50+ Brittish boer war look outs, forts and boer mines Heidelberg

  • 18 Replies
  • 9920 Views

PFSANDER

  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 218
  • Detector: Garret Euro Ace 350
  • Location: Nigel - Heidelberg
I did not get much time to detect this week bit in lunch hour walked to old boer mines. Took me 1h to get up there then had to turn around because lunch was finished. Took 2h lunch that day. But i also found old brittish lookouts or forts. Detected 10 min and found lots of 12 gauge eley gaslight paper cartridges from 1902. Brittish used them in boer war. When i checked google earth i found 50 + old forts or look outs running 10km long along the hill side. Must have been 1000's of brittish soldiers there. Check on google earth or maps heidelberg lagerspoort hilltop. Its incredible. I think i also found a boer war pencil sharpener. Badly worn. Don't know if its recent or late 1890's. Why do i have to work. If i did not need to work i would detect every day. I need to find that million so that i can detect every day and not need to work.

Darrenjay

  • *
  • Guest
Area looks good, took a quick look on google earth and found this

PFSANDER

  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 218
  • Detector: Garret Euro Ace 350
  • Location: Nigel - Heidelberg
There are many more and bigger. Thanks for posting the image.

PFSANDER

  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 218
  • Detector: Garret Euro Ace 350
  • Location: Nigel - Heidelberg
The mines are well hidden. Behind bushes. Small entrances, half a door size and runs deep underground. Very dangerous to enter. there are some huge old look outs or forts. There must have been cannons there aswell.
« Last Edit: October 03, 2013, 08:25 PM by PFSANDER »

Grondgeralder

  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 785
  • Detector: Eurotek Pro, Propointer
  • Location: Roodepoort
Wow

Looks like we are scratching the surface here.


Had a dream the night after my hunt at Heidelberg, or at least I saw while lying in bed hoards of soldiers like ants crawling on thier bellys in a delta form/flanging  towards a train bridge over the river.
I think it was that bridge I saw in the distance but I'm not sure. These dreams don't give you facts but they sure make you curious.


Loving the old "ringular" desighns. Might be old kraal's.

« Last Edit: October 03, 2013, 09:18 PM by Gremlin »
"I Love FOIL"

Darrenjay

  • *
  • Guest
Must really organise a group hunt there one weekend

Darrenjay

  • *
  • Guest
Sho, you werent joking when you said there was a lot! The mountains are scattered with them! Some amazing potential! But access looks like a nightmare, can understand you huge trek now

Darrenjay

  • *
  • Guest
I do think just because of the high quantity that a lot of them can be old tswana kraals, still could have great finds

Darrenjay

  • *
  • Guest
Here are some close to a road which look worthwile

PFSANDER

  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 218
  • Detector: Garret Euro Ace 350
  • Location: Nigel - Heidelberg
This area is much to big for me alone. I know a farmer that picked up an old boer war rifle in this are. We should go here as a big group. Not save to go alone. I dont know if this hills is part of the government butterfly sanctuary or if farmers own this hills. We might need permission first.
« Last Edit: October 04, 2013, 07:53 AM by PFSANDER »

Darrenjay

  • *
  • Guest
Ya i fully agree

Grondgeralder

  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 785
  • Detector: Eurotek Pro, Propointer
  • Location: Roodepoort
This hobby creates far more excitement and adrenaline that one has the time for.

Might have to book some leave again. Maybe we can plan something.
"I Love FOIL"

PFSANDER

  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 218
  • Detector: Garret Euro Ace 350
  • Location: Nigel - Heidelberg
I checked today. The nice gravel road to the ruins is blocked by big blue gate with a chain around it. Looks like private property. This is the only road going strait to the old forts. There are some other small roads but even a 4x4 will struggle on these roads.

Skipper

  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 153
  • Detector: AT Gold, C Scope CS6Pi and CS2MX
  • Location: Fish Hoek
I would be an idea to check out the old pathways that lead to and between the mines and forts, that is the likely place that stuff was abandoned, dropped or lost, specially places with difficult access like climbing, steps etc.
AT Gold, CS6Pi, CS2MX and a ton of tent pegs

Darrenjay

  • *
  • Guest
May need to try find out who the farmer is and try work something out

Metal Detecting Forums

Re: 50+ Brittish boer war look outs, forts and boer mines Heidelberg
« Reply #14 on: October 04, 2013, 04:28 PM »