Sunday, December 15, 2019

12/15/19 Report - Conserved Shield Changes Ideas of History. Nuestra Señora de Begoña Shipwreck Underwater Museum.


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





In a story seemingly fit for Game of Thrones, an ornate Iron Age shield that was unearthed from a “warrior grave” is now being deemed “the most important British Celtic art object of the millennium,” according to Dr. Melanie Giles, of the University of Manchester’s archaeology department. The sweeping proclamation comes after two years of extensive conservation work was conducted on the bronze shield, the results of which found design features—the most prominent being its scalloped border—never before seen in any other Iron Age object.

Measuring 30 inches, the piece of armor boasts an elaborate, detailed pattern, which would have required its maker to hammer from the opposite side in order to render the asymmetrical formation of mollusk shells that culminate at the shield’s raised center. Experts categorize this swirling design as early Celtic art, estimating its date between 320–174 BC, and say it is typical of the La Tène culture that dominated Europe during the late Iron Age...

Here is that link.


It seems they think this is an earth-shattering discovery because the shield appears to have been pierced by a sword, which they think suggests the ornate shield was used in battle.  I think that is very little evidence for such a conclusion, and many other possible ways the shield could have been pierced.   I've seen quite a few items that were pierced by the detectorist making the recovery.  Of course you'd think archaeologists would be more careful and observant, but still the shield could have been pierced without having been in battle.

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Under 55 feet of water isn’t the typical setting for a museum exhibit, but it can work. For years, underwater archaeologists from Indiana University’s Center for Underwater Science have collaborated with the government of the Dominican Republic to study the historic wrecks off its shores. More recently they’ve worked together to open a series of publicly accessible maritime archaeological parks—essentially life-size historic shipwreck museum dioramas beneath the waves. Recently, the fifth museum of this kind was put together, and will open on December 12, 2019, not far from Santo Domingo.
The new Living Museum in the Sea as they’re called, is the wreck site of a Spanish merchant vessel, Nuestra Señora de Begoña, that went down in a storm in 1725 (while smuggling silver). Other underwater museums include Spanish galleons in Samana Bay to the north, and the wreck of Captain Kidd’s vessel, Quedagh Merchant, off the southern coast...

Here is the link for more about that.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/shipwreck-park-dominican-republic

Thanks to Douglas for that link.

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We're getting some good high tides on the Treasure Coast now, but the surf is only two or three feet.



Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net








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I won't go on about this long but there are some things I've been thinking about that I want to clarify and expressing it forces me to do that.

It seems that objectivity is at serious risk.  By that I mean increasing numbers of people seem to be unable to be objective.  You see it in politics.  You can see it almost everywhere.  Perhaps they don't want to be objective, but I think there are increasing numbers that are unable to be objective.

Consider this: when you find a coin or other object while metal detecting on the beach, you get an auditory signal and perhaps check a meter or readout.  It grabs your attention.  It alerts you.  It is something like when you are in a crowded all or on the street and someone yells your name, or when you are in an airport awaiting the arrival of a loved one and in the distance you see a hand waving at you in the crowd.  Something grabs your attention.  It, at least for the moment, among all other possible objects, becomes the center of your awareness.

Questions arise.  What is it?  Should I dig it?  And if it is dug and explored, what does it mean to me?












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