10/13/19 Report - The Path and My Dear Friend Larry.

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

Old Indian and Wagon Path in West Viriginia

Photo by TreasureGuide

It's a sad day for me.  A dear friend passed way.  He grew up in a house just up the hill and to one side of this path.  Just a couple years ago I took a picture of him walking this path along with his 93 year old aunt.  It was the last time each of them would walk the path that they once joyfully played on as children.

So how did I ever get to know this hidden back woods path?  It started when I met my wife at college about fifty years ago, and I began driving the winding roads from Pennsylvania to West Virginia to pick her up on the weekends.  I'd usually arrived when Hee Haw was on TV.

Well, the years passed.  It only took a minute or so, as it seems.

Eventually I got to know Larry, who was my wife's cousin, along with the rest of my wife's family.  Turns out he was quite an artifact collector.  His father dug old bottles and insulators in the woods, and Larry collected Indian artifacts.

Their house at the top of the path and off just a little to one side was built beside a natural spring, where evidently the Indians spent a lot of time.  Arrowheads littered the ground there, and Larry started collecting them as a child.

Down at the bottom of the hill by the Ohio River, in later years, Larry found a copper point and copper beads that the Carnegie Museum and the Smithsonian both believed were from the Late Hopewell period.  They concluded the point was probably ceremonial and associated with a cremation burial.  The point and beads were also noteworthy because they were found in an area where copper artifacts of that period are very unusual.

Ceremonial Copper Artifacts Found by Larry P.

Here are a few of Larry's other finds.

After I was married, I took my metal detector on a trip to visit my wife's family and started detecting the old path which wound its way up the hill between the homes where the poor Slovenian immigrants settled a few generations earlier.  The first time I detected the path I found a gold 1940s class ring from the same high school my wife's mother and Larry's father attended in their youth.  I found items from their family history, and I also found items from an earlier time, including a horse shoe, crotal bell, musket ball, wagon parts and other older items.

I eventually learned that my ancestors had roots in the same area.  My ancestors included the Wetzels, who were among the earliest white settlers in the area.  John Wetzel was a scout on the western front during the Revolutionary War, but if you want to know more about the Wetzel family, there are books about Lewis Wetzel, whose parents were killed by the Indians when he was a child.  He was wounded and taken by the Indians but escaped and went on a rampage of revenge the rest of his life.  The books clearly describe the adventures of the Wetzels, mostly those of Lewis, and the area around the same path I'm talking about today.

As I think of Larry and that path today, I think of the history it has seen.  The path was used by the Native Americans, followed by pioneers and settlers, and then immigrants from far away places like Slovenia.  It has been used for centuries and is one of too few such places that remains pretty much unchanged, and where besides the birds and blowing leaves you can almost hear the whispers of history.

There was a time when I knew nothing of that path, let alone my ancestors that settled in the area or the history of the immigrants of more recent years, but now, thanks to metal detecting and my dear friend Larry, I've held objects that connect me to those people as well as the more distant past.  I would have never guessed that I would be so connected to that area in so many ways.

The next time I visit that path - and I will - it won't be just any path.  It will be alive, as it is today, with Indians, my long-haired, buck-skinned musket-toting ancestors, as well as the poor immigrants that settled there in the next century because it reminded them of their homeland across the ocean.  But despite the quiet and peace, most of all it will  remind me of the last time I walked down that path with my dear friend Larry.

2/16/18 Report - Holed Treasure Coast Half Reale. Washington Commemorative Plaque Dug Up. Armstrong Site Report.

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

Holed Phillip IV Half Reale

Sorry the picture isn't better.  The camera I use for close-ups isn't working.

I was talking about holed coins a few days ago, so decided to show this one.  It is a Mexico minted Phillip IV half reale.

The numismatic archaeology book that I used as a reference a few posts ago mentioned that holes are usually made at the top of the side of the coin that is meant to show.  In this case that would be the cross side.

Below is the other side.

Same Holed Half Reale.

In this case the monogram side is upside down and at an angle when the hole is at the top.

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Maintenance workers in Beckley W. V. dug up a sidewalk and found a rectangular 12 by 8 by 8 inch stone marker with a metal shield commemorating the bicentennial of George Washington's birth.  The shield read, Memorial Tree; George Washington Bicentennial; 1732 - 1932; Capt. James Allen Chapter; N S. D A. R.; REGISTERED; American Tree Association.  The original American elm was no longer there, but the monument was restored and remounted.

Source: Winter 2018 The SAR Magazine

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Here is a good summary on the Armstrong site located in the Canaveral National Seashore where the remains of a 16th century French camp was found.  I think you'll find this well worth reading.

Here is the link.

http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/14lostfleet/background/survivor/survivor.html


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Here are some interesting statistics.

Nearly 1.3 million people die in road crashes each year, on average 3,287 deaths a day. An additional 20-50 million are injured or disabled. More than half of all road traffic deaths occur among young adults ages 15-44.

More than 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016, including illicit drugs and prescription opioids--nearly double in a decade.

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Looks like more of the same for the Treasure Coast beaches - just a touch smaller surf.  Expect a 2 - 3 foot surf for a week or two.

Not much else to report about that.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

6/1/15 Report - Found Old Lead Buck Shot. Hunting Lost Items And Dealing With Dishonest People.

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

Not The Man In The Moon.
A Small Old Lead Buck Shot Found

I was recently in West Virginia for a couple of days and had the opportunity to hunt the woods where the brother of one of my ancestors, well-known Indian scout Louis Wetzel, roamed during the 18th Century.  I have a couple of interesting books about Lewis and hunting that area makes it very interesting for me because I'm always thinking that Lewis or his brother (my ancestor) could have been at that very spot centuries ago.  I know from the books that he was indeed in that area. from various places and landmarks that are described in the books.

I like hunting the woods and listening to the birds and watching the squirrels and chipmunks and always having a chance at sighting an arrowhead or something (I'll post some arrowheads and things like that from the region some other day).  No people, just the sights and sounds of nature.

It sure is a change from the beach.  The hills are so steep I can hardly hang on them at times.  And the mud, clay and rocks makes it really different too.

You might remember me showing the 1829 Large Cent that I found up there in the woods.  I checked that area a little while again and then moved over a hundred yards or so and was hanging on the side of a very steep hill when I found on old axe head.  That was the first sign of some older things that day.  Then a few feet from there I dug an old lead buck shot.  That was one of my favorite finds of the trip even if it isn't worth anything.

Picture Of Musket Ball Found On Line
For Comparison With The Recently Dug Item.

Buck and ball were used from around the Revolutionary War to the time of the Civil War.

It was very difficult to find that little ball after it was dug.  It was covered with mud and looked just like a small pebble.  I probably touched it several times before identifying it.  It is very small and has a heavy patina.  (I'll get pictures with objects for size comparison.)  The above photo shows the dug buck shot under magnification.

They were made of lead or pewter.  I think this is lead, but not absolutely sure yet.

In the picture of the musket ball that I found online, you can see where the sprue was.  A sprue is the hole where the molten metal is poured into a mold.  When the ball or buck was removed from the mold, material that was in the passage (sprue) to the mold would be cut off.  In the picture of the recently dug buck you can clearly see where and how that metal was cut.  A pinching device, maybe something like a scissor was used.

On the ball shown immediately above you can not see how the cut was made, but you can see where the sprue was, and you can see the seams of the mold.

On the one I dug you can see the seams, but not in the picture.  The one I dug was not as round.  It was a little flattened.  Maybe it was made in a more primitive mold or maybe flattened later.

Buck And Ball Dug At Various Other Times and Places.

Here you can see both a musket ball and buck that I found at other times.  Notice the patina on the musket ball,  The buck in this picture, though, look like they could be modern reproductions.  People are still making their own buck and ball.

The patina and location where the recently dug buck was found convinces me that it is old.

I'll have more on my woods hunting in the near future and some other finds when I get the photos ready.
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Robert H. brought up an interesting topic.  Here is what he said.

Was wondering if you could shine some light on this experience or if others have encountered the same. I'm pretty sure you've covered having business cards or a contract with you but I'm not sure you've mentioned when a person looses an item in particular a wedding ring. Knowing when they are lying or when they are serious. I've only been able to do a handful of recoveries for people. I run into it very often when someone tells me they lost a ring but then I come up empty handed. I hear them laugh or look at them seeing them smiling or they say it's only worth so much and I'm convinced they didn't loose anything. Lately I've told them $20 just to look for the item but then they some how convince me to look for the item saying they will give a reward if found. It's left a bad taste in my mouth and I really don't take it too seriously or I will do a quick 5 or 10 minutes search or three or four quick lines of 25 feet length just doing a quick check.   


I'll make a few comments and then let everyone else weigh in. 

There are people who will lie about losing things.  That is always an unfortunate possibility.  There are also,people who will try to claim found items that they did not lose.  I've talked about that in some detail back a few years ago.

Here are some things that will work in some situations.

Before hunting for a particular item, get a good specific description including specific identifying marks such as inscribed names, dates etc.  That is very important.

Don't let anyone see finds unless you have a detailed specific description from them first.  

There are a number of techniques for keeping finds concealed.  One of my favorites when water hunting, is shaking the scoop vigorously while the scoop is still in the water and then while there is near zero visibility, with one motion quickly move the item from the scoop to your pocket without it ever being visible.  Develop the skills of an amateur magician.  You can tell what the item is by feel, and you can inspect it later when you are away from people.

I don't put much stock in contracts.  The main thing they are good for is making clear what the conditions and expectations are.  Don't expect to enforce a contract.  It depends upon the good will of both parties.

Get a defined area where the item is thought to have been lost.  Draw lines in the sand or use other markers.

All observers should stay out of the defined search area while you hunt so that you can run a grid and work the area properly without people getting in the way.  Explain that you can not work an area unless they stay out of the search area.

These days I seldom hunt around people, which solves a lot of problems.

Reading people is an important skill.  Sometimes if you press for a detailed description, dishonest people will stumble around as they attempt to make up answers.  Ask questions that will reveal dishonesty.   Is the ring 24K gold?  A yes answer indicates a probable liar, for example.  Be prepared with trick questions.

How much does it weigh?  Few people will know that.  A too quick, precise or unrealistic answer can be a tip off.

Learn to be a bit of a detective.  Ask a second party and see if you get the same or a completely different answer.

I know that most of us want to believe that people are honest and we want to help people, so we go out of your way to help, but you need to realize that not everyone is honest and you should be prepared one way or another to deal with that.

I don't have any set policy.  I try to evaluate each individual situation and the people involved.  I don't see any problem with asking for $20 out front.  I've known people that do that and stick to it.  If you do that, stick to it. I've never done that myself, but I have no problem with that.  It might be seen as greedy, but it can also save you from a wild goose chase.

It is too bad there are dishonest people, but that is a reality that you have to deal with in your own way.  Be kind and helpful, but don't let people take advantage of you.

Don't expect a reward, promised or not.  Most people don't give a reward, sometimes even if they promised one.  I don't really understand that.  I'd think if someone found something and returned it, it would be natural to offer some sort of reward, but it seldom actually happens.

As far as coming up empty when looking for an item for someone.  It happens.  People often don't know when or where they lost the item.  That is one benefit of drawing a boundary.  You get a good idea if they actually know where they lost the item, and it confines the search to something less than the entire beach.

I often find something good other than the item I was looking for when I hunt for a lost item.  That brings in many of the points I mentioned above.  You need a good description to identify the targeted object.  You are better off not showing or even giving a hint that there were finds.  Keep people away from you and skillfully keep finds hidden.

Those are a few of my first thoughts on the subject.  Please sent your own thoughts and experiences to add to this discussion.

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On the Treasure Coast we have a small surf again.  This week we'll have something like one or two feet.  There is a small negative tide again.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net