4/3/20 Report - Alternatives to Metal Detecting. Putting Treasure Back. Hoard Uncovered. Seeking and Finding: The Necessity.

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

Tool - Possibly Paleo.

Photo submitted by JamminJack

4/4/20 correction: I originally described the above item as an archaic point, but JamminJack tells me it is close to six inches long so could be an axe or something else and may be paleo.  Also, it was found by Jack's buddy.


Some people have been doing other kinds of hunting since the beaches have been closed.  I received the following message from JamminJack.

I have been getting back into arrowhead hunting. The field was plowed last week, and was able to find two bags of flint and two archaic period points during one day visit.

Crockpot Shard.

Find and photo by JamminJack.

Today my buddy was already out and found the scraper (not shown) just as he was going back to his car. The scraper is close to 5 inches. 

Small Bottle.

Find and photo by JamminJack.

I found the ceramic crockpot piece and small bottle. Bottle about 2 inches...

Good signs for metal detecting too.  This is obviously a site that was populated or visited by different groups for quite a while.

I know I have that exact same bottle somewhere.

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Underwater archaeologists have returned 52 pre-Hispanic ritual objects to the place where they were found: the bed of one of the two crater lakes of the Nevado de Toluca volcano.

Members of the underwater archaeology team at the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) deposited the mostly spherical and conical resin objects on the bed of the Lake of the Moon earlier this month.

The objects, believed to have been made by the Matlatzinca people between the 13th and 15th centuries and placed in the lake by pre-Hispanic priests, are stored in a specially-made container that allows water and sediment to flow over them. As a result, they are protected from deterioration.

The trove of objects is the first in situ underwater archaeological archive in Mexico, according to an INAH statement. The decision to preserve the objects in their place of origin complies with recommendations in the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage...

Here is the link for more about that.

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/archaeological-objects-deposited-in-lake/

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While removing the floor of the church in Obišovce near Košice, the foundations of the old church were uncovered. After this discovery, the archaeological company Triglav conducted research that took place at the beginning of February 2020, the Regional Monuments Board Košice reported.

During this work, the archaeologists discovered a unique treasure trove of coins, kept in a ceramic mug and covered with a small stone slab, under the original stone floor close to the western entrance of the church.

The hoard consists of more than 500 coins, most of them mining salary plates. The silver coins were wrapped separately, probably in linen clothing. The coins date the treasure to 1702 at the earliest...


Here is the link for more about that.

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22359500/archaeologists-unearth-treasure-in-obisovce.html

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Even when they don't yet see it, treasure hunter's know there is something good out there to be found.  Treasure hunter's by nature must be optimistic.  Not only do they believe that there is something good out there to be found, they also believe that it can be found, and they can do it.

You might have misinterpreted something I said.  It happens, but I never meant to imply that we should not take the threat seriously or that any individual should not be responsible in every action.  It is just the opposite.

I believe that men are not only created with inalienable rights, but they are also created with  minds capable of finding wonderful solutions.  Humans are creative.  That is how they have survived and thrived.

Yes there is evil - great evil, but eventually, through great vision, effort and hardship, mankind generally wins.  Innovators do not blindly accept authority.

You might call me an optimist.  I am a treasure hunter in some small way, although my seeking is not always limited to objects.  Sometimes my seeking is in the stars, or in the thought-ways of the mind.  I like astronomy, and I like thinking.

Some may think we will fail.  I think there is a better way.  I believe that there are ingenious solutions waiting to be found.  I believe in tirelessly seeking those solutions and, remaining open to alternatives ideas, always believing that we can do it, and knowing that we have not only survived in the past, but also improved.

I encourage striving and seeking the smarter and better way.  Thinking is the ultimate weapon.   We can not simply accept fear, sloth, inertia and blind dependence, but must always seek the better solution - the better way.

I seldom believe that what I am told or where I am is the end of the matter.  I  tend to believe that there is usually another and better way to be found, and I believe that it can be found, but only if we believe and strive.

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The Treasure Coast surf predictions have changed a little.  Now Sunday should see something like a 4 - 6 foot surf and Sunday, a 5 - 7 foot surf.   That isn't quite as much as was predicted a few days ago.

Happy hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net

3/30/20 Report - Mule Error Coin Found. Top Florida History Stories. Predictive Models and Specializing.

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

Valuable Mule Error Coin Found in Piggy Bank.

Source: See ManOfMany.com link below.

Parents often employ piggy banks as a way to teach their children how to save money. That practice is paying off for one Melbourne mum. While helping her daughter count the coins in her piggy bank, the mum discovered a Mule dollar that is worth thousands.

“What’s a Mule dollar?” the mum wrote in her Facebook post chronicling the discovery. “It’s a small number of the year 2000 $1 dollar coins that had been minted using the incorrect obverse die (heads side) and released into circulation by mistake and only discovered a year or two later.” The Royal Australian Mint had mixed up the 10 cent die with that of the $1 die. It’s an easy mistake to make, as the two coins are off by just 1.4 millimetres, but it’s enough of a difference that you can clearly see a double rim circle going around the coin...

Here is the link for more of that story

https://manofmany.com/entertainment/mum-finds-mule-dollar-in-daughters-piggy-bank

Thanks to William K. for sending me that link.


And here is a link you can use to find more information on the Australian $1/10-cent mule error coins.

https://www.australian-coins.com/error-coins/2000-1-10-cent-mule/

One of the most prominent U.S. mule errors is has the obverse of a Washington state quarter and the reverse of a Sacagawea dollar.

One alternative you have when you aren't able to metal detect is search for error coins.  Maybe go back through old finds or those you have saved.

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DJ sent an interesting link.  It is the online Daytona Beach News Journal's article on the top 25 Florida stories of all time.

Florida History: Here are Florida’s top 25 stories of all time.  They include stories from the time of Juan Ponce de Leon up to some of our more recent hurricanes, and a lot of important stories from the various centuries.

Here is a link to a good article from the Daytona Beach News Journal online:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20190110/florida-history-here-are-floridas-top-25-stories-of-all-time

You can click on each that you want to learn more about.

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We all use data to make predictions, manage risk and make decisions.  We have our own informal mental models of how things work.  Some people are more precise and statistical or probabilistic in their decision making than others.  In the past I did one or two posts on math for metal detecting that could help you with site selection.

As Florida residents we know a bit about the use of models.  Every hurricane season we consult models that attempt to predict the strength of hurricanes and where they will hit.  We therefore know that models are not always correct.

It wasn't long ago that we were all making preparations for a big hurricane that turned out for us to be not much of anything.   There was a huge cost to all the wasted preparations, and I talked about it back then.

Now everyday we are hearing about the coronavirus models, but I haven't heard or seen as much about those models as I saw and heard about the hurricane models.  In fact, on TV they are mostly giving us the predictions of the most extreme coronavirus model.  I'm not so sure that is wise.

The epidemiological models depend upon data and assumptions just like any other model.  We don't have much data on coronavirus specifically, and the models may or may not be very accurate.   I'd like to see how the various models compare and the range of predictions.

Every day I look at the surf report.  The surf predictions are the result of models.  A few years ago I noticed that they often predicted a big surf 10 days or so out, but very often the prediction of a large surf would disappear as the time got nearer.  Evidently there was a systematic error in the model, which it appears was fixed.

In a way, trying to determine when a beach will be productive for metal detecting is a bit like informal modeling.  Several factors go into it, and sometimes we are right and sometimes wrong.  We know some of the factors that seem to predict, and we try to improve our understanding of how it works.  I'm sure I will never be correct all the time, but part of the fun, for me, is studying things and improving my understanding.

Improving my understanding is a game to me that is almost as much fun as finding something.  I like to check myself.  Even if I don't think an area will be productive, I will often check it out anyhow just to see if I was right or wrong.  If I check and find that I was right, I gain confidence in my model.  But when I am wrong I try to figure out why so I can improve my model.

With the coronavirus models it isn't a matter of fun.  It is much more serious, but still the analysis and problem solving is very much the same.  And it is being done by people who spent much of their life on it.

There is a minor problem with being a specialist.  You have a focus and narrowness of thought and vision.  I believe that holds for treasure hunting or metal detecting too.  The more you do one thing, the more narrow you become in your understanding and approach.

In a recent post I said there is always a way.  I believe that, whether it applies to metal detecting or ways to maintain social distancing while getting businesses running again.  You adapt.

You can know more than anyone else about some narrow subject or type of endeavor, and partly because of that specialization lack the creativity and breadth of vision necessary for the most creative solutions.  There are trade-offs.  You can't be everything.   You have to make decisions.  It helps to know who you are and your strengths and weaknesses whatever you are doing.

Asking Tony Fauci if you need to collect more data and take more precautions is something like asking a car salesman if you should buy a new car.  I'm not minimizing Dr. Fauci's genius, only pointing to the fact that he is like everyone else in that he brings who he is to the decision making, but no matter who you are or what you do, there are times when you need to challenge yourself, your preconceptions and self-imposed limitations, be creative and change in new and productive ways.

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Oh, oh.

We have are going to have a couple of days of one foot surf, but in about a week they are predicting a five to eight foot surf.

Be wise, be well,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

12/12/16 Report - Why I Like Metal Detecting. Expedition by Telepresence.

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

What do I like best?   Making a big find?   No that isn't it.  Not entirely anyhow.  I like finding ideas. And in the end, isn't an object an idea?   Actually it is a bunch of ideas - and questions.

If you haven't noticed, I like ideas.  I like thinking.  I like discovering.  As Pink Floyd said, "Thinking is the best way to travel."

A find is the center of a bunch of ideas.  A find can verify and justify a lot of ideas.  For example, at the most basic level, a find can verify that yes, it was there.  This thing was where I expected it to be, or maybe where I didn't expect it to be.

Every time I go to a particular spot that I like to hunt, there are people who say, "There is nothing there."  And sometimes I find things, which surprises them, but not me.  Sometimes the thing or things that I find are not interesting to them.  When that is the case, the find only supports their idea that there is really nothing there. More often than not, the find is more interesting to me and it confirms to me that there were things there, and there probably still are things there.

You might have noticed that I like many kinds of treasure - gold, silver, gems, iron, fossils, artifacts, bottles, sea glass, etc. etc.  I think that is because it is really that I am seeking ideas as much as the objects.  That is what makes objects interesting to me.  The fact that some  finds are valuable and other people sometimes appreciate them enough to pay money for them is just icing on the cake.  But that is just another idea.

Why do people like and collect and pay for some things that are not necessities.  They can't eat them, but they can sell them for food or shelter or get some sort of comfort out of knowing that they can sell them if they need to.   That is where it is for some people.  They want to accumulate wealth at one level or another.  It gives them the feeling, or should I say "idea" that they are safe, secure, worthwhile, successful, or whatever it is.  Nothing wrong with that.

For me, it is very much about ideas.  I like to discover how things work and how I can do things, especially different and better ways of doing thing.   I like to figure out how the sand is moving and how items got to be at one place or another and what they mean.  I like to hypothesize, theorize and then test my ideas.  I like to test my ideas.

For me treasure hunting is very much about creative problem solving. I taught myself computer programming back in the sixties and later developed training software for the first military GPS system for what was then Martin Marietta and a flight training simulator for Eastern Airlines pilots.  When it comes down to it, I analyze and solve problems - all kinds.  That is who I am.  It is all about creative problem solving for me.

It was nice when I could make a living solving problems, but now I metal detect because I still like ideas and solving problems and I'd always be doing that somewhere somehow.  It is always nice to get validation when other people will pay you for solving problems, but now I am content to do it for my own entertainment.  It is still about the ideas.  Some ideas are great finds - in more ways than one.

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Want to participate in an exotic expedition, but don't want to get out of your pajamas?  Expedition by telepresence is what you have been waiting for.  Actually that isn't the reason I mention it.  I mention things like this with the hope that guys and gals who are actually doing things will think about new ways of doing things.  I always encourage people to think about new possibilities and methods and how new or old technologies can be integrated into what they are doing.

Here is an excerpt from an article about telepresence expeditions.

The waves of Narragansett Bay break gently on the rocky beach at the University of Rhode Island’s School of Oceanography, as vacationing families jockey for prime sunbathing real estate. It’s not your typical research cruise environment—I feel a bit guilty about the brief respite out of solidarity for my sleep-deprived colleagues on Atlantis—but such is the life of the shore-side team.

During this 10 day long expedition, half of our crew of early career scientists has been on the Atlantis at any given time while the other half operates a mission control of sorts at URI’s Inner Space Center (ISC). We’re testing the utility of telepresence technology for sea-going research expeditions, trying to see how decision-making and analysis might be outsourced to get more done and leverage a broader set of expertise...

And here is the link for the the rest of that article.

http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2016/10/22/life-on-the-shore-based-team-the-other-half-of-a-telepresence-expedition/

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The surf is decreasing.  We're supposed to have another bump about Friday.  As I think everybody is learning, it is about as much about the direction as it is the size.  I'm eager to see what Friday and next weekend brings.  Until then, I'm lowering my beach conditions rating back to a 1 again.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

7/24/16 Report - Found On Treasure Coast: Gold Finger Bar? Ivanka Trump's Earring Found and Returned. Creative Problem Solving For Treasure Hunting.

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

Unidentified Treasure Coast Find.
Submitted by Bernie C.

Bernie says it looks like it could possibly be gold, and he is going to have it tested to determine the metal content.

Gold usually does not have a crust like that, but I have found tumbaga items that did have some very similar darkening on parts of the surface.

Tumbaga is an alloy of copper and gold, and sometimes with significant amounts of other metals. The amount of gold can be fairly small in tumbaga. If I correctly recall, the Inca had a method that drew more pure gold to the surface of alloyed items.

Many of the gold items found by the early conquistadors in South America was tumbaga.

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College Student Returned Ivanka Trump's  Earring.

The earring shown above was found at the convention center after the convention.  The college student used twitter to arrange for the earring's return.

Here is the link.

http://www.people.com/article/ivanka-trump-lost-earring-college-student-twitter-found

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I often try to encourage creative thinking and creative solutions for treasure hunting.

While enjoyable, the purpose of metal detecting is to find things  The goal for most people is not metal detecting.

There are some characteristics of metal detecting that make it addicting.  I believe the rhythmic repetitive action, active awareness, curiosity and element of mystery or surprise of every dug target all adds to the addictive nature.


Did you ever hear of the nine dots puzzle?   The puzzle involves nine dots arranged in the shape of a box.  You are supposed to connect the nine dots with the smallest number of lines.

Here is what the puzzle looks like before it is solved.

How many lines does it take to connect the dots?

Probably fewer than you might have thought at first.

Here is one solution.

That required four lines.  Did you think of that?

Most people do not come up with that solution.  Why?

They work inside the area defined by the dots.   That is not necessary.

To say it very uncreatively, they did not think outside the box.

There is actually a much more simple solution.  You can connect all of the dots with one line.  Who said the lines have to be straight? You can connect the dots with one curved line.

That is just one way of showing how people accept unnecessary limitations, and work inside the box.

One of the biggest obstacles to finding really creative solutions is being overly influenced by what everybody else is doing.

Minimize your starting assumptions.  For example, you might think you need a better metal detector. But is metal detecting the goal?  Finding items is the goal for most of you, not metal detecting.

Once you back up and define the problem better - finding stuff rather than metal detecting - you open up a lot of additional possibilities.

There are times when dredging might be a better approach.  And there are times when sifting might be a better approach.

I've used a Merkitch sifter on a beach and found it to be very effective.  In some situations sifting is more effective than metal detecting.

Pulling a sifter is a lot of work, and somehow not as addictive as metal detecting.  It is also not very good for the deep targets and can be impossible in wet packed sand.  You will find thin chains and non-metallic items that you could very easily miss with a detector.   Here is the fun part.  It can be done on beaches where detecting is not allowed

Is the goal to make a better mouse trap, or to get rid of mice?  How you define the problem has a lot to do with how creative you can be with solutions.

Again, is the goal to metal detect, or is the goal to find stuff?   Is the goal to scoop, or is the goal to recover targets?

Have you ever thought about training an otter or seal to dive and retrieve odd items, especially shiny things?  I have.

The Navy has trained porpoises to assist lost swimmers and locate submerged mines.

It is always easier to fall in line and do what other people are doing.  There is certainly a time for that, but making a creative break-through of your own can be a lot of fun and very profitable.

I enjoy thinking about other ways of doing things. You won't come up with a great idea everyday. Really creative solutions are rare treasures, but don't be afraid to consider wild ideas. Despite the rarity of great new ideas, there are always better ways to do things.  If you don't always follow the pack, you just might be the one to come up with the next great idea.


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Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

12/3/14 Report - Finding The Queen of Spain's Jewels; A Seminar. One Way To Have More Fun With Unexciting Finds.

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

 

THE QUEST FOR THE QUEEN OF SPAIN'S JEWELS

Friday, December 5, 2014

6:15 PM - 8:15 PM (ET)

Gleason Performing Arts Center

 

 

One of the world’s most valuable sunken treasures lays close at hand, just a few miles south of Sebastian Inlet.  In early July 1715 a convoy of 12 Spanish galleons sailed from Havana, Cuba heading to Spain. After the convoy started making its way up the Straits of Florida, a fierce hurricane struck on July 30  and all the ships were lost and over 1,000 people perished, along with the Queen’s treasures. To date neither the Queen’s collection or the huge amount of gold specie and bullion known to be aboard the ship have been located.

 

Since 1960 Sir Robert Marx has worked in the archives and libraries of more than 40 countries and spent over two years in the Archivo de las Indias in Seville, Spain, the main repository for researching Spain’s fascinating maritime history. Come listen to his stories as he uncovers his quest for these priceless jewels.


For more information contact: Contact  Donna Cassario
dcassario@fit.edu 

 

Thanks to C Man for emailing the notice of the seminar.

 

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When you are not digging up the Queen's jewels you might be digging up something a little less dramatic.  It can still be fun, and makes for something interesting to keep you busy in the mean time. 

Vintage Dug Slat Shaker.

When beach detecting isn't much good sometimes I'll do a little bottle hunting.  Some bottles can be detected because they have metal lids.  Most, though, no longer have their lids.

Besides being interesting artifacts, glass can be one of the first clues to an old detecting site that might not show much other evidence of past human activity.

Common vintage glass bottles aren't worth much of anything but you might find that you can add value to them. That is one thing I like to do - take a find that has little or no value and change it in some way to make it useful. 

Among my bottle finds are several old cut-glass salt shakers.  I noticed the other day that they would make nice Christmas tree ornaments. 
.

Above is one dug vintage salt shaker.  It was dug with its top.  The top was corroded, so the first thing I did was clean the glass and remove the plating and corrosion from the top.  I added a copper wire loop through the exiting holes.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do next, but I got some mirror surface paint which I might put on the inside, which should make it reflective.  With just a few added touches they should be very pretty.   Or I might put some small momento in it.

Next year I might make an artifact Christmas tree.  I can think of a number of small finds that will make fine ornaments.

I have regular Christmas ball caps with the loops that fit these bottles, but for the one with the original top I wanted to keep the original copper top on it.
 

Small Vintage Cut Glass Salt Shaker

Here is another of the several cut glass salt shakers that I've found.  A mirror surface on the inside should turn this into a real attractive sparking Christmas ornament.  I could even make it light up.

I already have a regular Christmas ball top and loop that will fit this one.

One point I'm making today is that there are more ways than one to find value.  You can find value by using your creativity and turning dull finds into something useful and attractive.  That is one more way to get more fun out of metal detecting.

I'm also reminding you to not get too narrowly focused.  If you focus on coins too much, you can miss a lot of other things, including shipwreck spikes, pot shards, shells, and even jewelry.  Not only are they interesting artifacts but they can provide clues to bigger treasures.
 

Many people eliminate a lot of nice finds by discriminating too much.

While on the subject of small glass bottles, here is a nice recent ink bottle find that is in unusally good condition.

The bottom of the ink bottom reads For 1 1/2 inch hole.

Old Ink Bottle Find

It was probably one of those ink bottles that was in an old school desk.

We still had those when I was in school.   We actually had a few penmanship classes with the old ink pens with the metal tip that you dip in ink.  Maybe a few of you remember that.

They would probably be considered weapons today.  Could you imagine having ink on the desks of elementary school children today?   Sounds like a blueprint for disaster.

And here is a link to a great web site on salt/pepper shakers.  There is a gallery of hundreds of examples and other things.

http://antiquesaltshakers2.com/agsssciddisplay1.html

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I don't expect any significant change in Treasure Coast beach detecting conditions for at least a few days.  We'll have mostly 3 - 6 foot surf, with occasionaly East/Northeast winds.

Don't forget the seminar Friday.

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@Comcast.net