Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.
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| Gold Wrist-sized Bronze-Age Rings Found. Photo from story linked below. |
The first of these was found in 2009, but the others were found this year.
One feature that stands out are the ends which are decorated and hollow, as if meant, when closed to hold something.
They were found by an amateur archaeologist, surprise! surprise! The article doesn't say, but undoubtedly using a metal detector.
There is much discussion about the purpose and use of these rings. Some are calling them oath rings. The name ’oath rings’ was inspired by the Icelandic sagas, in which people could take oaths by a gold or silver ring soaked with sacrificial blood.
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| Detail of Hollow Ends. |
See if you can figure out what they were used for. What, if anything, did the hollow space hold?
Here is the link for the rest of the story.
http://sciencenordic.com/field-teeming-bronze-age-gold-rings
If you remember back to the days just before this hurricane season began there were a bunch of dire predictions of an unusually active hurricane season. Well, so far it has been just the opposite. In fact through the first week of September, not one hurricane. We are about to set a new record for lack of hurricanes. They went from the term global warming, then to account for the unusual cold spells, to "extreme weather." and now I suppose it will be extreme lack of extreme, or something.
Here is the link to that story.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2013/09/07/quiet-hurricane-season/2776845/
The most interesting thing on the hurricane map right now is the remains of Gabrielle, which it appears, has a 20% chance of becoming a cyclone again. It is now just above Dominica.
On the hunt for the stern castle of the Atocha, the JB Magruder found what appears to be a hinge to a cannon door in the same area where three cannon balls were found earlier. The bronze cannons might be nearby.
Immediately below is the Amazon.com description of a book entitled Metal Detecting and Archaeology, edited by Suzie Thomas and Perry Stone. Price $85.
The invention of metal detecting technology during the Second World War allowed the development of a hobby that has traditionally been vilified by archaeologists as an uncontrollable threat to the proper study of the past. This book charts the relationship between archaeologists and metal detectors over the past fifty odd years within an international context. It questions whether the great majority of metal detectors need be seen as a threat or, as some argue, enthusiastic members of the public with a valid and legitimate interest in our shared heritage, charting the expansion of metal detecting as a phenomena and examining its role within traditional archaeology. A particular strength of the book is its detailed case studies, from South Africa, the USA, Poland and Germany, where metal detectors have worked with, and contributed significantly towards, archaeological understanding and research. With contributions from key individuals in both the metal detecting and archaeological communities, this publication highlights the need for increased understanding and cooperation and asks a number of questions crucial to the development of a long term relationship between archaeologists and metal detectors.
I very much agree with the idea expressed in the book that there should be increased understanding and cooperation between the two groups. I have expressed the need for that in this blog before.
Did you ever notices how most books written by archaeologists who espouse the goal of preserving the past for the public are priced out of the range of the average citizen?
Here is the link to the book on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Detecting-Archaeology-Heritage-Matters/dp/1843834154
On the Treasure Coast the surf is still around 2 feet. It will increase until Wednesday when it will peak around 2 - 3 feet.
Not much change.
I think I'll quit there for today.
I wonder if anyone was interested in the discussion of the escudos that I posed the past couple of days.
Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
