/r/BottleDigging
From discovery to identification, here is anything related to the hobby of collecting antique bottles or glass. We welcome our users to post photos of their finds, ask questions and share stories about bottle digging. Whether your collection was found in a traditional dump, on the surface, under water, purchased, or passed down through generations- we want to see them!
New to Bottle Digging?
General Ethics: DO NOT excavate historical sites or national parks. It is illegal to do so. Get permission for private property. Take photographs. These dump sites are time capsules and contain artifacts of historical importance. Larn how to carefully excavate artifacts. Fill all holes. Excavating privies can be dangerous and should only be attemped by skilled diggers. They are deep and unstable pits which can collapse. There's safety in numbers so bring a friend and have a phone handy in case of emergencies.
Welcome!
Here we talk about maps, finding old homesteads, digging up bottles, excavating privies, glass manufacturers, and anything related to the hobby of bottle digging. Its also the place to discuss antique glass, so please feel free to share your dig photos as well as get help with bottle identification.
Some resources for Identification
- Historic Bottle Identification Website
- Glass Bottle Marks
- Hutchinson Soda Identification
- Antique Medicines
Resources for Historic Maps
Alot of very useful information pertaining to the location of homesteads can be found in old maps
Blogs, Forums and Misc.
- Dump Diggers He has lots of informative blogs, in particular, this post about finding old dump sites
- Rare Bottles For Sale
- AntiqueBottles.net Forum
- Digger Odell's site A Wealth of information about rarity and value from the late Digger Odell
Related Subreddits
/r/BottleDigging
43,697 Subscribers
Favorite design of bottle?
What would you say is your favorite bottle type/design. Like torpedos, cods, hutches, etc… Personally I’d have to go with mug base hutches with slug plates as my personal favorite
16:52 UTC
Looking up
About 20 ft down in a deep brick Lined privy in Baltimore City.
15:59 UTC
Dr. Bates National Tonic Beer Centennial 1876
Fresh out of the ground in Baltimore!
13:48 UTC
artifacts
Some artifacts recovered from an construction site where am excavator exposed a barrel lined privy.
13:38 UTC
No words for this shape…
07:20 UTC
Dixi Cola!
Found on my own property in PA, USA
04:13 UTC
First heartbreak & probably oldest piece I’ve found yet washed up along the frozen river. Right outside Chicago.
00:39 UTC
Black glass😍😍😍
They are all so crude and wonky
22:21 UTC
Has anyone seen a finish like this before?
21:32 UTC
what year is this bottle?
found it in the creek that runs through or land.
20:00 UTC
Saved these bottles from being buried for a second time
These where found in a pile of dirt that was dug out of a construction site in Dublin, CA. The dirt was sitting at a transfer site waiting to be screened and sent off to the landfil . Luckily we spotted a bottle on the side of the pile before it was too late! Probably 50 bottles total , I didn't get any of the cooler ones but still blessed to have this little stash !
19:17 UTC
Any way someone could get an age on this?
19:11 UTC