5/27/12 - Memorial Day Report

Written by the Treasureguide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.


Memorial Day was originally instituted by the US to commemorate fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War. By the 20th century Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces and has become a time to generally remember deceased relatives and ancestors.

It seems that most men have a natural inclination to respect the remains of the deceased, especially those with whom they share some sense of personal connection.  They especially want their loved ones and the remains of their loved ones to be respected. 

It seems that men have for thousands of years treated their dead according to deeply held cultural, religious and personal beliefs.  Different groups may treat their dead slightly differently, but at the psychological core there is much that is common about how very different groups respect and treat human remains.

When I watch Egyptian mummies being removed from their elaborately concealed and lavishly supplied tombs to be studied and displayed in museums, I can't help but feel a little uneasy.   Somehow it does not seem right to me.

I know that some will say that it is for the sake of science and that the deteriorated body is nothing more than dust.  That may be so in the minds of some, but how has this type of violation of human remains made the world a better place? 

I've seen a mummy.  And I can't say I was terribly enlightened by the sight of those dried human remains on display in a museum.  I can't say that it made me a better person.  To the contrary, it just didn't seem like the proper way to respect either the deceased individual or the culture that built the pyramids to protect, conceal and lavishly house those remains.  I find it odd that those who should have the greatest appreciation for the cultures of the past would so callously disrespect them.  What is revealed is a narrow-minded, ego-centric over-estimation of the supposed contributions of  the of archaeology.

I like science.  I spent many years in graduate school and then in academia.  Science can be useful.  But it requires continual skepticism, open-mindedness, questioning, testing and proving.  It is not the end, just a method.  Other basic human values must be respected.

As detectorists, we touch the past and bring it to life in a very personal way, even through the most trivial and comon finds.   We value the past and respect it. 

On this Memorial Day weekend, as men of widely different cultures and backgrounds remember those that have gone before them, we remember deceased fathers, sons, brothers sisters, mothers and daughters.   
May the peace of God be upon you and yours.



In 10 meters of water off the Coast of West Cork Ireland and 16th century wreck was discovered with a cargo of coconuts.   The wreck was discovered during a construction project. 

http://westcorktimes.com/home/?p=8494

Did you know that most authorities believe that the coconut was brought to the New World by Portuguee and Spanish traders?  Coconuts originated in the Indo-Malaysian area and  were brought to Peurto Rico in the 1540s.  Not only were cocnuts used for food but also lubricating oil.


I' get back to those cobs I showed yesterday some other time.


Treasure Coast Beach Detecting Forecast and Conditions.

More of the same, however the seas will be up a touch on Sunday to between 3 and 4 feet, then decreasing for a few days, becoming very calm towards the end of the week.

The weather is beautiful this morning for being out. 

Expect lots of boaters and beach goers.


Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net