Strange Sink Spots in the Yard Open Up into a Cache Buried in the Ground for 140 Years

Excavating a series of privies at the former site of The Elk Hotel and Saloon, in Elk City, Kansas.
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#antiques #mudlarking #archeology #bottledigging #antiquebottles #bottles #dumpdigging #privydigging #southdakota #treasurehunting #oldbottles #metaldetecting #ghosttown #northdakota #vintage #vintagebottles #abandoned #old #stagecoach #adventure #mudlarker #mudlark #wildwestgold #wildwest #buried #buriedtreasure

[@BelowthePlains]

hey everyone, just wanna say thanks for watching! just another reminder that in the coming weeks we are gonna be releasing some re-edits of some older videos, and some videos where we combined multiple digs that were at the same site into one video. if you wanna skip, feel free. we will still be releasing new videos on saturday. thanks!

[@dannmccord1923]

Awesome .i just love those picnic flask. They are so pretty. I love your videos Tom. Always looking forward to the next one

[@sherryankeny2161]

I really enjoyed watching your video . Thank you for sharing 😀 😊 ☺️

[@thekingsilverado3266]

Did he say Punkin seed Whiskey??? Holy Cow I just got the squirts thinkin about drinkin some real crap like that stuff. Might as well have a can of Carb Cleaner maybe some transmission fluid stuff like that...

[@thekingsilverado3266]

He never finds any coins. Flushin coins down the toilet musta been a 50s & 60s thing...

[@dannmccord1923]

Cant wait Tom. Love your videos

[@cdd4248]

The pits weren't fruitful in terms of quantity, but what amazing quality. To think the last person to handle one of those whiskey flasks was alive in 1885. Incredible.

[@TheYuleTube]

Alive in the 1880's, and on the toilet.

[@Boneyard1]

Yes, there's the person that handled it last.....but let's not forget the person that shat on those bottles last. I bet he, or she could tell us so much.

[@cdd4248]

@@Boneyard1 Way to kill my dreams & imagination. LOL

[@m.c.master4622]

I need that pumpkin seed flask in my life!! Well, as addictions go, I don't think I can be faulted for my passion for your videos. So informative & engaging. I always look forward to them and appreciate all your hard work, Tom and Jake.

[@jimjustice581]

You could have worse addictions😂. I love his videos too.

[@thekingsilverado3266]

I'm listening to the beginnings of this video and I got the squirts just thinkin about Punkin seed whatever... Yuck... Holy Cow U drink that crap... I got big ole fresh can of carb cleaner. It'll do about the same job if its ingested gradually

[@carolynsimone8647]

The main thing is that you are enjoying what you do. What you found was amazing...keep digging...🥰

[@Missangie827]

Imagine how wild those picnics must have been back in the day!🤠😄

[@thekingsilverado3266]

We still have picnics just like that here only back in the olden days only ya didn't have to leave the keys to your Harley at the front desk. Back then your horse knew his way home and ya didn't land in jail & get a 10K ticket for being stupid drunk on the horse.

[@michaelschuenemann3505]

3 Pits to Dig - 1880-1915 - some great old Bottles - a nice Marble and Syringe - wow ! Nice Haul of Bottles and Main Thing is that You preserved some more History - well done indeed ! Many Cheers from Australia !!!!

[@jimjustice581]

I hope I haven’t crossed a line, but I passed your page along to another poster “Aquachigger”. He’s primarily a metal detector, and searches for Civil War relics up VA, KY, TN, etc., but he also has an interest in bottles. You two may collaborate on items found or locations the two of you can explore. (Just send my commission check to the usually place 😂🤣 j.k.) Thanks for sharing your cool videos with us. Speaking for all your fans, keep ‘em coming ‘cause we love ‘em.👍

[@BelowthePlains]

thank you! i really appreciate that.. and i know that channel! i actually have watched a few of his episodes.. and yeah, his channel is like over 20X the size of mine.. i would love to collaborate with him one day, but i feel like i dont have a lot to offer him until i grow my channel!.. i may have actually given up on this channel. its doing really well but i just assumed eventually i would hit a peak, and it wouldnt be very high.. but with how well his channel is doing, it actually gives me a lot of hope. i just wasnt sure how many people would be interested, but apparently they are out there! but yeah.. if he would want to collab, id drive down there tomorrow lol! that would be huge for us. but maybe in a years time i will grow to a big enough size where he will want to do something. i hear people down in his area dont do a lot of privy digging. they mainly dig dumps. so going down there would probably be a primo location! but thanks for the tip. maybe one-day it will happen!! thanks for watching

[@LorJas_Handmade]

Love learning the background from each digging area. It makes the videos more interesting!

[@chewy2733]

I am obsessed with your channel. Love it and your voice is so relaxing! 😊 Keep it up as I enjoy seeing the finds!!

[@jakerazmataz852]

You are basically doing 100 YO dumpster diving. I grew up on an old farm. There was a junkyard in a field with cars and an old horse drawn combine. Lots of trash, bottles etc. It's amazing we never cut ourselves climbing, digging around.

[@terrancemiller8350]

Got to love those 1880's great age for the work , it was fun, where is that Jake, I was expecting a hand or foot modeling, it helps to know he is alive and looking after you. Lot of love to the both of you. Afriend.

[@scottvaughn1763]

We have dug a few privies and have only found 3 pumpkin seed flasks, one was missing the shoulders, one had a flash crack and the other one was perfect, truly amazing you scored four that were perfect, the glass is so thin on them! Keep up the great work! Glad you did not have to dig in another muddy water filled pit!

[@Gary-Seven-and-Isis-in-1968]

Back in those days Opiates could be purchased from any Drugstore, Laudanum being one of the most common products to get you addicted.. So here we have a Saloon with a communal outside toilet, full of Drugstore bottles and a syringe. Looks like things haven't changed very much over the centuries. 😏 A window into a wild past. Thanks for the upload. 👍🏼

[@samsager1]

Awesome flasks!!! Those pumpkin seeds are sweet!! Nice work!!

[@PK-bh1ww]

I got to see your dig in/near Elk City! I had posted on another video that my ancestors had lived in Elk City and you let me now you'd be digging there. They were there earlier than 1880's. They passed away in mid 1870's. Wish it had been more fruitful for you.

[@BelowthePlains]

well thank you! you know, im just happy to get some videos outside of the dakotas. i think it will be more interesting to more ppl if we dig at a site that they have a connection with, so id like to hit some more places all over the midwest, and the west. this place was so promising, but it just didnt work out, but the other places we dug nearby were pretty good, so i cant complain! i just wish there had been more. i hate having to release such a short video! thanks for watching

[@Merlijnvv]

Congratulations!

[@sandy81054]

I love, love, love these treasure hunts❤ thank you for taking us with you.

[@shepherd4406]

I love it when you come upon 19th century finds and make a connection with those times. Thank you.

[@carolynbenjamin6578]

So proud of you gloves stayed on lol like that Owens bottle love the pharmacy small bottles good job.

[@cherylmoxley7642]

I always get happy when I see you past a new dig, thanks.

[@jimkingsland1645]

This is fascinating stuff! Amazing finds who would have known? So cool that you know what they are when you unearth them. I’m intrigued and amazed!

[@thekingsilverado3266]

I'm gettin ready to call this dude. He could really speed these videos along alot by just diggin oe small hole where needed and add 2 sticks of dynamite. he could just walk about and point the stuff out instead diggin like a scroungy ole golpher.

[@binbunnies64]

Love your videos! Back in the 80’s in Indiana my grandpa and his brother did exactly what you are doing. They found old maps at the library and would dig for old bottles. They made a small fortune reselling at their local antique mall.

[@jont8707]

I love seeing a new upload from you one of my favorite channels to watch I know it's always gonna be good keep on digging 👍

[@Theditchwalker]

Great channel Tom....Subscribed and hooked..! Best of luck diggin

[@tarrasams7423]

Hello 👋 from New York USA you Guy's found Some Amazing Finds Thank you for Bringing me Along with you I can't wait to see What you Find Next 😊

[@BelowthePlains]

well thanks for watching! i really appreciate that, glad you like it!

[@jeremysmith3522]

Another cool video! I really enjoy watching your content. I like those picnic flasks. I’d never seen one of those before. 👍👍👍

[@beansmalone1305]

Cool stuff. I kind of envy people from other areas that can actually dig into the ground. I live in new england where theres a ton of history but digging just about anywhere is a sure way to dull a shovel. Digging a hole that big could be possible but it would take all day.

[@thekingsilverado3266]

I live in North East Pa. The ground here is just like solid cement all year long. Even the dogs here don't bury their bones. Ground hogs here have strokes and heart attacks.

[@revelationakagoldeneagle8045]

Great Dig's 🪶

[@MrJeffcoley1]

Years ago a gun magazine featured a story about privy digger who found a surprisingly well-preserverd derringer pistol. The theory goes the owner forgot it was in his waistband when he unhitched his trousers to answer nature's call and it fell into the muck. My dad loved that story, referred to it as "the shithouse Colt."

[@mikemerrell9411]

I love your videos I like finding that old stuff

[@dawnhaynes7784]

Great dig love the flasks

[@loislynncameron9608]

The old srynge is awesome!

[@patdexter9188]

This is a cool channel, glad I happened onto it! I live in northern Nevada. Mining camps are littered across the mountains. Placer and hard rock gold deposits were discovered, small towns sprang up and then mined out. These ghost towns would wither away and hard to even know a town was ever there!

[@carolynbenjamin6578]

You have so much knowledge on this.

[@enaidyeltneb369]

My two favorite finds when you dig came out first! A pumpkin seed flask and the shoo-fly flask, they just look cool!

[@BelowthePlains]

yeah they really got that "wild west" look to them. they stopped making those shortly after 1900, so whenever we find them its usually a good sign. unfortunately the older pits tend to have a lot less in them. thanks for watching!

[@warrenmink2429]

Killer age there ! Wow ! Awesome, great bottles , can’t believe how easy you make this routine look … but I know better , thank you for bringing these to light and sharing

[@hchilless3467]

Always enjoy your videos.

[@stevepunter3704]

You certainly work hard for your treasure 💪, great stuff 👍.

[@waynewilliams-wc2dr]

Well done mate!

[@lindaalbano6868]

Thank you

[@Jruth68]

My Great grandfather, grandfather and my dad all worked for Owens Illinois. My dad had 40 years with them. The plant they worked for closed about 5 years ago.

[@BlackDogAdventures]

The circular thing is definitely alien and that place NEVER disappoints!!

[@lfm6269]

Recently found your channel. I love it! Thanks for sharing and teaching us about your findings!

[@napoliansolo7865]

Just like an old fashioned treasure hunt when I was a kid. Good job of making such interesting videos.

[@FloCreasy]

I enjoy watching your videos. Gives a glimpse of what my ancestors may have used some of these bottles brought bottles from the East.

[@alisonmary1443]

Nice finds, such a pity it had been cleaned out, those pumpkin seeds are adorable, Thank you.

[@gregmccubbin-eq4vy]

Love the videos

[@dannovack1364]

You had to go way down there to find those bottles. It’s hard to imagine how low the ground was back then! Good work!

[@soonzach4017]

Your videos very interesting, thank you for sharing.

[@rat8356]

nice finds!..i talked to my 87yo neighbor lady the other day and she said she used a outhouse until her sophomore year in high school..she said their outhouse had a large slide out tray in the bottom and her dad would dump it on the farm fields every year..Ive never heard about one like that..i wonder since it was in the country and a farm they could use one like that, but in the city they would have no were to dump?..oh and she said they used lime to help combat the smell

[@BelowthePlains]

yep. thats true about the lime.. most of the time they just used ashes, but it was the same thing. and i had never heard of that before.. with the tray.. i would guess they probably used that specifically BECAUSE they wanted to dump it.. the default would have just been a hole that they covered, but they probably did it because it was useful. instead of doing it to keep the hole cleaned out.. there were actually people who would go around cleaning out the pits for money. i always wondered why they wouldnt just dig a new hole, but i suppose a lot of these places had pits that were in the perfect location, and every time you moved it, you would have to move it to a less optimum location.. i have no idea where they would dump the contents of the pit, but i assume they brought it either to the fields or to the city dump.

[@clidemorrow8786]

Awesome job guys

[@karendavis7988]

I enjoy seeing the items after they have been given a cleaning.

[@j-mo2453]

Hey! I’ve dug up an old crap hole too! Lol

[@rudetoy8264]

The composition of the soil and the glass jars look like it used to be dump site in 1800s. One man trash is another man treasure

[@FireFighterDetecting]

Very informative video here. New subscriber. Thanks for sharing

[@richardbruce8111]

great dig guys! weird how many spirit flasks in one place! makes you think somebody was hiding their booze habit! we found a whole set of "DCL" whiskey half bottles sneakily pushed into a second floor space accessible halfway up a stairway They were like NEW golden labels ! 110 years old! Here in New Zealand we call the slope sided flasks"coffins" remember back in the time spirit liquor was "over proof" VERY powerful!

[@kaolinwasher]

those kansas privys are really nice

[@mattharvey8712]

Bravo......metal detector ......cheers

[@Kltpzyxm17]

I'm throwing my bottles in the outhouse! 😊

[@marcoallin]

your gonna blow up on youtube soon, i feel it

[@billdelaney4222]

Very interesting I have an old trash pit in back of where I work every time it rains I go back and find what treasure has been unearthed I subbed you

[@detecting_with_matt3643]

Awesome diggin! I’ve learned alot from this channel. I got permission to dig an old privy at a 1850 house near a railroad!! Wish me luck!

[@mickeymelton66]

Consider getting a mini excavator. Easy to tow on trailer with car or small pickup. Will save hours of digging time yet quite easy to gently dig without damaging artifacts.

[@andrewowens9382]

Hi both it's surprising how many settlements good job you got the maps of these places and at the same time telling the history by opening up the outhouse pits all the best Andrew south wales uk 👍 👌 😀 🇬🇧

[@barbgallette2757]

Decades ago my grandparents used to dig trash pits for things that wouldn’t burn in the burn barrel. The pits were about the size of a grave. All glass and metal went in the pit. Cans were flattened. The pit had boards on it until it was full enough to cover with soil.

[@craigchips447]

elk city kansas is in my neck of the woods. :D

[@lesleybennet4804]

Love watching your videos from England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 what do you do with all your finds 😊

[@stoshbeast1]

Cool...I've never thought to dig where people have buried their shit!

[@Shaw.77]

What’s the oldest thing you guys have found? Good job.

[@KeyboardBuster]

Jimmy Hoffa

[@Shaw.77]

@@KeyboardBuster ha

[@carebear2272]

Cool, we live on a old logging camp, called the dolly farm, that had draft horses there, we find horses shoes north west axe heads, found a morphine little blue ampule bottle, can’t spell lol and a bottle called miss crawls soothing syrup….

[@Peachy08]

I have a question...what do you do with all your finds? Sell them or keep for your own collection?

[@laurelshugars2866]

I love me some Pumpkin Seed Flasks, although have never before heard the term: "Picnic Flask". Hey, Tom...Get a haircut!!!😊

[@glennmurphy1820]

You must have an incredible alcohol collection.Can't wait till next dig.

[@BelowthePlains]

haha well we dont really take very much. i think the only thing we took was the marble and the syringe. we donated it all to the local historic society. they were out there watching. was really hoping to find an embossed drugstore bottle, but im not even sure if one existed from elk city. but i do collect sodas! i got a pretty good collection of those! thanks for watching

[@wmason1961]

I would love forsomeone to dig in my backyard in Missouri. There is a foundation of an outhouse there that could be a great dig spot. The house was built in 1910.

[@jerrysadventures8952]

dude you put on killer video

[@lisacoleman5375]

I love your video's. I was just curious where you can find the maps you use.

[@BelowthePlains]

well thank you! well.. each state has its own historic site, and i think they all use the same basic template.. because the one for nd, iowa, and sd look exactly the same, i havent seen any other ones. the nd one is digitalhorizonsonline.org and i cant remember the sd or iowa one.. but i think every state has their own version of this website.. well you just go to that site, and then use the search bar to type in "map" "plat map" or "sanborn map" the sanborn maps are the best, because they show exactly where everything was. id say about 50% of the small towns i go to have one of those maps.. im sure every town in america had one, but i think a lot of them just got lost over time. if you type in "sanborn map" and then the state and city you are looking for on google.com then you wont come up with much.. if its a bigger town, it might show up, but just a regular google search wont usually come up with the place you are looking for. theres also loc.gov its the library of congress website.. they have maps there, but they wont be as extensive as the state historic website. but its all kinda just random. you never know if you are gonna be able to find the town you are looking for. hope that was helpful. thanks for watching!

[@lisacoleman5375]

@@BelowthePlains Thank you so much for your quick response and information. When I watch your video's I get nothing done..😂 😂

[@willong1000]

Hey guys, seeing your viewer M. C. Master in the comments section state: "I need that pumpkin seed flask in my life!!" gives me an idea that I hope you will consider. I've noticed quite a few of your viewers ask if you ever sell any of the bottles you find. I'm sure you know that some of the other KZbin channels featuring antique bottles and relics routinely hawk their finds, some doing so even on live auctions on KZbin. I can't speak for other viewers, but I quickly lose enthusiasm for content producers who become overly commercial, especially when such channels purport an appreciation of history and promote the preservation of historical artifacts. That said, I can't help but notice how many duplicate items you pull from your excavations, including some nicely embossed bottles. I have an idea that would help preserve the duplicates in appreciative hands while helping to grow your channel at the same time without appearing overly mercenary. For background, I'm an old guy who used to dig dumps in the early 1970's. My bottles mostly came out of the woods of Washington State and a few from British Columbia. Having a lifelong passion for "old stuff" that made history personally relevant, I could not bring myself to break, discard or rebury even the common slicks I found. If nothing else, I figured I'd put them to use again as containers for spices, extracts, household chemicals and small collectibles such as marbles and shells. As a result, I have transported boxes full of slicks, most never washed, from one residence to another over the decades. You gentlemen are in position to put your duplicates to much better purpose. I suggest that you begin documenting not just the digs, but the individual bottles themselves by identifying which location yielded the treasure and which video featured it "coming to light" again. You could then use the bottles, accompanied by a signed certificate authenticating the bottle, the dig and the specific "Below the Plains" video, either as giveaway draws for commenting viewers or, more beneficial to growing your channel without having to manage auctions, as premiums to stepped Patreon tiers. I'm sure that many of your viewers would be happy even to have a slick, or three, together with a certificate from Jake and Tom saying something like "Bottle recovery featured on the Elk Hotel and Saloon dig." (Numbering your videos with season and episode might be a good practice to adopt.) Higher level Paterons could perhaps select an embossed Hayner Whiskey bottle or one of the slug-plate sodas of which you have recovered multiple examples. You could take things even a step further by etching your own design--I envision an intertwined JCTA or BTP monogram in an antique font--onto the flats of appropriate bottles such as the MANY shoo-fly and picnic flasks we viewers have observed you recover. Either traditional acid etching method or sand blasting through a stencil/mask should suffice to produce a distinctive keepsake. (A few viewers might object to altering any antique bottle, regardless how common. That might be a good subject to explore with an opinion survey.) Well, time for me to finish viewing the video and see what else the site yields!

[@marzinjedi6437]

Find the outhouse if you need anything old and disposed of in the forty’s or fifty’s around my neck of the woods . There is usually a dip in the ground and no telling how deep they go ?

[@smspiwak1956]

Watching your videos makes me wonder what will be dug up and considered cool 100 or more years from now.

[@marcoallin]

bunch of badass cowboys were living there

[@marcoallin]

damm im dumb, it was a saloon

[@gnudad]

Enjoy your videos. Do you have a store? I'm interested in a pumpkin seed flask and other bottles. Thanks!

[@conken5623]

What do u do w seeds? Do u try to grow them first in fridge in wet paper towel for roots then transfer to pot?

[@WilliamD.Hazlett-cr4gm]

Arbuckle made coffee tea and flavorings in Chicago.

[@davidklein1667]

When I was 16 I was into digging bottles. That's when I found out how a little research can pay off .in the field !! Those syringes quite often were for morphine. I think it was like 50 or 75 cents for 3 prefilled glass syringes..that you could order from the Sears catalogue!! No prescription of course. If you ever find tiny little glass tubes with wafer tabs that's usually an opiate...but quite poisonous after being buried for a hundred years!!! My favorite though was a small poison bottle.,..coffin shaped with skull n crossbones!! Oh yeah!! In pale aqua glass!!!

[@rustyicepick8462]

It looked like that soil had been disturbed already with the turf cut into squares.

[@americanamusica13]

I live in…what once was..a Victorian era gold rush town. I would suggest metal detecting ..as typically drunk folks would drop coins or gold while in the outhouse. I’d be willing to bet there’s at least one wedding ring somewhere at the bottom.

[@MsCripplex]

The top called a pie crust type would make a great cloth napkin holder. It gives room to engrave a name or initials, if you know someone who crafts this would be away to save the pieces thanks, be safe!

[@thomaskeil1437]

When an outhouse pit was cleaned out, where would the contents be moved to from there?

[@jorahmormont1154]

thanks for sharing guys, too bad you didnt find any embossed drug store bottles! I think this is one of the only videos in a long time where you haven't

[@libertymichel7649]

How do you find the pits? I paused on the map but didn’t see where or if it’s even listed on there?

[@2Truth4Liberty]

9:04 so careful to dig it out and then F'it! WHA

[@lauramarks4590]

How do you know where to dig? What do you mean by probe? How can I find an old outhouse pit in my yard?

[@j2muw667]

Elk city! Not far from my uncle and aunt!

[@philipcallicoat3147]

Hollywood is usually full of 💩 but, they're pretty accurate as far as the cowboys slamming down the "Firewater"!!! You guys are doing a great amount of heavy work digging down six feet,and then some,in order to find what you're looking for..... Good job techwise also...I enjoy watching your posts ...

[@curtisleeloesch1]

How do I contact you via email? I have some thoughts, ideas and info on various locations around central James River Valley pre-SD statehood time frame. I'm too old to dig but can locate sites using historical references. Love what I've seen on your videos.

[@roseeckstein6534]

Can I ask what you do with the bottles you find?

[@ralphbenites1312]

These bottles are in great condition for being underneath the ground for years

[@patriciaparker6769]

May sound gross but I wonder if those seeds would grow? Imagine that and how far they go back in time

[@tedlym.3390]

I'm certain that if you were excavating in Egypt, you would have found Cleopatra's tomb by now.

[@Patriciamurphygq8hl]

Why would people throw bottles and glass into the outhouse? What’s the creepiest thing you’ve ever found? Love your videos!

[@robertgallagher7734]

Easiest/ most available open trash pit. Used to dig a lot of holes for utility repairs, found a couple pits by accident. What is suprising to me is the number of bottles that aren't broken.