Singleton was 'addicted' to hunting for artifacts in Monroe County

George 'Buster' Singleton

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Addicted to hunting artifacts,” was originally published in the March 27, 1997 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

As I have stated many times, Monroe County is a great place to be. There are many things here to interest the majority of the citizens in the form of recreation and relaxation. Such pastimes as boating, hunting, fishing, golfing and many, many more. But, the one that I will try to write about today is one to be aware of unless one wants to become obsessed with it.

I have never been addicted to any habits to speak of except the two that I will confess to in this article. Both go hand in hand with each other. One is fuel for the fire of the other. I have never had the smoking habit, nor have I ever been addicted to the use of alcohol. But when you mix trail riding on a motorcycle and the hunting of early Indian artifacts, you are hooked in the worst manner.

First, one must get a good trail bike, just as one would own a good trusted horse, as in the olden days. This will enable one to get to those hard to reach places where artifacts are most likely to be found. (Should any of my readers become addicted, these instructions will help ease the burden when you approach your dear wife concerning the price of a new trail bike.)

Tell her that the trail bike is highly maneuverable. And you can tell her that the trail bike is much cheaper than a four-wheel drive vehicle, and they use much less gas. In discussing the gas mileage, tell her that a good trail bike will get around 60 miles to the gallon. That might be stretching it just a little, but bear in mind that you are trying to make a point. And, also tell her, with good care, a trail bike will last a lifetime.

The next step is to go forth and find a place where artifacts are to be found. After you find the first spear point, arrowhead, or piece of broken pottery, you are hooked; life will never be the same. Ideas will begin to pass through your mind, such as quitting your job that takes up all your time. Or perhaps, getting your dear wife another part-time job to help pay for the new trail bike. You will also give thought to finding a way to extend daylight savings time for a longer day. Remember, an extra hour will do wonders when searching for artifacts.

Along about now, after the artifacts fever had settled within your system, you feel that everyone is following you, hoping to find that special place where they too can bring out the goodies. Even though you might only be going to the post office, you keep an eye to the rear and go everywhere with great caution. Once you have found that special spot, you dare not trust anyone. You don’t even tell your dear wife, even though she is helping pay for that new trail bike. You fear that if she knows of this special place, she might, in a careless moment, tell the next door neighbor and the news of your find will spread over town life wildfire. You even become concerned that you might talk in your sleep and give the secret of the location away.

When you leave on your way to that top secret spot, you always ride off in the opposite direction. This maneuver is designed to throw off any scoundrel that might be trying to follow your trail, and horn in on your top secret find.

After much dodging and looking to the rear, you arrive at this special place. You hide your transportation back up the trail aways to throw off any tracker that might have been smart enough to follow your tracks. One should know by now that an unattended motorcycle covered with brush way back in the woods is a common occurrence.

In your hurry to leave the house, so as not to be noticed, you forgot to bring along something to dig with. After digging with your fingernails, and sorting every grain of dirt (the find is always in the dirtiest places) you discover that much sought after arrowhead or spear point.

By now, you are filthy from your ears down. The pestering insects have caused you to scratch your face with your dirty hands. And, too, you have ruined the knees of your best pair of blue jeans, and you are the victim of 1,001 mosquito bites, not to mention the ticks and red bugs that are chewing away all over your body.

But, after you discover that piece of pottery or that arrowhead, you have forgotten about the insects and all else. You pocket your find and begin to sneak back to where your trail bike is hidden. You consider dragging a brush behind you to cover your tracks. You also wonder if you covered the spot where you dug well enough.

The trip home is glorious. Many visions form around the imagined battles that might have been fought there where the relic was discovered. You ride forth to face the music as to why you are dirty and late for supper. And, you have yet to come up with a reason why the grass hasn’t been cut as you promised last week.

But you are not dismayed. You have returned from somewhere in time. You are now a self-taught and fully qualified archeologist. And, you are hooked. Life will never be the same again. I know. I’ve been there. I suffer from this addiction. I am a victim.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)