Union County resident is unearthing Indiana's history one dig at time
January 31, 2025 at 11:15 a.m.
Adam Combs, a lifelong resident of Union County, is on a mission to share his passion for metal detecting and the rich history Indiana holds. Through his YouTube channel and Facebook page, Indiana Unearthed, Combs takes his audience along on his thrilling adventures as he unearths hidden treasures of the past. Each dig not only brings to light fascinating artifacts but also the stories and heritage of Union County and beyond, making history accessible and exciting for everyone.
“Indiana Unearthed is your go-to source for metal-detecting adventures, relic discoveries, and stories of the past brought to life,” Combs said. “Join us as we uncover treasures buried beneath the Hoosier State!”
Combs’s fascination with history began during his childhood, sparked by his mother’s habit of collecting coins for him. This early interest blossomed into a deep-seated passion for historical exploration—particularly of the Civil War Era.
“My mom started keeping coins and stuff for me, and I have always loved history in general, especially the Civil War Era,” Combs said. “Some of the coins were really expensive. I was scrolling on YouTube one day and came across a channel and started watching it, and it really piqued my interest. I thought, well, I am sure there are coins lying around somewhere in this area, and that’s what got me into it. The thought of pulling out an old coin or an old ring or something like that was really interesting to me.”
About six years ago, Combs launched his Indiana Unearthed Page with the aim of showcasing the exciting world of metal detecting. He believes it’s not just an intriguing pastime but also a rewarding and healthy hobby that encourages exploration and connection with history.
“I think we all have that kid mindset when it comes to treasure hunting,” Combs said. “It kind of brings out your inner child a little bit. You are trying to find the gold, the silver, all this stuff that is just lost in the ground that we walk over every day.”
Through his page, he shares the thrill of discovery and the stories behind the treasures found, inspiring others to dive into this fascinating activity. Combs’s first find on his YouTube channel was a coin spill of 20 fifty-cent pieces at his family’s church in Harmony Township in Union County. Since then, Combs shared some of his most memorable finds, including an 1832 Mexican riehle and a Civil War general service button. Combs’s friend, Beau, who metal detects with him, recently found a complete Civil War U.S. belt buckle that wasn’t damaged at all and a pre-Civil War button.
Combs does a lot of research before and after metal detecting.
“I take modern-day maps and do overlays so I can see where old houses stood,” Combs said. “Then, when I find something, I do the research on it. There is some stuff I find, and I am stumped. So there is research behind that as well.”
Recently, Combs was metal detecting on Union Street in Liberty and came across a gold Girl Scout Ring from the mid-1900s. He presented the ring back to the local Girl Scout leader.
“If I find something worth value as far as history for the town, I want to keep it in the town,” Combs said. “I felt like that was a piece of history from the Girls Scouts locally, and that’s where it needed to go. I think history, in general, is kind of a dying subject and dismissed. I am here to preserve it and recover it. All it is doing is laying in the ground, rotting away.
Combs, with the support of his girlfriend, manages a successful YouTube channel that has recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers. He is enthusiastic about expanding the channel’s content by introducing new activities such as magnet fishing, arrowhead hunting, and bottle digging.
Combs and his team will be participating in the Amateur Pro Treasure Hunting Event. To support their efforts, they are offering merchandise for sale through Facebook. Additionally, Combs and his crew are actively seeking new locations for metal detecting. If you are interested in permitting Combs to conduct metal detecting on your property, please feel free to contact him directly or reach out to Indiana Unearthed via Facebook Messenger.
You can subscribe to the Indiana Unearthed YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnrI3X-WfPUiNZ7BrP9jfqQ
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Adam Combs, a lifelong resident of Union County, is on a mission to share his passion for metal detecting and the rich history Indiana holds. Through his YouTube channel and Facebook page, Indiana Unearthed, Combs takes his audience along on his thrilling adventures as he unearths hidden treasures of the past. Each dig not only brings to light fascinating artifacts but also the stories and heritage of Union County and beyond, making history accessible and exciting for everyone.
“Indiana Unearthed is your go-to source for metal-detecting adventures, relic discoveries, and stories of the past brought to life,” Combs said. “Join us as we uncover treasures buried beneath the Hoosier State!”
Combs’s fascination with history began during his childhood, sparked by his mother’s habit of collecting coins for him. This early interest blossomed into a deep-seated passion for historical exploration—particularly of the Civil War Era.
“My mom started keeping coins and stuff for me, and I have always loved history in general, especially the Civil War Era,” Combs said. “Some of the coins were really expensive. I was scrolling on YouTube one day and came across a channel and started watching it, and it really piqued my interest. I thought, well, I am sure there are coins lying around somewhere in this area, and that’s what got me into it. The thought of pulling out an old coin or an old ring or something like that was really interesting to me.”
About six years ago, Combs launched his Indiana Unearthed Page with the aim of showcasing the exciting world of metal detecting. He believes it’s not just an intriguing pastime but also a rewarding and healthy hobby that encourages exploration and connection with history.
“I think we all have that kid mindset when it comes to treasure hunting,” Combs said. “It kind of brings out your inner child a little bit. You are trying to find the gold, the silver, all this stuff that is just lost in the ground that we walk over every day.”
Through his page, he shares the thrill of discovery and the stories behind the treasures found, inspiring others to dive into this fascinating activity. Combs’s first find on his YouTube channel was a coin spill of 20 fifty-cent pieces at his family’s church in Harmony Township in Union County. Since then, Combs shared some of his most memorable finds, including an 1832 Mexican riehle and a Civil War general service button. Combs’s friend, Beau, who metal detects with him, recently found a complete Civil War U.S. belt buckle that wasn’t damaged at all and a pre-Civil War button.
Combs does a lot of research before and after metal detecting.
“I take modern-day maps and do overlays so I can see where old houses stood,” Combs said. “Then, when I find something, I do the research on it. There is some stuff I find, and I am stumped. So there is research behind that as well.”
Recently, Combs was metal detecting on Union Street in Liberty and came across a gold Girl Scout Ring from the mid-1900s. He presented the ring back to the local Girl Scout leader.
“If I find something worth value as far as history for the town, I want to keep it in the town,” Combs said. “I felt like that was a piece of history from the Girls Scouts locally, and that’s where it needed to go. I think history, in general, is kind of a dying subject and dismissed. I am here to preserve it and recover it. All it is doing is laying in the ground, rotting away.
Combs, with the support of his girlfriend, manages a successful YouTube channel that has recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers. He is enthusiastic about expanding the channel’s content by introducing new activities such as magnet fishing, arrowhead hunting, and bottle digging.
Combs and his team will be participating in the Amateur Pro Treasure Hunting Event. To support their efforts, they are offering merchandise for sale through Facebook. Additionally, Combs and his crew are actively seeking new locations for metal detecting. If you are interested in permitting Combs to conduct metal detecting on your property, please feel free to contact him directly or reach out to Indiana Unearthed via Facebook Messenger.
You can subscribe to the Indiana Unearthed YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnrI3X-WfPUiNZ7BrP9jfqQ