Mudlarking The Mississippi River

[@aquachigger]

Just a little Mississippi mudlarking tonight. I hope you enjoy the video!

[@brickcity9mm896]

Oh my nenith Chigg, Beware of the ferocious mudlarking beavers man......👁👃👁

[@canigetachannel]

Well of course we'll enjoy it! Thanks Chigg! [thumbs-up]

[@mudhunter6514]

I work for the Memphis District of the CORPS if I had know you were close i have a spot on the Mississippi where you can find Mastodon and other ancient animal bones when the water is low like that.

[@rawfoodwriter]

Mississippi queen! 🎸🤘

[@stephenherr6541]

My hometown. Went down there when the river was down, killer for a 65 year old climbing up and down the bluff. The wooden sticks under the riprap and concrete mattress is willow mats put down many years ago. The reason you saw so many railroad spikes is that the Frisco RR had a yard there many years ago. All of the Memphis River front was used as a dump years back. Were the Bass Pro Pyramid is now was a dump and later a naval yard. I dug many nice bottles during the construction. Hope you enjoyed your vist.

[@atuuschaaw]

About 400 yds. south of the railroad bridge is the old French Fort which the confederate army renamed Fort Pickering. Basically a redoubt built into ancient Chickasaw mounds. The union army took Memphis in 1862 and enlarged the fort to hold over 50 gun emplacements down the Memphis bluffs. The union fort covered almost two miles of river front on the bluffs. From the mounds north to Beale St., so you were walking prime historical real estate. Glad to have you stop by! 😉♥

[@willykanos1044]

11:52: Yhat is wat is know as a 'Bulldog Clamp'. They are used for splicing cable - wire rope - but are most often used to create eye loops in cable. They are easy to install requiring only a wrench that will fit the nuts on it. They are meant to replace crimped on connectors. Many people don't have a crimping tool so these are commonly used instead.

[@philipatoz]

Yep, the dark rock in the limestone is chert - the premier knapping rock Indians (and moderns) used for making stone tools, knives, points, etc. It has a hardness factor of 7 and knapps off in thin sheets, allowing for detailed shaping and sculpting.

[@jasonhuntley9927]

Those inclusions in the limestone might be chert. I couldn’t tell if it was waxy or glassy texture, but if it was it’s likely chert. Chert is similar to obsidian in the sense it’s great for making stone tools. If you Google “chert in limestone” you’ll find some images of the same thing. Yours were really striking and beautiful examples and if I were to take a souvenir it would have been one of those stones.

[@joannem3568]

Yep, I'm learning how to flint knap Flintknapping and I look for chert all the time , I rock hound too and metal detect, I have alot of hobbies 🤣🤣👍

[@williambrandondavis6897]

Lol, you must be new. Maybe next time try educating Neil Degrass Tyson on physics or Michael Jordan on basketball.

[@jasonhuntley9927]

@@williambrandondavis6897 thanks for sharing, five months later.

[@Mag_Aoidh]

Riley found a belt plate below Fort Pickering, an old Spanish fort that was improved during the CW as a Union artillery position. There are a few Indian mounds that they incorporated into gun positions. My granddad worked down below there on tugboats back in the day when my Dad was a youngster.

[@davemuse419]

Dang Chigg. I live outside of Memphis and would have loved to meet you. You were right below Ft. Pickering. A union fort with over 10,000 Yankee troops during the war. I've dug plenty of relics all around that area over the years.

[@detchdetch12]

You already know we enjoy EVERY Chig video lol...that's why we are here 😁

[@ElizaGatchell]

Chiggin in Memphis!

[@billmckee7790]

I'm just up the river from there in Shelby Forrest. I've found tons of civil war relics, bottles, and old boat items from the 1800s.

[@48thstateprospecting]

Looks like a volcanic intrusion into the limestone could be basalt (lava) or a derivative of it obsidian would be clearer and break like glass chert would be harder and flake off in sharp chunks great adventure thanks for sharing see you on the next one 👍🏼👊🏼

[@1stAshaMan]

In Tennessee limestone and chert are abundant and commonly found together. This looks much closer to chert than it does to basalt.

[@PaleOranges]

I'm so happy to see that you got to do this. If I want to watch anyone do this, it's you. Keep being awesome chigg

[@Katelittlewolf]

Chig, want to stop in and wish you and Lindsey the happiest 2023 possible, and all your four footeds, too. You are such an uplifting, heartfelt, encouraging man and everything you post lifts the spirit. You helped me get through a VERY VERY difficult dark year, and have a better world view and hope to come out the other side. Looking forward to your posts in 2023 !!

[@aquachigger]

Thank you so much!

[@groundskeeper5292]

Hope you're doing a bit of detecting too, while you're out there. Glad to see you back ! Have a great trip and a happy new year!

[@rikspector]

Chigg, I think I could enjoy boat watching where you were. A lot of fascinating history floating past. Cheers, Rik

[@aserta]

The wood under is either a previous stabilization effort or a settling layer for the rocks and concrete above. Being that they didn't work with uniform items, maybe they decided to use the wood to slowly give it time to set in. Seems to work, if that's the case, the "sheet" is very uniform. Textbook river erosion barrier.

[@drshoe8744]

Didn't they use old Railroad Ties for that, that would explain all the Spikes too?

[@kevinallman6700]

It's wonderful spending time by the river anywhere. I'm lucky enough to live on the Wirral so I have the Mersey one way and I live about a mile from the Dee. Another fantastic video,many thanks 👍

[@basilkey2949]

Love and watch all your videos. How is wobbles doing. Had a cat that it's back legs did not work when I was a kid. I have 4 cats now. Love cat's and dogs be cause they give so much back if you let them.

[@TheMinuteman1964]

a friend on mine used to work o the dredges on the Mississippi. he says they would dredge up mammoth tusks quite often

[@biinkyreed8013]

Happy New Year🎉🎊🎉 Looking forward to seeing more great videos in 2023

[@brettona123]

Chigg - the rocks near the end - they are indeed limestone with Chert nodules. Cheers!

[@rawkinj6609]

Found 2 musket balls (one fired and one round dropped!) at super low tide in Northern New Brunswick last week and my first thought was : "CHIGG would be happy!" Also a spark plug that i assume now was a fishing weight! Thanks for your hard work and dedication! Happy New Year to you and your family!

[@heehaw8401]

A group of us on motorcycles ferried across the Mississippi River on the Dorena-Hickman ferry between Dorena, Missouri and Hickman, Kentucky back in the early summer. Never occurred to me to look for treasures along the bank.

[@broadstken]

I've never hear of any prohibition on detecting or picking up relics on the Mississippi river banks, so long as you're not digging on a levee, they get bent way out of shape over that.

[@Katelittlewolf]

Well this great mudlarking! The grand old Mississippi ! ! It's just sad to see her so low.

[@JD-ps6od]

Those clamps are Crosby clamps. Used to tie a cable end back onto itself. While using them, “never saddle a dead horse!”

[@aquachigger]

That makes sense. Thanks

[@onemanswrld]

Seems like a fine line at times between "artifacts" and "trash".......

[@lynneslade513]

The other viewer is right that is chert in limestone. What we used to call cherry dolomite

[@neillh]

Thanks for sharing another adventure 👍

[@winkmirror2]

こんにちは♪・Hello, I enjoyed your videos again this year. thank you.👍

[@alabamadixiediggers4714]

Super nice view of the MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI RIVER. And your 100% right on not able to Metal detect an Corp of Engineers ran water way. Same rules down here on The Chattahoochee River and Lake Westpoint. You can look for relics but you can't pick up any or take with you. Considered Federal lands. Thanx Chigg for another great AQUACHIGGER ADVENTURE see you on the next.

[@aquachigger]

Right on

[@scottd6389]

That U shaped bolt is used to crimp wire together..love your work chig!!

[@marendelllincks9195]

Yeah! That looks interesting! I'm in Arkansas and been thinking on running over there to take a look see. Cool!

[@tontonsreview2303]

Memphis is my home town. I was expecting you to walk up on a body! Haha!

[@aquachigger]

Maybe one day!

[@ericbohn5268]

The cable clamps you were finding were part of the mat used for errosion control. The concrete mats are together by cables. Corp of Engineers go out and place the mats on the river banks.

[@sambender8459]

Good to see you still out there I hadn’t heard nothing or seen any of your videos for quite a while. Happy new year.

[@aquachigger]

Been posting 3-5 videos a week for many years now....lol.

[@buttercupandnorrie]

Hi Chigg at 521 in video its a cable clamp pinches to cables together instead of a knot....really enjoy your vids....

[@aquachigger]

Thanks for the info

[@paulwise215]

Good evening chigg I hope you and your family had a great Christmas, your little dogs probably got spoilt , that little clip you had found are wire cable clips , where are your gloves 🧤 what a beautiful place,I wish I was born in America plenty things to do vast country , great interesting video, large barges,the tugs look as tho going to sink

[@mikewinings4120]

It absolutely floors me you didn't know what that cable clamp was,well,I guess we never know it all,lol,love the Chigg!

[@AndrexT]

clampy thing is a cable clamp for steel cable. The bottle is a good quality Champagne bottle like Dom Perignon. I have drunk two bottles of that, Wedding gift and 65th Birthday. Those barges are HUGE, steering must be fun!

[@bmattison]

I did archeological work just across the river from where you are in the late 80s when I had just moved to Memphis. Some old steamships on that sandbar downriver just below those two bridges. I found a shot glass from the 1800s and held onto it till this year when a cat knocked it off the counter and shattered it. I also found a human femur on that sandbar. It was determined to have washed out from an old grave.

[@TomFromMN]

Enjoyed another trip and stops along your way. Maybe you could include the head of the Mississippi, not far from me. Always appreciate the entertainment and education, Beau.

[@aquachigger]

Appreciate it, I'll keep that in mind.

[@OutdoorsygalO]

I think the clampy looking thing is from cables (from shoreline structure or from boats). It’s always interesting looking along shorelines and surprising what can be found.

[@danielbrewer6528]

Probably copper cable clamps for the old wood planks. Cables rusted away and the copper and wood stayed preserved

[@Chillville_Escapes]

HEY! Your best find was that bone handle toothbrush by far! You didn't even look at it. Way better than that 60s wine bottle or whatever.

[@derekmorse8171]

I wonder if that big old champagne bottle, was from a big old paddle steamer, some card sharp threw overboard after a big old win at poker hahaha?

[@jeannemackenzie4404]

That dark green bottle has what is called a kick up or push up base. I have one I found years ago out in the desert in the northwest corner of Utah. I cannot find an actual date except before 1920. So, it is over 100 years old!

[@dougalexander7204]

The mighty Mississippi and the humble Aquachigger.

[@Materialworld4]

That is one hell of a cover photo Aquachigger, damn man, you are having way too much fun, But I am glad to see it Pal.

[@aquachigger]

lol..thanks

[@John859595]

Army Corps of Engineers doesn't have the authority to make laws. There must be something higher up the chain that they're basing their opinion on. It should all be challenged. This is our land, and those agencies work for us. If I want to go collect trash on a river bank, I'm going to regardless of their opinion.

[@aquachigger]

Trash is okay as long as it's not "old" trash.

[@John859595]

@@aquachigger as if the average person is going to know

[@AldoSchmedack]

@@aquachigger If it is their land (US Army Crops of Engineers) can't do much BUT if it is state or Federal it is not theirs but public. But I wouldn't dig much or they could say it is "changing things." Could get an opinion from police and ask as they are one responsible for prosecuting. Also remember if no signs then you didn't know ;-) Some people are pesky and some actually helpful. Lock 10 has lots of trash but it is cold as heck there right now I bet.

[@AldoSchmedack]

@@aquachigger Note this I just found too: "The Friends of Pool 10 is a volunteer organization dedicated to the cleanup of the sloughs, backwaters and islands of the pool. Its first annual cleanup was in April 2007." My arguement is "it can't be old if it is maintained and this all floods and washed debris all over." Can't factually argue with that at all. Can a guy email USACoE or even DOJ?

[@Fried-Pig-Nipples]

@@John859595 agree 100%. Before I learned from chigg that there are certain areas of the Shenandoah and Potomac river that you cant remove historic relics from the banks, I would have been filling buckets. Now that I know, my conscience wont let me. Way to go chigg!🤔😁

[@slimwantedman6694]

Good morning from Southeast South

[@j.b.4340]

I larked in Baton Rouge, at low water. I found a tan gunflint, musket vent pick, canister, pipe bowl fragments, bone buttons…

[@Katelittlewolf]

Wonderful video !

[@AndrexT]

Happy New Year for Sunday Beau

[@aquachigger]

Happy new year!

[@carolvonarx2616]

If you can't find good stuff along the river bank go to the area where it comes into the gulf. Sure miss the old Steamer Admiral that turned around at the old JB Bridge. Could watch it go past my grandparent house on the bank at foot of Nagel street.

[@oklahomanativeexploration7546]

That rock in the limestone maybe flint or chert.

[@baysideauto]

Cable clamps sir , my dad brought those home from Bethlehem steel here in Baltimore

[@Travelling..Bottle..Digger]

Cool vid... thanks for sharing 👍👍

[@johnday8603]

That arch type clamp fastener is a crosby clamp...for fastening braided lines together...

[@jbone12]

Next time you come through Arkansas chigg hit me up! I have tones of places next to the Mississippi to hunt on the Arkansas side! Found several civil war relics!

[@jbone12]

We have around 500 acres of private land we metal detect lots of farm fields

[@jeremyo8233]

Man I cant believe you dumped that wine out!! I bet it was aged perfectly!! lol Thanks again for being my mental medicine Beau!

[@SwanseaTitanFan]

Back in the 70s as teenagers we used to mudlark the Mississippi bank in the old Jefferson Barracks dump. We found hundreds of 3006 round and then they fenced it off after kids found some pineapple hand grenadines.

[@barbarafritchie2000]

Thanks for sharing.

[@edwardblasingame9002]

The u-shaped bolt with a piece of metal across it and a nut on both sides is for holding cables together

[@AdamosDad]

Only certain construction projects, like dams, levees and such are under the purview of the Army Corp of Engineers. You can keep most things found or fished from the river.

[@curtismyrick9715]

Lived on the upper Mississippi in Wisconsin there was a paddle boat that went down loaded with silver. Wish I still lived in the area would love to do some detecting.

[@Pwrcritter]

Waters low should be lots of artifacts about. Watch west Memphis lots of shady characters, lol.

[@matthew7creeks266]

I find some lovely driftwood on The Missouri River.

[@oldworldchris4187]

Was that a dredge boat at the end of the vid, being pushed by a tug boat? We have that a lot on the Columbia river here in Oregon, where I live, keeping the shipping channel navigable!

[@GregCobb]

I didn't make it downtown when the water was that low. About 15 miles or so south of there is a much smaller area of the same thing in Walls, MS. The rectangular blocks were in a mesh with rebar holding them together. I have a lot of pictures, one that looks like a large bone is beneath those stone pieces. This was also an area where boats docked and the tie lines are still there in places. It is a nice, quaint park now with a boat ramp.

[@aquachigger]

That sounds interesting, thanks.

[@hamshackleton]

5 minutes 10 in, that little clamp thing is possibly a radio aerial mounting clamp, or a cable clamp.

[@anthonyiocca5683]

What a fun day on the bank of the mighty Mississippi. It looks like a disaster area. If not for all that debris you would be walking in deep mud. Better to use a small boat to cover more bank area. Anyway, have fun…

[@friendshipranger]

That’s the Harahan Bridge near WREG- channel 3 in Memphis. The oldest bridge in Memphis.

[@MrVongurt]

Missiyisippi pretty legendary! Rio grande next?

[@normawinton6832]

I don't think they would care if you took the bottle Beau. Your cleaning up the river!

[@MisterTalkingMachine]

10:07 I think those are ironstone concretions

[@conrioakfield414]

At 5:13, that's called a Crosby. It's a cable clamp for rigging.

[@wormwoodrandoms3919]

Why do I have the feeling that somehow that bottle made it magically in your truck

[@jimjustice581]

We can only hope.👍

[@Koi-addict33]

You would enjoy doing this where I live in UK lots of stuff going back to the Vikings can be found

[@aquachigger]

I've detected in the U.K. many times. I even have a History U.K. TV channel show doing it....lol.

[@Koi-addict33]

@@aquachigger that's cool what parts I'm in York

[@andymuskopf8473]

I certainly hope that you went back and picked your bottle up after you stopped filming.

[@rangocary5228]

Man I’m just 2hrs from Memphis would love to meet u maybe one day I been wanting to to Memphis to look around I have seen all the great finds ppl have found couldn’t because of work maybe one day If the water doesn’t rise

[@aquachigger]

I'm 10 hours from there myself.

[@terrygrossjr83]

There use to be a rail yard on the bank, before the bridges where built they would ferrie railroad cars across the river.

[@aserta]

11:00 whoa, those barges are hauling a$$. :)) I though you were supposed to slow down near bridges...

[@oh-duh]

Go see the train bridge across the Mississippi at Louisiana, Missouri 👍🏻

[@thurin84]

looks more like cement larking lol. those tugs just look so top heavy.

[@cdd4248]

I have always thought working on a Tug Boat would be a great job- there are probably song lyrics somewhere with the same sentiment!

[@swhod2190]

That last bit reminded me of the pusher boat Paul Newman hitched a ride on in "The Long Hot Summer".

[@MARKLOCKWOOD2012]

even with steady rains it would takes months to get back to normal. not all of the mighty Mississippi is navigable barge traffic has slowed and a lot have canceled contracts till further notice.

[@cyberleaderandy1]

Always seems crazy that the rules to "protect" artifacts actually end up destroying them by stopping people removing and preserving them.

[@bammerbiff1621]

Yep, I'm under the Iron Fist of the TVA where I am in North Alabama. I pretty much leave the Native American artifacts where they lie but I pick up everything else. Plenty of history getting trampled under foot by people who don't know what they are looking at. Just had a 58 cal mini ball fall out of the mud banks a few weeks ago. If it weren't for Chig, I wouldn't be looking for white objects amongst the shells.

[@williambrandondavis6897]

To enlighten you, it’s mostly if not all due to an agreement that the federal government made with native Americans to protect relics, burials and land the native Americans believe is sacred and should not be disturbed.

[@randywalker9083]

The thing with the two nuts is a cable clamp for wire rope

[@Yank-mu1tm]

We use spark plugs to release hooks when they snag on logs and rocks.

[@aquachigger]

Thanks. Fished all my life and never knew that trick.

[@Yank-mu1tm]

@@aquachigger We put the plug on the line at the end of the pole, and it slides down to the hook, or weight, and puts pressure from below. When it hits the weight or hook, you release the tension, and bob the line. It works the majority of the time. We use it mainly when fishing with jigs or lures.

[@danallen3031]

I think the bottle you found that was intact was a bottle of Moet &Chandon White Star

[@HandlingItAll]

There's a wallet, there's a bag, uuup, there's the body 😆

[@ColinHarperSummerson]

Beau , it looks much like hematite that's within the rock

[@mercedithcompala8148]

This was cool 😎

[@jimjustice581]

As a friend once said, “Ya gotta move stuff around. Nothing is going to jump out and say, ‘Here I am!’.” Flip some of those rocks over.

[@aquachigger]

But then you are searching by moving things on Federal property. That's a crime.

[@jaywinters2483]

Wouldn’t that be cool is Beau found Jimmy Hoffa? Haha

[@Graysail0r]

Those 'things' are for clamping cables, probably on boats. lol.

[@endgovernmentextremism]

Reporting in. Lark that mud!

[@hardyakka6200]

That looked like mudstone or shale chigg.