Compost Archaeology

[Paulie]

Has anyone else had the experience of finding long lost bits and bobs in home-made compost?

Apart from the usual bits of lametta and tinsel from Christmases past, I have found a toy car lost by my son several years ago, my daughter's earring, and a distinctive teaspoon...

[veggiechicken]

I usually find my missing secateurs - about a year after I've lost them

[Cadalot]

I found the blade guard off my strimmer this year that I lost last year.

[Penellype]

A little while ago I lost my favourite wooden handled peeling knife which used to belong to my Grandma. I searched everywhere for it and deduced that I must have put it in the hotbin with my veg peelings. I ferreted about and eventually found it after sifting through several bucketfuls of rather revolting rotting compost. Luckily it had only been in there a day or so, otherwise I think I may have found it months later, minus its handle.

[Snoop Puss]

^^ Same here. Except I found it a year later, along with assorted bits of cutlery that must have gone out at the same time with veg peelings.

[happyhumph]

I've found pots, toys, cutlery and clothes pegs.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

I found my little miniature "Dab" radio! n no! it didn't work anymore!

Wounded!

[Jungle Jane]

I found a little plastic white horse & I've saved it as clutter for some reason,I'll have time for a clear out soon

[Chestnut]

Blades from potato peelers, the string and handle long since rotted away...

[Dynamo]

Blades from potato peelers, the string and handle long since rotted away...

I find that string never rots in my bins for some reason even though it seems organic. It certainly isn't nylon or some other plastic.

[Jimmy]

Garden knife re-appeared.
Jimmy

[bikermike]

is it archaeology if you haven't found it yet, but know what you are looking for?

There's a padlock somewhere in there... at least I hope there is.

I should find it soon as I dig the remnants out...

[Dalrimple]

I remember about 60yrs ago my dad found our tortoise, well its house and there was no one home !
atb dal

[Peteyd]

When we lived at our old house, there was a massive compost heap at the bottom of the garden under a huge oak tree. Nothing had been done to it apart from loading it up with organic (and as it turns out not so organic) matter for about 5 years. when I finally got round to getting some of the bottom stuff out I found all sorts of bean cans, metal plate, scaffold poles, Belt buckles etc. I should point out that it was a rented house and the compost heap was well established when we moved in. Not sure what the previous tenants expected to happen to the metal but it was still fairly solid when I was digging it up!! Oh and sea shells. so many shells.

[mothhawk]

In the days when I worked with horses, the things most often lost and then unearthed a year or so later from the muck heap were hoofpicks. The things I find most often in the dalek these days are clothes pegs (used to pin down fleece) and plant labels.