Pottery Found deep in forest

[mikecat adjuster]

I enjoy trekking through thick terrain in places where few have traveled. Today, while looking for snakes, I came across some pottery, similar to pottery I've seen before out there. I decided to take a picture to see if anyone had a good opinion about it.

I just wonder about its origin because it is in the middle of nowhere in the Washington State forest. I have found other pottery shards before.

Also, an unrelated question, what are the mounds I see in the forests? They are typically a foot or so high and are more of a yellow-colored sand as opposed to the white sand around it. I wondered if it were some sort of ant type hill (but there are no ants) or from the diggings of a gopher tortoise. I did find several tortoise holes in the area.

As far as the pottery, there were no markings or insignia. There were just the verticle lines and the lip at the top. I hope the picture I took shows up well enough.

By the way, I found some healthy cottonmouth today and yesterday. Yesterday I kayaked deep into Camp Creek through the flooded timber in the back to where the creek opens up again and found a huge, huge mocassin. I also played like Tarzan crossing the creek when I could no longer navigate through the thick vegetation. It would have looked great on film.

Anyway, here is the pottery.

 

[2bohemians]

I enjoy trekking through thick terrain in places where few have traveled. Today, while looking for snakes, I came across some pottery, similar to pottery I've seen before out there. I decided to take a picture to see if anyone had a good opinion about it.

I just wonder about its origin because it is in the middle of nowhere in the Washington State forest. I have found other pottery shards before.

Also, an unrelated question, what are the mounds I see in the forests? They are typically a foot or so high and are more of a yellow-colored sand as opposed to the white sand around it. I wondered if it were some sort of ant type hill (but there are no ants) or from the diggings of a gopher tortoise. I did find several tortoise holes in the area.

As far as the pottery, there were no markings or insignia. There were just the verticle lines and the lip at the top. I hope the picture I took shows up well enough.

By the way, I found some healthy cottonmouth today and yesterday. Yesterday I kayaked deep into Camp Creek through the flooded timber in the back to where the creek opens up again and found a huge, huge mocassin. I also played like Tarzan crossing the creek when I could no longer navigate through the thick vegetation. It would have looked great on film.

Anyway, here is the pottery.

Isn't it funn finding treasures? We loved your post and are wondering ... is that a [FONT=arial,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]turpentine[/SIZE][/FONT] pot?

 

[2bohemians]

Check out this link to Walton Outdoors

 

[SHELLY]

Isn't it funn finding treasures? We loved your post and are wondering ... is that a [FONT=arial,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]turpentine[/SIZE][/FONT] pot?

 

[AAbsolute]

I enjoy trekking through thick terrain in places where few have traveled. Today, while looking for snakes, I came across some pottery, similar to pottery I've seen before out there. I decided to take a picture to see if anyone had a good opinion about it.

I just wonder about its origin because it is in the middle of nowhere in the Washington State forest. I have found other pottery shards before.

Also, an unrelated question, what are the mounds I see in the forests? They are typically a foot or so high and are more of a yellow-colored sand as opposed to the white sand around it. I wondered if it were some sort of ant type hill (but there are no ants) or from the diggings of a gopher tortoise. I did find several tortoise holes in the area.

As far as the pottery, there were no markings or insignia. There were just the verticle lines and the lip at the top. I hope the picture I took shows up well enough.

By the way, I found some healthy cottonmouth today and yesterday. Yesterday I kayaked deep into Camp Creek through the flooded timber in the back to where the creek opens up again and found a huge, huge mocassin. I also played like Tarzan crossing the creek when I could no longer navigate through the thick vegetation. It would have looked great on film.

Anyway, here is the pottery.

I like it back there in Camp Creek. It gets kinda interesting back there as it narrows. My kids and I got to visit with a 40 lb. alligator in the back half. Did you get a picture of the cottonmouth? Did it chase you at all? The adult seem aggressive to me.

Did you kick the top off any of those hills? I've been noticing some ants abandoning hills after controlled burns.

 

[Smiling JOe]

good call on the turpentine pot. I bet you are on to something with that. The hole was probably used to hang it onto the tree by rope or nail.

 

[30abob]

Mystery solved...

My inquisitive wife will be glad to know that there's not a malicious band of pottery thieves roaming Walton County. We saw huge piles of these while hiking part of the Florida trail recently (from 331 going West into Eglin AFB between Freeport and Defuniak Springs). She's worried herself silly trying to figure out who, what, why...

 

[mikecat adjuster]

I made sure to have the hole visible for that reason, in case it would provide an indication of its use. Shelly seems to have a viable answer. And AA absolute, the area where I see those hills is in an area that was burned, not recently, but within the last couple years I'd guess. So it may in fact be abandoned ant hills.

As far as the moccasin, no, they have not been aggressive, but they've been fast. I have gotten pics of them, although the pics aren't up to my standards. I finally had to buy an underwater camera and, well, I'm holding out judgement on it. But the moccasin are opening their mouths as they do when confronted. But the biggest yesterday took off immediately down into a labyrinth of cypress that I'm sure he had as an exit route. I always feel bad when I make them go into the cold water or away from where they were. After all, they're trying to get some sun. Funny, the girls I view sunning on the beach have the same reaction to me

I was happy to find the gopher tortoise holes today. I noticed next to two of them was a spike in the ground (maybe Shelly will have a pic of that too But I wonder if the biologists put that out there to mark the tortoise sites. The spike was red and white, I think, and had a tag on it with a number. Perhaps the forest staff gps those sites and do research. Do you know the black material that you often see roadside around construction that stands a foot or so high? I notice it out near the swamps in the forest, often with burns adjacent to it. Recently I found some 'traps' alongside that black standing material. I was told that the biologists trap whatever gets in there for study of some kind.

2bohemians, thanks so much for your kind words. I enjoy my time in the woods. I recently went north of Panama City (I hated the traffic lights through PC and going up hyw 77-ugh) and found some great ponds to kayak and fish. But I need more. I've spent nearly a year behind my house in the forest and around 30-A and while I still love it, I'd love to mix it up a bit. I've thought of heading to Eglin to look for Eastern Diamondback but I still wonder if it would have more oppportunity to find the snakes than here in the forest. I wish I knew a good herpatologist around here to direct me. And what about the dunes on Okaloosa island between the road and bay? I wonder if the Eastern's are in there.

Btw, I've noticed those trees (terpintine) for some time but never knew why they looked the way they did until recently. I'm glad I found out. Very interesting. And thanks, Shelly, for the pic. Of course, you ruined my fanatsy of the pottery belonging to a great tribal Indian Chief who would come to me in my sleep and grant me any wish I desired. But don't feel bad. I'll create another fantasy

 

[mikecat adjuster]

Check out this link to Walton Outdoors

Yep, in the link you provided, those two pots were identical to the one I found in the forest today. Definately a turpentine pot. Great work. I'll tell anyone, I have the best research team around. Go ahead and sleep in tomorrow before reporting in. You deserve it

 

[aggieb]

I made sure to have the hole visible for that reason, in case it would provide an indication of its use. Shelly seems to have a viable answer. And AA absolute, the area where I see those hills is in an area that was burned, not recently, but within the last couple years I'd guess. So it may in fact be abandoned ant hills.

As far as the moccasin, no, they have not been aggressive, but they've been fast. I have gotten pics of them, although the pics aren't up to my standards. I finally had to buy an underwater camera and, well, I'm holding out judgement on it. But the moccasin are opening their mouths as they do when confronted. But the biggest yesterday took off immediately down into a labyrinth of cypress that I'm sure he had as an exit route. I always feel bad when I make them go into the cold water or away from where they were. After all, they're trying to get some sun. Funny, the girls I view sunning on the beach have the same reaction to me

I was happy to find the gopher tortoise holes today. I noticed next to two of them was a spike in the ground (maybe Shelly will have a pic of that too But I wonder if the biologists put that out there to mark the tortoise sites. The spike was red and white, I think, and had a tag on it with a number. Perhaps the forest staff gps those sites and do research. Do you know the black material that you often see roadside around construction that stands a foot or so high? I notice it out near the swamps in the forest, often with burns adjacent to it. Recently I found some 'traps' alongside that black standing material. I was told that the biologists trap whatever gets in there for study of some kind.

2bohemians, thanks so much for your kind words. I enjoy my time in the woods. I recently went north of Panama City (I hated the traffic lights through PC and going up hyw 77-ugh) and found some great ponds to kayak and fish. But I need more. I've spent nearly a year behind my house in the forest and around 30-A and while I still love it, I'd love to mix it up a bit. I've thought of heading to Eglin to look for Eastern Diamondback but I still wonder if it would have more oppportunity to find the snakes than here in the forest. I wish I knew a good herpatologist around here to direct me. And what about the dunes on Okaloosa island between the road and bay? I wonder if the Eastern's are in there.

Btw, I've noticed those trees (terpintine) for some time but never knew why they looked the way they did until recently. I'm glad I found out. Very interesting. And thanks, Shelly, for the pic. Of course, you ruined my fanatsy of the pottery belonging to a great tribal Indian Chief who would come to me in my sleep and grant me any wish I desired. But don't feel bad. I'll create another fantasy

oh, mca you're a funny guy. good luck with your sssnake sssearching.