  Historically, people have stopped at the same locations of river/creek crossings, watering holes, ponds, springs, etc., and these by themselves make for some great experiences and opportunities to find relics and coins.

Discovering Overlooked Historical Events

Many historical events, such as citizen related skirmishes, encampments, and gatherings, leave behind a wealth of artifacts. These will be discovered inside of these time capsules that can uncover overlooked events that are not widely known but hold significant historical value. Within many thesis, you will find mention of fairs and parties, and other information as well as Prominent names to be researched further. Much of that information has not survived to modern times and so they are unknown to us.  Things that were important back in the 1930’s might not be so easily located today.  Following is an excerpt from a paper I recently researched concerning the Alamo. This particular paper has given me golden nuggets of local events that have allowed me to pursue untouched sites where no one has ever swung a metal detector.  Here is an example of something that I bet few people are aware of:

Discussing Sam Houston’s movements: 

The Texan army reached San Felipe on the Brazos the 20th of March, after two days of hard marching. The following morning, General Houston issued an order for the army to march up the west bank of the Brazos to Jared Groce’s plantation. Baker and martin refused to leave San Felipe, and so Houston ordered that Baker defend San Felipe, and Martin to protect the crossing at Fort Bend. It rained continuously. Three days were required to make just eighteen miles. Houston arrived wIth three hundred troops at Groce’s on the 31st of March and pitched camp in a “bottom” near the river.¹⁸   Houston, in explaining to Rusk the position he took in ordering a retreat up the Brazos, said, “I consulted none–i held no councils of war. If I err, the blam is mine.”¹⁹

• 18 James op. cit., pp. 236-239.
• Sam Houston to Thomas J.Rusk, Jarch 29, 1836, Williams and Parker, The Writings of Sam Houston, , Vol. I, p. 385.

Now, using the above…..what can I glean from that information within this thesis….

1. There’s a crossing at Fort Bend
2. I can see that in rain, the army only went 6 miles per day.  I can use that to guesstimate future situations involving troops moving in the rain.
3. There were 300 troops with Houston
4. They camped at Groce’s Plantation in a bottom near the river
5. Superscripted 18 shows the reference has already been noted
6. Superscripted 19 shows there is a reference to the exact page of “The Writings of Sam Houston” by Willaims and Parker Volume 1 Page 285  So I will look for that book at the Library of Congress digital or books.google.com for a pdf version. 

I want you to take a moment to ponder what 300 weary men with weapons to be cleaned and oiled and discharged and sentries and horses and wagons did at that encampment, sewing their military buttons back on, or losing them, dropping bullets, dropping coins…..do you think it might be possible that some items of interest were lost and might very well be present still in the ground?  And finding Groce’s Plantation is VERY doable.

Going directly to the end of this thesis, there resides  the citations of all of the reference books, articles, etc., that the original author used in this thesis published in 1951……and how many of those books are around today? Personally,  I would not look for the physical books themselves, but would certainly look at books.google.com and do a search for them by title and perhaps even the author’s name because they might have written something else filled with clues.  This is only about ¼ of the total references the author made, but look at all of these that would hold hidden gems waiting for a History Detective to uncover:

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books

• Baker, D.VV.C., A Texas Scrap Book, Austin, The Steck Company, 1937.
• Barker, Eugene C., Mexico and Texas, 1821-1835, Dallas, P. L. Turner Company, 192Z.
• Barker, Eugene U., The Life of Stephen F. Austin, Founder of Texas, l79336, Dallas, Cokesbury Press, 192T.
• Barker, Eugene C., Potts, Charles S., and Ramsdell, Charles 4., A School History of Texas, Philadelphia, Row,
• Peterson and Company, 1929 Brown, John Henry, History of Texas, From 1685 to 1892, 2 vols., St. Louis, Becktold and Co.,1892.
• Bryan, George Sands, Sam Houston, New York, The Macmillan Company, 1917.

…

• “Private Journal of Juan Nepomuceno Almonte,” The Southwestern
• Historical quarterly, XLVIII (July-,19447, 10-32.
• Rather, Ethel Zivley, “Dewitt’s Uolony,” The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, VIII October 1904 95-192.
• Smith, Justin H., “Santa Anna,” Annual Report of the American
• Historical Association for the Year 1917, Washington, 1920, 357-360.

Printed Correspondence

• Barker, Eugene C., The Austin Papers, Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1922, Vol. II, Washington, United States Government Printing Office, 1928.
• Binkley, William C., Official Correspondence of the Texan Revolution, 1835-1836  2 vols., New York, D. Appleton-Century Company, 1936.
• Gulick, Jr., Charles Adams, The Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, Vol. I, Austin, A.C. Baldwin and Sons, 1920.

It goes on and on, but hopefully I have shown you enough for your mind to be whirling with thoughts of OMG what else is there!!!

Then there are the maps

Utilizing Historical Maps

Historical maps and even hand drawn maps are referenced in Many thesis papers and are invaluable tools for metal detecting. These maps provide visual representations of old homesites, trade routes, and other significant locations. By cross-referencing these maps with modern ones, detectorists can pinpoint exact locations to explore, ensuring their efforts are focused on historically relevant target rich areas.  Beyond historical maps, I cannot even begin to tell you how many hand drawn maps of a given event or locale I have discovered inside these early theses.  Here’s an example of a hand drawn map of early crossing of rivers in Karnes County, Texas….

This hand drawn maps is generic, because I don’t want to give up my secret sites on my good ones.  But, by now, I hope I have encouraged you enough that I can leave you to figure out what you can learn from this map above…..

The reality is that within the thousands and thousands of Graduate level thesis papers  available online, there are more places to find than you have years left to do it. 

Useful  Steps for Researching University Theses

Accessing Digital Repositories

Many universities have digital repositories where the older thesis papers I have written about here are available for free or through library memberships. Websites such as JSTOR, Google Scholar, and university library websites are excellent starting points for accessing these documents. Utilizing these resources can provide a wealth of information without the need for physical visits to libraries. 

A quick way for you to find online resources for theses if you use Chat GPT, is to ask it “Can you access any thesis from any (your State) University.  Here is what it shared with me in Texas:

you can access theses from various Texas universities through their digital repositories. These platforms provide open, online access to a wealth of research and scholarship, including electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs). Here are some notable repositories:

1. University of Texas at Austin: The Texas ScholarWorks repository offers a vast collection of electronic theses and dissertations. You can browse or search for specific topics related to your interests. UT Libraries Repository

2. Texas A&M University: The OAKTrust Digital Repository provides access to a wide range of scholarly works, including theses and dissertations. It’s a valuable resource for in-depth research. Texas A&M University Libraries

3. Texas State University: The TXST Digital Repository houses electronic versions of theses and dissertations, offering insights into various research areas. University Libraries

4. University of Texas at El Paso: The Open Access Theses & Dissertations portal provides full-text access to theses and dissertations from 2008 to the present. ScholarWorks@UTEP

5. Texas Tech University: The Electronic Theses and Dissertations collection offers a comprehensive archive of graduate research outputs.

As a general statement you want to look at historical theses, and then sort for older to newest theses.

I hope that I have inspired you to go have a look at some of the Theses which will lead you to your own virgin sites.  I promise you that by researching any historically related thesis you will discover untouched places from your state’s history.  Good Luck!