143 Year Old Map Found in an Attic Leads to an Unbelievable Jackpot Buried in a Back Yard

[@BelowthePlains]

hey everyone! just wanted to say thank you for all your support over the last 16 months. we really appreciate you, never thought we would have gotten to 50k subs, especially this quickly. really happy you all seem to be liking the content! we get a lot of requests for items that we find, if there is anything in particular, we have started a list of items to look out for. but the best way to contact us is just to add us on facebook. its just "below the plains" over there as well. and theres a link in the description of every one of our videos. if you contact us there, we are much more likely to see it, and we will get back to you at some point. Also, we have been releasing early content on our patreon. we are like 3 or 4 weeks ahead right now, and we are gonna try to stay at least a week ahead over the summer. if you wanna sign up and help us out, we would really appreciate that, but! all of those videos over there, will be coming out at some point on youtube, so if you do not sign up, those videos will all be out on youtube at some point. again, theres a link in the description. Thank you all, its been a really exciting past year, so im hoping to keep up the pace. take care

[@michaelschuenemann3505]

You are soooooooooooooo very Welcome - Greetings from Australia

[@JamesWestAZ]

The support is well deserved. You guys have earned it......... Thank you for taking us along on your adventures. OH.. And that 50K looks more like 51K now. Channel just keeps growing, and getting better.........

[@oogravyoo]

Your videos are awesome! Do you plan on doing and clean up videos for your finds. Pieced together items etc. What do you do with all these? Display, sell etc? Can't wait for the next pit!

[@ellenlewis9860]

Great stuff!

[@Flyforawhiteguy1982]

So you never answered the question though lol. What was it all worth?

[@beardedmisanthrope9274]

The excitement in your voice made it even better, thank you.

[@BelowthePlains]

haha thank you! yeah, we usually try to play it cool, but.. sodas are what we are looking for. the embossed territorial drugstore bottles are really great finds, but when you find a blob top soda, everything else seems like small potatoes! thank you for watching

[@andrewchase7684]

Awesome job guys. Really happy for you, thanks for taking us along for the ride, it was fun.

[@shepherd4406]

I think that this has to be in the top two or three in quality and age that I have seen in your videos. Congratulations guys.

[@michaelschuenemann3505]

1880's Saloon Pit gave You some rare Bottles indeed - also like the Little white Figurine - You were over the moon with this Dig - Congrats - Brilliant Finds ! Many Cheers from Australia !!!!

[@BelowthePlains]

haha thank you! yeah.. this is probably the best dig i have had in over a year! kinda bums me out, because im thinking this means it might be awhile til we find another of this caliber! but maybe i will just get on a roll! thanks for watching and commenting!

[@thisguy3800]

The camera work is awesome. That fast focus on the pulls is fantastic. Great channel.

[@BelowthePlains]

ah thank you! its actually auto focus, but we did have to mess with the settings and screw up about 10 videos before we got it down! but keeping it stable, i have to admit, it much harder than i had expected! but thank you, glad you found the channel

[@Jennifermcintyre]

I agree! I’ve seen a lot of people struggle to focus in on items and these videos are so predictably clear and sharp that you forget it’s actually challenging!!

[@judyhobday4760]

I love to watch you dig and find things and then tell us the information on the finds. i do hope that you are able to keep what you find because of who owns the properties may want them. Hope you do keep what you find. Love your videos. This pit just keeps giving. Amazing finds. Love your excitement, I can feel it. My son in law used to dig where an old town used to be, now under water after it was dammed. A lady I used to work with moved to Oregon from Yankton. Her husband was employed at a newspaper. Never met him but she told me about his job. They are both gone now. She told me about a tornado that went through, no recollection of the year she told me.

[@marthapatebell1040]

What a great dig! Great bottles. Really enjoyed this video! Ready for more.

[@BelowthePlains]

haha thank you!

[@sandy81054]

I love a good treasure hunt❗ thank you for taking us along with you

[@cdd4248]

1880! Wow, can you imagine what it would have been like standing (or sitting LOL) where you are now in 1880. Incredible to think about- you really are the archeologists of the outhouse!

[@Candy-O1776]

Why did they those all that stuff in the Outhouse?

[@darlacox301]

I tell you what I am so tired after helping you dig the those bottles❤❤❤❤👍👍love just to watch you.

[@brianwalker9185]

That green pickle bottle...I went to an area in Arizona where for atleast 700 years people had been mining. The Spaniards were there in the mid 1500s, indigenous peoples found silver, copper and gold. Early settlers started mining in the 1860s. Apache raids forced the government to build a camp near by for the Calvary. The town came and went, then came and went until the 40s. Only 2 structures were there the 1st trip. I wasn't having much success so I decided to find a high spot and see if I could make out older foundations. About 200 yards, across a wash, there was a crude foundation on a hillside. On my arrival to the site, there...under a paloverde tree was a bright green bottle neck sticking out of the dried leaves. I pulled on it and it was a bottle just like yours...applied lip..not a chip, looked like the day it was made. Found 3 Pickwick flasks, two beers about 6 patent mods and 4 cardboard boxes that the meds came in...ground was very dry and protected from the tree. It got too hot to continue and figured I'd come back in a few months when winter set in...,most rattlesnakes I've ever seen up there...before my return, a mining company fenced the area off and started an open pit mine...all that history, gone...

[@52ponybike]

I'll bet each city you dig in, the historical societies are thrilled to have the items you've donated.

[@perryreal7420]

Wow best show yet!! Way to go Tom!

[@kevinkrochak2546]

Man, your enthusiasm is infectious, and it's great to see your efforts rewarded with some rare finds!

[@karendavis7988]

The history you bring to your videos is very interesting. Thanks!

[@CuttingEdgetools]

Hands Down-One of best Dig’s 👍 congrats. That was a Loaded pit🇺🇸

[@terrancemiller8350]

WOW,I was as tired on as you were Tom and your excitement just helped mine,I'm very happy for your excavation, its great and I'm glad you found some special bottles and design ware. It's always fun with you, I'm so happy watching your videos. PS to you Jake, it's nice to know your there to help protect Tom if anything were to happen. Well you two take care and hope to see you soon, lots of love. Afriend.

[@carolynsimone8647]

Amazing finds ...is this the oldest you've dug..? Love the stories behind the bottles...keep digging,thanks for sharing..🥰🥰

[@BelowthePlains]

thank you! no its not the oldest.. one of the older ones in out videos so far. but we actually found another pit on this property that was closer to 75.. this one id out sometime after 1880, probably closer to 85.. really great age for the dakota tho. anything that is before 89 is considered "territorial" because 89 was the year both dakotas got statehood. but we were thinking this was probably like an underground saloon or something, which.. makes it a really good pit. the saloons and hotels were usually the best sites you can find. but because they were usually downtown, that means they almost always are cemented over. well thanks for watching! that older pit should be out in a few weeks. tbh, it was good, but it wasnt nearly as good as this pit

[@ElChris816]

Honestly, I have no idea why YT suggested your channel, but I have to admit I am completely drawn into these projects. For the past week I've been burning through the videos. I really enjoy these projects. Great work.

[@kathysenn7664]

I wonder if those little pill bottles might have contained nitroglycerin or aspirin or liver pills?? nitroglycerin was introduced in 1846 and used for various ailments. in 1878 it was more commonly used for heart ailments. I got this really short version from wikipedia- thanks for taking us along- I agree with the other commenters- your enthusiasm is contagious!!

[@wayneweidman1543]

Congratulations on a great dig!

[@jerryblum277]

Amazing dig Tom congrats!

[@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248]

I would be very interested in your process. How you pick a town, how you acquire maps, how you get permission, and what you do with all your bottles.

[@marisaphoenix1893]

As if he’d tell you his process and secrets… 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@AmstradExin]

Here in Germany, tons of these marbles are still around. My dad was super into antiques and I had a few old ones. They're still made but now with machines.

[@Candy-O1776]

I gotta tell you, anything made in Germany is made WELL. I love my toys my GParents brought me from there, nothing like I’d ever seen before. It was late 50’s and I really loved that cap gun with strange pellets. Anyone good on ya!

[@beverlyhanlon8376]

Great finds. Stay well. See ya next time. Thanks.

[@gypsygirltarot2451]

I love how you explain your finds…and your enthusiasm is infectious!

[@markmadison1135]

Thank you. I always look forward to your videos. do you ever repair broken but intact stoneware or table wear? if so a video of that alone would be interesting.

[@mrnobody3161]

Wow. This looks like one of the oldest digs you've done. Thanks for the Therapy.

[@terrencebuller7676]

Great haul Tom, thanks for sharing. Take care 👍

[@karendavis7988]

That’s pretty nice of homeowners to let you excavate their property.

[@nancygaxiola5412]

I collect those little creamers! In a set with the matching sugar bowl The sugar bowls usually come with a lid

[@tinaj984]

Fantastic!! Great finds, colors too!! Love those coffin flasks😁😁😁 and that green bottle!!😍😍😍 Love it. Great!! Thank you!!😊😊😊💗

[@glennmurphy1820]

Great dig.Unusual bottles.

[@Deborah1Craftygal]

An idea to add to your content would be reaction video from the home owners. You guys see the items all the time, not too excited unless it’s super special. You mention that sometimes items are donated to local museums or split with home owner. Their reactions would be great to see!

[@jenniferhunt226]

I love the joy this brings you. That makes my day!

[@evangelinekeeley3531]

I stumbled on your channel yesterday and I'm on video #3 already! Fascinating to see what people put down the privy pits. It never occurred to me that this would be their 'garbage' for things like bottles, broken crockery, etc.

[@samsager1]

Wow great loaded pit! Great finds!!

[@BelowthePlains]

thank you!

[@Dee.dee1964]

Thank you for the video . Gonna grab myself a coffee and enjoy

[@downinthedirt1195]

What an awesome pit. Would be awesome to see what's in your collection.

[@mlgauss60435]

Awesome finds! Congratulations!

[@BelowthePlains]

well thank you! yeah it was a pretty good day! wish they could all be that good. thanks for watching and commenting!

[@hankshobbies]

Awesome video….have been always surprised you don’t find more marbles

[@susangolden4001]

Nice privy dig. I like your show. Very informative and refreshing to see your enthusiasm. Keep up the good work. J.Au-en

[@BelowthePlains]

Thank you! glad you liked it! and we really appreciate you letting us know

[@Bourbon_Blue_Devil]

This definitely was one of the better ones!!

[@fomocopowersgarage7103]

I got sucked into your videos. Keep it up. Your enthusiasm is contagious.

[@marthareis5873]

What a wonderful channel. Kudos to you for such excellent camera work, expert knowledge of the finds, the diligence in captioning, and the hard work of digging. Even your responses here to people's comments are thoughtful and interesting. You should be very proud!

[@marykaystreasures]

That must have been some fancy saloon for all that glassware and and dishware wow ❤❤❤👍👍🇺🇸⚒️🗝️⭐

[@daviddarrall9384]

I just love your videos. They are so fascinating and interesting based on your own regular comments during the dig itself! Good work - keep it up. UK PS, great camera man!

[@danarandol164]

What do you think is the connection between early saloons and those tiny perfume bottles? I’m thinking the salesmen had some samples to provide to the working ladies😂 and what’s with all the drugstore bottles and the saloons? Are they shop neighbors who used the same outhouses? Or just dumped their trash? Love these digs, and all the information you provide❤

[@lauriesquires5924]

I feel that number and types of bottles and other glass and pottery look more like a family with a mother and at least two daughters, and one or two males. The pottery was typical of what a family would break, and the medicine bottles would be about right for a family as well. as would the shoe shine/cleaner bottles

[@ladyche8]

I’m wondering if the perfumes were for the “working girls” and the drugstore bottles were to fight any consequential venereal diseases from their occupation. Just an educated guess. 🙃

[@richwallace4632]

Awesome video, in upcoming videos, could you talk about books, or websites that we could go to for bottle identification? What are the resources you use to identify the things you find?

[@dianarice6457]

I am fascinated with these amazing finds! It would be so cool if you could dig the privys of notable people like Laura Ingles Wilder in De Smet South Dakota! They lived there when the town was founded in 1880 and beyond!

[@detecting_with_matt3643]

This is probably the best producing pit I have seen! What an awesome haul! Love the variety!

[@sherimiller5857]

You make history so much fun

[@JonKinney-wg9qf]

That was an amazing journey you took me on. Absolutely amazing

[@BelowthePlains]

haha thank you! thats very kind. and it made my day. thank you!!!!

[@johnlord8337]

Lindell made lots of beer bottles for the local St Louis MO Busch plant. Besides the other Lindell financial issues, Busch started the Bellville Glass IL and Steator Glass IL plants (along with large numbers of German imported beer bottles) keeping up his needs of bottlers for the increased pasteurized beer and rail beer to the West Coast (and eventually into New England and the East Coast. - This movement caused Busch to drop or lower down their contractual bottle numbers produced by LIndell. Lindell moved from beer bottles into the fruit jar industry craze in the 1880s. Like Consolidated Fruit Jar Company (CFJCo) of mason fruit jar retail distributorship of 19+ contracted jar makers - when Consolidated was bought out by Hero Glass in 1883, turning into Hero Fruit Jar Co (HFJCo) distributorship. A G Smalley (Boston jobber also turned into retail contractual distributor). Lindell moved into fruit jars as a stable production item with fruit jars monogrammed as LFJCo (like CFJCo), and was eventually overwhelmed by everybody making fruit jars by many newly constructed Midwest natural gas powered glass companies in Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio (Ball Brothers Muncie Indiana et al).

[@karenschleifer5349]

You and Jake are awesome! It's so interesting to see you find awesome treasures! You're very knowledgeable and a pleasure to watch:)

[@patty4091]

Nice dig, a lot of good pieces. Do you take those embossed pieces and turn them into drinking glasses or is that viable with an outhouse pit? It’s a shame to lose the embossed parts.

[@williamfoster7165]

I noticed when you start finding a bunch of those little pill bottles, that that's usually a good sign. they seem to be in a lot of the older pits

[@soonzach4017]

Your channel is the best, the history you bring to your channel’s, thank you for sharing.

[@swordguy8]

Something I noticed with my house. Property records indicate 1900 as when it was built. I went to the historical society, and they show records from 1885. I mentioned that the property records said 1900, and they said something about that year being a cutoff for some historical preservation thing (I don't remember exactly). In other words, the town might know it was built earlier, but if it's not historically significant, they may just say 1900 so they don't have to deal with the extra stuff. Just something to keep in mind when you see an exact year of 1900 on some properties.

[@majic12]

Love your content! Amazing what you guys uncover. Here's my question: how do you know where to dig so precisely? Maybe you could do a video about the process of finding a pit and deciding where to dig?

[@BelowthePlains]

yeah. we are thinking about doing that, we actually get that request a lot. we will incorporate it into a video, i guess i just didnt realize how obvious it was, that yeah.. people would want to know how, of course.. but to make a long story short, we use probe rods, and just go up and down the lawn until we hit something. they would throw ash on the pits, and it makes a very distinct crunch when you hit it.. and then the ground below the ash is usually a lot softer than ordinary, undisturbed ground. it takes a while to get it down, and know what you are feeling, but once you do, its fairly easy.. its actually really hard work tho! sometimes we will probe for hours or even days and just not hit a thing, and sometimes we think we have a pit, and its just like a random pocket of gravel. so there is a lot of failure that we dont really show off screen. and thank you! glad you like the content! we really appreciate you letting us know

[@Janmification]

The colourful glass pieces are also called slag glass. Made at end of day by combining various leftover bits, hence the multi colours. Check out English slag glass pieces.

[@alisonmary1443]

Spotting the marble takes a highly trained eye 😂Really cool finds, glad this pit turned up great finds, what a surprise. Edit, I think the Greys and Sons pottery Portobello near Musselburgh is not far from where I live in Scotland, not sure if I'm right on that but Portobello had a huge pottery industry, the kilns still stand to this day.

[@BelowthePlains]

haha yeah! ive wondered how many i missed over the years. and those german marbles are basically the best ones you can find. i havent looked into it yet, because its not my area of expertise, but i do know that some of those german swirls can be worth a lot! i probably have found about 500 marbles over the years, and thats only the second german swirl i have ever found. thanks for watching!

[@andrewowens9382]

Hello Tom and jake what a great finds really early bottles a good age all the best Andrew south wales uk 👍 👌 😀 🇬🇧 have a good weekend

[@karendavis7988]

You really hit the jackpot!

[@ABeautfulMess]

I never thought I would become so interested in bottles. I've always bought mine at craft stores..never again. I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge.

[@mbutler1120]

I really enjoyed the video. I like how you have the facts and photos attached. Good job!

[@Janmification]

The wide mouth vase, with the little bottle inside might have been a celery glass. They are a wide mouth, wide bottom style for holding stalks of celery for the table.

[@marg233]

The cover too 1880s Mustang Liniment "For Man & Beast" is priceless 😂

[@joanedwards9380]

Love your videos ❤

[@kevinbovin7856]

Wow that was a good one....what kind of seeds are you finding?

[@Janmification]

Possibly tomato, lol. Where I live, the old sewerage farm grew splendid tomato plants, before they upgraded the system here in inland Australia.

[@K1PPAH]

This is such a cool process, I love you show all the info in the corner as you explain. New here, and really enjoyed it.

[@manderson3231]

Great video and great finds!!!

[@BelowthePlains]

i really appreciate that! thank you for checking it out!

[@susancousins8766]

Wonderful work getting all of those old time bottles! So, so much places to dig! Have a great week ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@cecoya]

Great dig like all the glass dishes from that time period for sure. I know all that digging makes you tired do you take water breaks I hope. Happy digging and have a great day. On to the next privy

[@cherjohnson5807]

Thank you👍🏽

[@BelowthePlains]

thank you for watching!

[@jamesonheche2899]

oh that soda is amazing! too bad more of them weren't intact, otherwise it would probably have been your very best dig, for a very long time. great finds!

[@lizmbrad]

That mug base is AWESOME! Congrats on the find. Great video That marble if its a German, its abnormally small.

[@BelowthePlains]

yeah i was thinking that too! im pretty sure its german. ive only found a few over the years. and that one is by far in the best condition

[@donaldrobbins1131]

Great dig, you work hard and get the job done. You also do your homework. What are the med. bottles valued at, just a ballpark figure?

[@BelowthePlains]

it all depends. some of them are more rare than the others. the ones from the territorial era are almost always worth more. the yankton ones are a little more common tho. i would say your average one would go from between 50-150 each. I cant say 100% for sure, because Tom is the ones who really knows the most about the value. but basically it all depends on rarity, age, size, and condition.. they are really good bottles, but i know there are a lot of them that are already known. not sure about specifically which ones are most common, but id guess those ones are probably close to 50-80 maybe.. except there was one of the small ones that was fairly rare.. id guess its probably worth about as much as the rest of the other drugstores combined.. and thank you! we really appreciate the comment

[@macfilms9904]

I wonder if it was from a saloon that was demolished and a bunch of the stuff dumped into the privy - seems like a fair bit of brick in with the glassware.

[@tinyTears]

That was a fantastic dig thanks for sharing.

[@clidemorrow8786]

I'm like 3 minutes in.. already amazing

[@paulamiller7667]

I recently started watching your channel. To say that I am impressed would be an understatement. I was curious, though-do you screen your diggings for small objects like coins? I’d also be interested to know if you sell your finds or strictly add to your collection?

[@oilerfreak]

It pains me when you don't get all of something as unreal as the white and purple item. I'm watching you bury the pieces looking for other stuff. I'm like NOOOOOOO Tom your missing good stuff!!!!

[@lisacates4185]

Na,he's getting it❤🎉

[@lizmbrad]

That chamber pot looked to have all the pieces... Wish you would have glued it back together.

[@BelowthePlains]

we gave everything the bulk of it to the homeowner, so he might have done it.. to be honest, if i wouldnt have been so far away from home, i would have taken everything from this dig, and tried to get most of it back together. when i go on a digging trip i always have to chose what i can fit in the car, and what i cant! so it kinda sucks, especially when we finally get into a pre-statehood pit! thanks for watching tho

[@jont8707]

Tom keep it up man I'm so hooked on watching you dig up rare stuff been here for a while now love seeing you grow so fast it's well deserved 👍

[@BassheadGTP]

My neighbors house down the street was built in 1907, i wonder if theyd let me poke around (probe) their lawn lol. Ive walked the woods out here when i was a teen and found the old trash dump and found bottles i think from 1920's and so on.

[@michaeldavis8249]

That’s awesome you never know what just right up under your feet

[@BelowthePlains]

i know right.. i think about that all the time now! im sure there are people who did some digging in their yard and came across a 10k bottle and just never had any idea what it was worth! thanks for watching

[@dewflower7298]

Love all the colours

[@BelowthePlains]

thanks for watching!

[@andrewpark839]

It would be awesome content to see quickly metal detect the dirt and show us the coins you find in these pits!!! You already do the work

[@rebeccareagan7701]

What do you do with all those old bottles?

[@davewilson9738]

Those tumblers/art glasses were beautiful!

[@robertmaher874]

You guys inspired me to dig up my backyard and it was a gold mine! I live in N.J and it’s crazy to think I found some stuff you guys find like the Horlicks Malted Milk or Sharp & Dhome and a fair share of local druggists thanks for the inspiration and great content 👍 P.S Have you guys ever found that quack medicine “Omega oil”? I believe it was a nationwide product back in the turn century I did some research and it’s selling point was chloroform which is pretty funny

[@barbarahatcher4552]

You can make the Hutchinson soda bottle into a glass. I know a guy here in Alabama that does that you make them into a glass or a shot glass

[@jimmysinclair6943]

Awesome job guys. This was a really good one

[@dottiegnyc1]

Nice little marble!

[@BelowthePlains]

over the past decade of digging, ive only found 2 german swirls. and that one was in the best condition. so id be willing to get, that marble is the most valuable one ive ever found.. i just dont know enough about them, to know what i have. but i know some of them go for 5 figures.. i doubt that one is one of them but.. who knows!

[@dawnhaynes7784]

Great dig

[@BelowthePlains]

thank you!

[@John-mh6mi]

Dude I was so excited for you what a great cache of history. Wow every hunters dream pit. Well done sir!

[@bryankitchen555]

Wow,what a great dig it looks like you found some great treasures. Thanks for sharing Bryan Kitchen Houston Texas

[@tonyjones9715]

Thank you for all your great videos. I look forward to seeing them👏👏👏

[@ruthbierley5993]

Wonderful to watch Thanks