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How did you get started with What is the most interesting thing you have found?
treasure hunting?
I’ve found lots of things: bells from horse carriages, silver coins … ammunition is found
I was out fishing 4-5 years ago along in the most peculiar places, but I would say [the most interesting was] a gold fertility amulet
the Housatonic, and I fell into the water. from the 1700s.
While I was floating around, I could see But it’s not all old things – last year I found over $1,700 in coins.
old bottles buried in the riverbed and
pulled a few out to take home. One What is the oldest thing you have found?
turned out to be one of the first test
bottles from Berkshire Brewery A French military coat fleur-de-lis decorated button from 1698 in a park in Stockbridge.
Association in Pittsfield. Another was a
soda bottle from 1900. I put it on eBay,
and someone offered me $700 for it! What do you do with everything you find?

What tools do you use to go I have my own private collection, I cash in the coins, and some—particularly the antique and old
treasure hunting? glass bottles—I sell on eBay. They’re very popular right now.

What are some of the best places you have found to
I use a metal detector and I hunt
through riverbeds with my hands, and treasure hunt?
recently I’ve started magnet fishing,
which uses a magnet to attract metal Public parks are great because you don’t have to
objects along the floor of the river. It’s a get permission to use a metal detector. Also,
great way to bring up metal objects, from riverbeds along the Housatonic River, and in
old coins and buttons to ammunition. people’s backyards. I go before community
It’s amazing what people have thrown boards and tell them what I do, and they spread
into the river and buried underground the word to interested homeowners. I’ve gotten a
over time. great response from this; people are curious to see
what I can find in their backyard. I also get a lot of
calls from people that have lost jewelry, wedding rings …
they want help finding them.

How do you connect the objects you find with the
history of this region?

You have to study and do your homework. I use an 1895 overlay
map which I put over a current map to see what was there back then
to help put my find in context.

What advice do you have for other aspiring
treasure hunters?

Don’t trespass – get permission. And start in your own backyard.

You can follow Ole Andersen on Facebook @ Ole Andersen,
YouTube at The Berkshire MA Treasure Hunter, and
Instagram @Housatonic_treasure_hunter.

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