Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.
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| Unidentified Encrusted Object. Find and Photo by William M. |
This encrusted object was recently found on a Treasure Coast beach near the water line by William M.
The metal objects are not ferrous, although from the photo it appears that there is rust on the stone. William says one of the objects is silver but not a coin.
Always watch for encrusted objects. Besides using a magnet, acid, or test pen, the detector signal can also give you an idea what metal or metals are involved.
Just the other day I detected a couple of large non-ferrous objects near the water line and was unable to retrieve them because of the rough water. I returned the next day to see if I could get them but due to the change in direction of the wind and waves that area had accumulated more sand, and I was unable to find them again.
Objects that you can not recover can often be retrieved another day when beach conditions and the surf change. Make a good mental map of that area of the beach.
I was able to relocate and retrieve one other smaller object that I wasn't able to get the day before. It was higher on the beach. I knew exactly where I located it the day before and what it sounded like. I also knew how the water would probably move it. I went to the same area, and was able to find it where I detected it a day earlier. It turned out to be nothing significant, but at least I now know what it was.
Of course there is some possibility that it was not the exact same object but something in the same location that sounded the same, but I think it was the same object that I left the day before. There were very few targets on that area of the beach, and it sounded the same.
I hate to leave detected objects not knowing what they are. The curiosity gets to me.
Beside forming a good three dimensional mental map of the area to be searched again in the future, mark the area well. Some people use stakes. I don't particularly like to use stakes. They often get knocked over or disappear. I prefer stones or more permanent natural or man-made landmarks.
Use more than one marker because not only is there the possibility that one marker will get moved either by nature or man, but a single marker is not enough unless it is sitting on top of the area of interest.
If you try to locate a spot by using a single marker such as a fence post, tree or telephone poll, you won't be very accurate. Use at least two markers for each of at least two intersecting lines, for example one tree stump and maybe something like a telephone pole that lines up directly behind the stump.
Of course one line will not identify a spot. You'll need another intersecting line.
With practice you can use natural or man made objects to accurately identify a spot even if the beach does change.
Some detectors now provide good GPS coordinates so you can use that to relocate a spot on the beach.
Besides relocating a previously detected but unrecovered object, the same technique can be used to find old hot spots or whatever.
A good three dimensional mental map of the beach can be very helpful. Get to know your beaches. Analyze how a beach is changing and where sand is accumulating or being removed.
The other day I mentioned a shell pile that was covered by sand. Notice the layers of sand and shells. Make that a part of your mental map.
Generally, make sure to detect areas where the sand is being removed. They will tend to produce more good objects than areas where sand is accumulating. There are always exceptions, but you can improve your chances of success by going with the probabilities.
It is one thing to go out and find modern jewelry on a regular basis, but locating the old stuff is much more difficult and depends much more on the right beach conditions.
Often you won't be able to find a date on a Spanish Colonial cob. If you can find the king listed in the legend on the cob, that can help you get a date range for the cob. Here are the kings and when they reigned.
- Philip III, 1598-1621
- Philip IV, 1621-1665
- Charles II, 1665-1700
- Philip V, 1700-1746
- Luis I, 1724
- Fernando VI, 1746-1759
- Carlos III, 1759-1788
- Carlos IV, 1788-1808
- Jose Napoleon, 1808-1813
- Ferdinand VII, 1808-1833
I'll leave my beach conditions rating at a 2 through Wednesday. Beach conditions are not as good as they were. The wind has shifted so that it is coming from the southeast, but there will still be some left-overs to be found.
The surf will increase again up to seven feet or so by Thursday, and the wind will come out of a more Northerly direction again. I'd expect improving conditions by then again.
We haven't had a low low-tide for quite some time.
Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
