7 Best Metal Detecting Finds in Oklahoma

Ever unearthed history with a metal detector? Dive in as we reveal Oklahoma’s hidden treasures, from Civil War relics to ancient coins! Ready to explore?

Oklahoma is a beautiful place with many natural wonders. It’s not just famous for its lovely sights, but also for the hidden treasures buried beneath its ground, making it a popular spot for people who love to use metal detectors.

I learned from others who enjoy this hobby and from news stories that Oklahoma has many historical items waiting to be found under its soil. 

I was curious and wanted to find out more about the best treasures that could be found there. 

Oklahoma has a variety of treasures, some common but still valuable because they are a part of history.

So, I visited Oklahoma a few times and joined local treasure hunters using metal detectors. I found many treasures myself! 

The local experts were kind and shared their experiences, telling me about the incredible things that can be discovered in Oklahoma’s most popular spots.

Here are the best metal detecting finds in Oklahoma,

1. Civil war artifacts 
2. Old coins 
3. Jewelry 
4. Native American artifacts 
5. Farm tools and machinery 
6. Lost and discarded personal items 
7. Railway objects 

But there’s a lot more to know!

In this article, I’ll explore the best metal detecting finds in Oklahoma in detail with where these artifacts can be found. 

Since there is not a lot of information in one place, I thought of sharing it with you. 

Just keep reading!

Best Metal Detecting Finds In Oklahoma

Here are some of the best places to find the above-listed objects from around Oklahoma. 

Keep in mind that you have to follow all the rules related to metal detecting in public and private lands of Oklahoma.

1. Civil War Artifacts 

Oklahoma was known as an Indian territory during the Civil War period. 

Several battles were fought in this state. So there’s a possibility of finding Civil War artifacts that include bullets, buttons, and buckles.

Honey Spring Battlefield 

This is located near Checotah and it was the site of the biggest Civil War battle in Oklahoma. 

The battle was between Union forces and Confederate forces. So metal detecting this area can possibly uncover ammunition, buttons, and other battle remains.

Fort Gibson Historic Site

This historic site is located near Northeastern State University. It is a significant site of the civil war. 

The forces had several skirmishes fought within this area. 

With a good metal detector, there is a potential to find many military artifacts from this place.

Muskogee Area

This area has served as an army camping site and this is also where the military headquarters was. 

There are several historical sites that offer a great opportunity for metal-detecting enthusiasts to find Civil War artifacts.

Fort Sill

Fort Sill is located near Lawton. This place served as a base for Union Army operations when the Civil War took place. 

It was the home to so many Union troops and there might be various Civil War-era artifacts throughout the area. 

Red River Station

This place is located near Overbrook town. It served as a zone of conflict between the forces during the Civil War. 

There are records of intense fighting at this place. So it is a great place to detect war artifacts.

Check out the Best Places to Metal Detect in Oklahoma!

2. Old Coins 

Oklahoma has a history that runs back to the pre-Columbian times. 

So there are coins related to the Spanish colonial era, Indian head pennies, and liberty head nickels in this area.

El Reno

This place is located west of Oklahoma City and has a rich history that stretches back to the early pioneering days when Oklahoma remained a hub of commerce and transportation. 

Finding coins at this place is possible.

Muskogee

This place is located in eastern Oklahoma. Muskogee has a rich history that dates back to the early 19th century. 

This place has a lot of Native American and European influences. 

So metal detecting enthusiasts can find coins and other artifacts from this location.

McAlester 

Located in southeastern Oklahoma, this town has a history as a coal-mining town. 

It was also an important commercial center in the 19th and 20th centuries where old coins can be found.

Woodward

This city is located in northwestern Oklahoma and it has a long history of being a center of agriculture and commerce. 

Metal detectorists would find it possible to detect coins that date back to the pioneer days of this town. 

3. Jewelry

Oklahoma has been a popular place for people to visit and relocate for decades. 

Because of this reason, people must have lost a lot of their belongings including jewelry. 

So it is a good chance for the metal detectorists to uncover jewelry such as necklaces, earrings, and rings that have a historic value.

Guthrie

This town was established as a land rush town in 1889. And later it became the territorial capital. 

This is one of Oklahoma’s oldest communities. 

So it could be a prime location to find old jewelry that belonged to past residents.

Enid

Enid was one of the popular settling destinations when Oklahoma opened as a state in 1893. 

It was also one of the significant railway stations where travelers used to stop by. So this is an ideal place for jewelry detecting.

Tulsa

Tulsa is popular in the oil and gas industry. And it also has a rich past related to commerce and culture. 

As it is currently a popular city in Oklahoma, there will be a lot of opportunities to find jewelry around.

Ada

The history of Ada dates back to the 1800s. 

It has a very diverse cultural background. 

This includes the history of Native Americans. As this is an old establishment, there’s potential in discovering old jewelry.

4. Native American Artifacts

Oklahoma is rich with archeological and cultural resources of native Americans. So this state can be used to detect Native American artifacts. 

These findings can bring up historical and cultural value. 

It is ethical to follow the guidelines and pay respect while you are detecting archaeological sites here.

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

This place is located near Lawton in southwestern Oklahoma. 

Archeologists and other metal detectorists have found artifacts that belong to various groups of Native Americans. 

Therefore, this place is a great spot for someone who is looking for Native American artifacts and has a chance to yield them.

Ponca City Lake Archeological District 

This is located near Ponca city and contains several prehistoric sites that have yielded Native American artifacts. 

You have to get permission to detect this area from the archeological department. 

And I’m still quite not sure if this place is open for all the metal detectorists or only archeologists. 

To confirm, you can talk to the officers of the archeological department.

Yuchi Tribal Town

This town is located in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. It is a small town where the indigenous people of the Yuchi tribe live.

 They have been living in this town for over decades and there is a potential of finding artifacts from this place.

Oka’ Yanahli Preserve

This is a natural area located in Murray County, Oklahoma. It was once inhabited by the Chickasaw people. 

Visitors are allowed to hike and observe the archaeological site. 

But for metal detecting permission is required.

Tahlequah

It is a city in northeastern Oklahoma. Tahlequah is a culturally important city to the Cherokee nation and serves as the capital city of their tribal government. 

And this place offers a variety of spaces to detect many artifacts that belong to the Native Americans.

5. Farm Tools And Machinery 

Oklahoma has a history to do with agriculture. There were a lot of farms and agricultural areas within the state for thousands of years. 

So it is a great location for metal detecting enthusiasts to find old farming machinery and tools related to the agriculture of Oklahoma.

Woodward

Woodward is located in the northern Panhandle of Oklahoma. 

This place has a great history of agriculture. It was initially settled by farmers and has been a land of agriculture for many years. 

So it could be a great place to search for old farm tools.

Lawton

This place is located near the Fort Sill army base and is surrounded by many farmlands. 

It was established in the early 20th century and had a significant agricultural industry. Lawton would be a great place to detect old farming machinery.

Stillwater  

Stillwater has a long history that is related to agriculture as it was one of the main agricultural centers in Oklahoma. 

This area therefore could offer opportunities to detect old farm machinery and equipment.

Clinton

Clinton is a small town located in the western part of Oklahoma. It was established in the 1800s. Clinton has a rich agricultural history. 

It was popular for cotton production in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 

Clinton is an agricultural center to date with livestock production, and wheat and soybean farming as primary agricultural products. 

It might be worth detecting the old homesteads and abandoned farms with permission to find old farming objects.

6. Lost And Discarded Personal Items

People often lose things wherever they go. 

These items can be found in places with a lot of people and some of the findings can be historically valuable.

Here are a few towns in Oklahoma that might be good spots to detect these types of objects. 

Oklahoma City

As the capital and largest city in Oklahoma, it is a travel hub for many purposes. There are plenty of places where people gather like parks, picnic sites and other areas.

These places are good sources since people drop a lot of things here and a thorough detection would find a lot of stuff.

Lawton

Lawton is a popular place as it was home to an army base since 1869. There are a lot of soldiers and their families living in this town. 

So it would be an excellent location to find lost items including medals, dog tags and other artifacts.

Edmond

Edmond is a suburb of Oklahoma City. There are plenty of parks, trails and public places where people gather. 

These places could be ideal locations to find lost and discarded items such as jewelry, keys, and other items.

7. Railway Objects

Oklahoma has a long history with railways. They have had railroads from the early days and people have been using them for many purposes.

While metal detecting for old railroad objects, it is important to inform the railway authorities and get permission. And also be cautious while detecting the tracks.

Tulsa

Tulsa has been a hub of transportation since the early days of railroads. Now it is home to many rail yards and facilities. 

This has a history since the 1800s. So it is an ideal location to detect any rail-based artifacts.

Woodward

Woodward is a small town located in northwest Oklahoma. 

This town was once served by many railroads. 

There is even a railway museum here that showcases the history of the railroad in the area. It could be a good place to detect artifacts.

Muskogee

Muskogee was once an important rail center based in Oklahoma. There are several railroads passing through the town. 

Because of the strong history and background related to the railroads, this location can be detected for railway-based artifacts. 

That’s it, folks! Now you know all the best metal detecting finds in Oklahoma that can be found when metal detecting.

I have listed only the popular ones.

You will find something more interesting, especially during the metal detecting events held by metal detecting clubs in Oklahoma.

Now I’m going to share with you several tips that I’ve learned when metal detecting Oklahoma to collect rare treasures.

Some of the below tips were gathered from local expert detectorists in Oklahoma.

Since you’re going to start the journey, the below tips will definitely help you to find valuable treasures since they came from experts’ mouths.

Tips For Metal Detecting In Oklahoma 

If you have plans in metal detecting at Oklahoma, here are some tips to keep in mind that would be helpful.

Get The Necessary Permission And Permits 

Before you detect any location around Oklahoma, make sure you have the necessary permits and permissions to enter. 

Sometimes private property owners might require an agreement. There are also places that are strictly prohibited for metal detecting. 

Keep in mind that detecting such locations may cause you problems.

Choose Right Equipment 

Make sure that you have the right equipment to target the object and are suitable for the location. 

Also, buy a good set of headphones that will not miss a very little signal. 

Pick A Location Wisely 

Consider the location where you want to do the metal detecting. Look for the areas that have a history with what you are looking for. 

If you know any metal detectorists from the area, ask for their opinions and experiences. Detecting a location randomly will not work all the time. 

You might probably end up with nothing.

Be Respectful Of The Property 

If you are detecting a private property, make sure you talk to them and get permission or a written agreement first. 

Inform them of the time that you enter the location and leave the location. 

This will keep both parties away from unnecessary distractions and problems.

Also, once you dig a hole in the ground, make sure to restore the soil. This will allow the place to restore and recover itself. 

Always try not to cause large damage to the site. 

cache of Spanish gold coins dating back to the 1700s was once unearthed in Oklahoma, revealing a glimpse into the state’s early history.

owlcation.com

So, let’s answer some frequently asked questions.

FAQs

Did I cover all you wanted to know about: Best Metal detecting Finds in Oklahoma

In this article, I’ve deeply discussed the best metal detecting finds in Oklahoma with all the possible locations where you can find them.

Best metal detecting finds in Oklahoma include Civil War artifacts at Honey Spring Battlefield, old coins in El Reno, historic jewelry in Guthrie, and Native American artifacts in Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Always ensure to obtain the necessary permissions and adhere to legal and ethical guidelines when exploring.

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

Hope you’ve larned all you wanted to know about the best metal detecting finds in Oklahoma including expert tips and techniques.

Now it’s time to plan your next trip to the mentioned location in Oklahoma and start treasure hunting like a pro with al the knowledge you collected!