Article from Cedartown Standard Newspaper Jan 31, 2006

American Digger Publisher Butch Holcombe in the news

This article was retyped in the right column  to enable  reading capability.

From staff reports

Butch Holcombe, who has a vast knowledge of Civil War related artifacts will be speaking at the Polk County Historical Society meeting tonight Jan 31.  He will be bringing along a few of the many artifacts he has recovered and will be glad to identify any relics the audience wishes to bring.

   Holcombe is a native of Marietta and has been studying Civil War artifacts for 35 years.  By use of metal detector and research, he has discovered much about the soldiers who fought and camped in North Georgia over a hundred years ago.

   While the history books relate facts that are generally already well known, Holcombe has brought lesser-known facts to light through the artifacts he recovers.

  He has found the locations of countless small camps and skirmish sites never before recorded and has developed an insight to the soldiers who actually partook in the Atlanta Campaign, Butch also spent much time in Virginia with a metal detector and has noted the different equipment used in that theater of war.

   Although once a machinist by trade, Holcombe is now a full time publisher.  He has penned two books and numerous magazine articles on Civil War artifacts before starting publication on the subject of relic recover, American Digger Magazine.

   Although only one year old, this bi-monthly publication has swept the nation, with subscribers in 48 states as well as overseas.  His publication stresses the responsible recovery of artifacts.

   "Most relic hunters are law abiding people who deeply love the history and artifacts.  But there has been a tendency lately of new laws which restrict the hobby," Holcombe said.

   "While the intent of such laws is to protect National historical sites, the end result is that thousands of artifacts are being destroyed by both bulldozers and the elements."

   Holcombe would like to see hobbyists encouraged to recover artifacts (with the permission of property owners) in areas slated for development, and also at sites that professional archeologists are unable to study due to a lack of funding or time.

   "There are millions of artifacts spread across thousands of sites in North Georgia alone, and it is impossible for these sites to all be properly searched by professional archeologists," he said.

   "Another problem is that these relics are metal, which each year deteriorates further.  They must be recovered soon and the only practical way is by hobbyists."

   He further stated that he would like to see both the hobbyists and professional archeologists work closer together when possible.