5 Best Metal Detecting Finds in Kentucky

Ever dreamt of unearthing Kentucky’s buried treasures? Dive in to uncover secrets with us!

Kentucky is a state that has a rich history and it is popular among metal-detecting enthusiasts. 

The place was ground for many battles, Native Americans, and different colonies.

Since I was interested in going there for metal detecting, I did my research on everything including the best metal detecting finds.

Here’s what I’ve found about the, Best metal detecting finds in Kentucky,

1. Coins
2. Jewelry 
3. Native American artifacts 
4. Military artifacts 
5. Colonial artifacts

But there’s a lot more to know!

There’s so much more to talk about these findings and locations where you could find them around Kentucky. 

So the rest of this article would be for anyone who is interested in exploring.

Just keep reading!

Best Metal Detecting Finds In Kentucky 

Since Kentucky has a lot to do with history, the probability of detecting anything precious and historic is pretty much high. 

There are specific places in Kentucky where you will be able to find the above things.

1. Coins

Kentucky was a frontier state back in the 1700s and 1800s. So a lot of Spanish and British coins may have been in use around the state for trading purposes. 

So metal detectors are able to find these coins around the state that provide evidence of the trading patterns. 

There are some cities in Kentucky that have a rich history and may be worth exploring for coins.

Louisville

Louisville city was founded in the late 1700s. It was the time that the trading went well around the state. And therefore different colonial-era coins can be found here. 

It was an important city during the war and trading periods. 

During the wars, many soldiers robbed precious things such as gold coins from the people and hid them at several locations until they returned from the war. But a lot of them were killed.

So these locations where the coins were hidden are popular among the detectives and prospectors. 

Louiseville is one such city marked as a place where these treasures were buried. 

Check out the Best Places to Metal Detect in Kentucky!

Frankfort

This city, which is the capital of Kentucky, was established in the early 1700s. 

It has played a significant role in trading and therefore so many valuable coins could be found here.

Lexington

In the early days, Kentucky used this city as a hub of trading and commerce. 

Early settlers here used Spanish and British coins so there’s a possibility of finding some of them in this area.

Bowling Green

Bowling Green played a significant role during the Civil War times and it was used as a transportation hub those days. 

So the coins that are related to this era can be found here. 

2. Jewelry 

Lost jewelry and robbed jewelry were popular in Kentucky during the war times. 

Most of them were buried at different places and they were never found.

These items can be valuable and may provide interesting insights into the lifestyles of different eras. 

Hopkinsville

This city is located in southwestern Kentucky. It is another city that has a huge history that deals with Civil wars and historical locations. 

So you may be able to find jewelry at the public parks, cemeteries, and other public areas here.

Ashland

Ashland is the home to the famous Ashland estate. It is steeped in history from the colonial period to the civil wars. 

So a search for jewelry in the city parks, fairgrounds, old public squares, and historic homesteads will be worth a look. 

Louisville 

The Civil War battles and the Kentucky Derby took place in this largest city of Kentucky. 

There are several parks and historical sites that might probably have some ancient jewelry pieces.

3. Native American Artifacts 

The Mississippians were a prominent culture in Kentucky.

So their artifacts like arrowheads, jewelry, and spearheads can be found within this state.

Wickliffe

Wickliffe City is located in the far western part of Kentucky. It is the home to Wickliffe Mounds state historic site. 

This was a Mississippian-era village and therefore, it is an important archaeological site. 

With permission and a detecting permit, detectors are allowed to search the place. But you cannot own anything that you find.

Paducah

It’s a city located at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee rivers. It is one of the significant towns belonging to the Mississippians. 

The village was centered in the downtown area of Paducah. 

Boaz

The area which is surrounded by this city has a rich history of Native American cultures. 

The Sunfish Creek drainage is a popular detecting site which is believed to be where the Mississippian settlements were.

Mayfield

The Fisher Bottom Road, which is a Mississippian artifact foundry complex has been found in this city. 

So it is believed to be the home to several Mississippian cultures.

4. Military Artifacts 

Several battles of the Civil War were fought at Kentucky. 

So there’s a possibility of finding war artifacts such as bullets, buckles, and buttons that have been left behind. 

Perryville

This was the site of the largest Civil War battle in Kentucky with more than 7,000 casualties. The area thereafter was preserved as a historic site of the state. 

Some areas of this site are not allowed to metal detect. 

So ask for permission and get permits if required to detect the unrestricted areas.

Fort Knox

This is the U.S. Army post that has been used by the military since the 1900s. There’s a probability of finding artifacts from World War l and World War ll from this location.

But you will have to inform and get permission from the relevant authorities to detect this area.

Mammoth Cave National Park

This is a network of caves and underground tunnels that were used by people for thousands of years. 

These were also believed to be used by the military during the war times.

So there’s a possibility of finding anything related to the military from this area.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park 

The Cumberland Gap was a historic transportation route and also a battleground during the Civil War. 

So metal detecting enthusiasts will be able to find artifacts such as bullets, buttons, and other military-based artifacts with permission. 

Camp Nelson Civil War Heritage Park

This was a Union Army supply depot and training camp during the Civil war. The park has more than 4,000 acres of land. 

This area could yield several interesting artifacts that date back to the period of Civil War. 

5. Colonial Artifacts 

Kentucky played a significant role in American colonialism. Many cities were founded and developed during this era. 

There are some old cities in Kentucky that may offer opportunities for detecting colonial artifacts.

Harrodsburg

This is considered as one of the oldest cities in Kentucky. It has a rich history of colonialism. 

Artifacts from the earliest settlers such as horseshoes, gun parts, and tools have been detected and found in this area.

Bardstown

This is the second oldest city in Kentucky. It was established in 1780. 

This was a popular destination among the settlers during colonial times and detectors have records of finding many artifacts such as buttons, buckles, and coins.

Louisville

This is the largest city in Kentucky and it has played a huge role in the Revolutionary War. 

The city was the site of a major battle during the war period.

While finding military artifacts, the metal detectorists were also able to find several colonial artifacts such as buckles, buttons, coins, and other artifacts from several locations in Louisville. 

Frankfurt

This is the state capital of Kentucky and it was founded in the late 1700s. 

The rich colonial past of the city is steeped in history and it provides ample opportunities for the metal detectorists to find a wide range of artifacts that include coins and buttons. 

Most of these locations require permission and some places like national parks require permits to perform metal detecting. 

Look carefully into the laws and regulations of these places and perform the metal detecting according to them. 

Now I’m going to share with you some tips that I’ve learned by participating in lots of metal detecting sessions in Kentucky.

The below tips were collected based on my experiences and by interviewing the local metal detectorist in Kentucky.

Tips For Metal Detecting In Kentucky 

The below tips will be mostly helpful for the newbie metal detectorists in Kentucky who are about to start their treasure-hunting journey.

Here are some tips that will be helpful from the experts,

Research on the local laws

Make sure that you are familiar with the local and state laws that are related to metal detecting. 

In some areas, you might need permission or authorization to use metal detectors. And some of the state or federal lands might be restricted for metal detecting.

Get permission 

Make sure that you get the permission of the owner of the property or land before you perform metal detecting in that area. 

There are many historically valuable sites that are private properties. These will need special permission to explore.

Research the Area Well

Use old maps, photographs, and records of the area that you have selected to detect before you go out for metal detecting. 

This will be helpful in identifying the best places and the hotspots to detect. 

Researching the local history will also be helpful in getting a sense of what kind of items you might be able to find.

Use Correct Equipment 

Use appropriate gear such as a good metal detector that is suitable for the ground in the area that you have selected to detect. 

A quality detector will be accurate in finding artifacts and avoiding trash. 

Also, use a good pair of headphones to make sure that you don’t miss any of the small signals. And make sure that you have a small scoop to make the digging easy.

Search for Foundational Items

Look for items such as bullets, lead shots, nails, and horseshoes to identify the areas where people have lived or did business. 

These foundational items will lead you to the hotspots where you can find more items and explore more.

Detect During Idle Times

The idle times to metal detect in Kentucky are during spring and autumn. The weather is not too cold or hot during this period. 

Avoid searching during the rainy season when the ground becomes wet and the detection will be challenging.

Leave the Area as It Was

It is important to respect the environment and the places that you use to perform metal detecting by leaving them as they are. 

And make sure that the location is clean and neat. Clean up any trash and fill in and restore any holes that you have dug during the search.

You can learn about more findings in Kentucky by joining metal detecting clubs in Kentucky by engaging with experts.

Congrats folks! Now you have crystal clear knowledge about the best metal detecting finds in Kentucky.

Cumberland Gap, a historical route and Civil War battleground in Kentucky, is a hotspot for finding military artifacts such as bullets and buttons

www.battlefields.org

So, let’s answer some frequently asked questions.

FAQs

Did I cover all you wanted to know about: Best Metal Detecting Finds in Kentucky

In this article, I’ve deeply explored the best metal detecting finds in Kentucky and places where you can find them with details.

Best metal detecting finds in Kentucky include historic Spanish and British coins, ancient jewelry, Native American artifacts like arrowheads and spearheads, military relics from the Civil War, and colonial artifacts found in cities such as Louisville, Lexington, and Harrodsburg.

Always adhere to local laws and obtain necessary permissions.

Furthermore, I’ve answered some frequently asked questions as well.

Hope you gained a good knowledge about the best metal detecting finds in Kentucky with tips and tricks I shared based on my personal experience.

Now it’s time to take your metal detector and travel to Kentucky seeking hidden treasures! Happy treasure hunting!