7/6/19 Report - Bone and Shell Artifacts From the Treasure Coast and South Florida and Reader Thoughts.

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

Yesterday I talked about points.  Below are some other items I've shown before.  They all came from the same Treasure Coast beach, but were found at different times in shell piles.  Mostly found by a shell collector, included are what appears to be a celt, made from a heavy conch shell, an arrowhead, a discoidal, and a rounded shell, maybe either a discoidal or a preform of some sort.

You can see more examples of many similar items online.  I'd recommend checking out the PeachStateArchaeologicalicalSociety web site, where you'll find many examples.

http://peachstatearchaeologicalsociety.org/index.php/26-shell-decorative/446-shell-tools-2



Here are some other Florida items.

Two Bone and Two Shell Artifacts.

The two on the left appear to be shaped bones for punching.   To the right of that is what appears to be a shell punch.  And last is  a piece of shell that I'm told was for shaping a shaft or something.  The wood, if that was the case, would be drawn through the curved depression at the top.

Not only are stone points occasionally found on beaches, but there are also other types of items.

I don't know much about these types of  things, but if you are on the beaches much, you might see pieces of shell that appear to have been worked into a usable form such as a spoon, scrapper or cup.

The Horse Conch shell shown below is a bugle.  I thought it might be Native American, but the people at the Florida State Museum said it is probably modern.

Horse Conch Shell Bugle.

The first thing I noticed was the slot.  Then I noticed the top was removed and that it works as a horn if you blow it.

Here is what I learned after doing a little research on the bugle.

In classic Mayan art, the Horse Conch is shown being utilized in many ways including as paint and ink holders for elite scribes, and also as a bugle or trumpet.

In southern Florida, Native Americans, including the Calusa and Tequesta, used the horse conch to make several types of artifact. The whole shell, or more commonly only the columella, was attached to a wooden handle and used as a hammer or woodworking tool. The body whorl was used as a drinking cup. The columella was also used to make plummets or sinkers.

So now it is known that the shell is a Horse Conch, and that Horse Conchs were used as bugles, and additionally, that they were used by the Calusa and Tequesta Indians.

I also found that locals used conch shells as horns in the 19th century when they hunted possums with dogs. 

Of course it might be even more modern than that.

I have learned to blow it with pretty good results, but it takes some practice.

The shell below looks like it was modified to make a ladle.  It is over a foot long and has what appears like a nice handle.  You'll see things like that in the shells at the beach.  Shell collectors pick them up all the time.

Ladle.

I'm never sure when I see things like that, if it is accidental or worked.  I just don't have the knowledge and skill to know without asking.  Just by appearances, I find it very unlikely that this one was broken accidentally in that way, but it could have.

Here is example of a piece that I would think would NOT break that way naturally.

Broken or Formed (?)

And here is one that would make a nice cup or holder - with legs yet.

Two Views of Broken or Formed Shell.

You'll also see columella that look like they might have been worked.

One reader provided excellent information on the coral arrowhead I posted yesterday and said it looked reworked.  He explained why and referred to a couple great references.  One is the Overstreet Arrowhead Identification and Pricing Guide.  You can find that online.  He said he gets the new one every year to see the new point photos and stone tools.  It also has a tutorial.  Looks like an excellent reference.

Here are a couple of links.

http://www.overstreetid.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Official-Overstreet-Arrowheads-Identification-Arrowhead/dp/1440248680

Very useful.

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As you probably know, there are laws regarding archaeological resources.  They are many and complex and can be very confusing.  I can't summarize or interpret them all, so don't ask me to.  Do, however, realize that there are strict penalties for removing artifacts from state and federal lands.  If you have WRITTEN permission, you CAN collect artifacts on private land.  That is my understanding.

On the Treasure Coast it is not unusual to find artifacts on your own property.  I've found artifacts on my property and have posted some examples.  It is not uncommon.

Beachcombers, shell collectors and tourists will pick up unusual or interesting items and remove them without knowing what they are.  If you look through any large collection put together by a shell collector, there is a very good chance you will find an artifact.  I've been asked several times while on the beach, about items found by tourists.

Metal detectorists do not generally go out looking for artifacts and might not recognize them.  I think I've shown that they can be difficult to identify.  I am not good at identifying stone and shell tools in particular, and have to ask those know.

We all want to respect artifacts and follow the laws.  Laws can be broken unwittingly, and I hope this post will help you begin to become more familiar with artifacts so that you will be better able to identify, respect and protect them and follow the laws.

As a beginning, you might want to look at this summary of the Florida laws.  Here is a link.

https://dos.myflorida.com/historical/archaeology/underwater/laws/

I know that quick summary might give rise to more questions than it answers, but that is the best I can do.

One good principle when in doubt is to take photos and report your find.  Most of us carry smart phones with good cameras these days, so that is easy to do.

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I also received an email from Susan E. who appreciated reading the Declaration of Independence, which I posted a couple days ago.  Here is what she said.

Thank you for printing this document.  While I was reading the list of grievances against Britain, I knew that each one referred to specific events.  What if a Revolutionary history textbook began with the Declaration, and then used as its chapter headings each of the complaints and justifications presented in the document?

What was most important to the Congressmen?  Why were the grievances listed in that order?  Were any left out, and if so, then why?  What was/were the "last straw(s)"?  And how do all of these things compare to what the rest of the people thought and felt? 

Susan

Thanks Susan.  Great ideas!

I'm surprised that I have not yet received photos of any Treasure Coast arrowhead finds.  Maybe they are not found on the beach as commonly as I thought.

Happy hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net

5/28/19 Report - 27 Iron Age Gold Artifacts Discovered by Detectorist. Good Luck or Bad Luck. Extra-Shiny Quarters. Religion and Gaming.

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

A Few of The 27 Gold Artifacts Discovered by A Detectorist in Denmark.
Source: See Sciencenoridic.com link below.

27 Gold Artifacts Discovered by Detectorist in Denmark.

… The most recent discovery was made by a pair of metal detectorists and amateur archaeologists in a field on the Danish island of Hjarnø, in Horsens Fjord. It was a spectacular discovery and an expensive one, containing more than 34 objects, 27 of which are pure gold.

Forgotten treasure or a gift for the gods?

Amateur archaeologist, Terese Refsgaard, alerted us to the discovery at Vejle Museums, in accordance with Danish law. And one of our first questions was whether the objects were buried together as treasure to be hidden, or whether it was intended as an offering to the gods.

Treasure is buried in a hurry to hide it during times of threat or during a turbulent situation, and is often intended to be collected again once the threat has passed. But an offering is intended to remain buried as a gift to the gods.

Sacrifices often contain a certain combination of objects, probably so that they can be used later on in Valhalla, as described in the Ynglinga Saga...

Here is the link for the rest of the article.

http://sciencenordic.com/archaeologists-celebrate-spectacular-discovery-iron-age-treasure

Click on the gallery to see more photos of the finds.

In my post yesterday I pondered the possible significance of a painted stone.  When things can't be otherwise explained, artifacts are often thought to be either religious or having to do with gaming.  I get the feeling that those two interpretations are used too much.  Of course, some items are used for religion or gaming.  I just think those interpretations are used too often.

I've found most of the items shown immediately below.  I didn't know what they were until I discovered a web site that sells them.  That gave me the explanation.

Yemana Tools

Source papajimsbotanica.com.

Here is the explanation from papajimsbotanica.com web site.

Yemaya is the essence of Fertility, Protects all women. It is also known to bring you Good luck, Blessings and also attract love your way. The energy allows you to focus on your hard work to achieve your goals. Find solutions to your love, good luck and fertility problems. When you don’t seem to have the energy look to our Yemaya Tools! Includes 9 pieces.
16 peice set. 

That is a case in which the religious use was not obvious to me, but was the right interpretation.

Here are some Treasure Coast Native American beach finds.

The round item at the upper right is called a discoidal and is thought to have been used in games.  That is what the experts say.  It seems to be widely accepted that they are gaming pieces, yet no matter how much consensus there is about that, I have my doubts even though I have absolutely no expertise on the subject and should probably just accept the common wisdom.

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One day at the dollar store I received some exceptionally shiny quarters in my change.  I thought they were proof.  They were clearly different than the quarters you usually see.

Here is a brand new 2019 quarter I got in change yesterday.  It was taken out of a new roll and shows very few defects other than "bag marks" from the mint.

Nice New 2019 Quarter.

And here is the extra-shiny quarter.  The photo was taken with the same camera and lighting.

Extra-shiny 2019 Quarter.

Here they are side by side in the same photo.

Two 2019 Quarters Side-by-Side.

I found out that the shiny one wasn't proof.  It is actually silver-plated.

You can buy silver plated coins on Amazon and eBay and I think they are offered on TV at times.

Anyway it fooled me, but I learned something.

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Here is an excerpt from the amazing story of Andy O'Donnell of World War II.   Was it good luck or bad luck?  It seemed his ships always sank, but he survived.

… So what is the verdict? Was Andy really bad luck or was it all just a series of coincidences? Consider that every ship the man spent an evening aboard was sunk, even though in three cases he wasn't onboard when it happened. (Some point out that the vessel that fished him out of the water off Guadalcanal in August of 1942, the destroyer Wilson, survived the war unscathed, suggesting that the "curse" was not all encompassing, but the man did not spend the evening on the ship, having been put ashore just a few hours after being picked up. Do curses have time limits, one wonders?) The odds against such a thing happening are astronomically high. On the other hand, some might argue that other than the Bullhead, the "curse" proved to be anything but that for Andy, for he managed to survive two sinkings in three months—a feat no other American sailor accomplished. In the end, we can only wonder about the farm boy from Olathe, Kansas, and how the stars and planets all managed to line up in such a way as to make his story possible....

Here is the link for the rest of the article.

https://www.ourcuriousworld.com/AndyStory.htm

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I just got a good lead the other day when my wife was talking to someone she knew.  There is a crumbling chimney and junk spread around in an overgrown area.  I plan to check it out sometime.

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We are into summer conditions now and the beaches won't change often except when we get a storm.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

9/28/18 Report - Native American Artifacts From Treasure Coast Beaches. Bigger Surf Coming.

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

Artifacts Found On Treasure Coast Beaches.

A few days ago I wrote about what I called a "complete beach hunter."  I explained what I meant by that three-word term and how it means going beyond being just a detectorist.  It includes being aware of and finding all kinds of beach treasures - not just metallic.

Above is an example of one nonmetallic type of beach treasure that can be found on the Treasure Coast beaches.  On the left is a shell celt.  In the middle is an arrowhead made of agatized coral.  And on the right is a rounded shell object, and below that is a gaming piece.  All of those have been examined by experts.

Here is what the myflorida.com site says about agatized coral.

Coral is the outside skeleton of tiny ocean animals called polyps, which live in colonies attached to hard underwater surfaces. When alive, polyps combine their own carbon dioxide with the lime in warm seawater to form a limestone-like hard surface, or coral.

Agatized coral occurs when silica in the ocean water hardens, replacing the limy corals with a form of quartz known as chalcedony. This long process (20-30 million years) results in the formation of a "pseudomorph," meaning that one mineral has replaced another without having lost its original form. In 1979 agatized coral was designated the official state stone.

Agatized coral is found in three main Florida locations: Tampa Bay, the Econfina River, and the Withlacoochee/Suwannee river beds.

(See https://dos.myflorida.com/florida-facts/florida-state-symbols/state-stone/)

So the agatized coral arrowhead or the stone that was used to make it came from somewhere other than the Treasure Coast even though the arrowhead was found on a Treasure Coast beach.

Small Discoidal Artifact.

You'll find a lot of written about discoidals (disc-shaped gaming pieces).  The one shown above is deeply concave on both sides.  It is my uninformed opinion that the one shown above is too small to have been used in the game that is described below.

Many surviving discoidals are both beautiful and durable. Quartz and granite were often used in the making of these popular game stones. Both materials are extremely hard, and they had to be. Discoidals were continuously used in sporting contests over generations, so they had to be durable. A very few discoidals are made from colorful flint. Discoidals are very popular today with collectors because they come in many styles and colorful materials. Many are so finely made that today they are seen as works of sculptural art...

Here is the link for more about discoidals.

http://www.arrowheads.com/index.php/discoidals/632-mississippi-discoidals-ancient-sports-collectibles

I've seen other people find arrowheads on the beach.  One day after some good erosion a lady staying at the Disney Resort in Wabasso approached me and showed me one she found.

The first one I found was on a South Hutchinson Island beach.

These types of artifacts aren't found often but you can find them.  Like other types of treasure they appear once in a while - mostly after a rough surf that has piled up larger shells.

You can develop eye-balling skill just like you can develop metal detecting skills.

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The big news for today is the big surf predictions.

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

This chart shows a five to nine foot surf on Sunday, then several days of big surf.  That could bet interesting.  At some time during all of that, the angles should be right.  There is not telling how long the angles will be right though.  It could be too quick for anything good to come of it.  We'll have to wait and see how things develop.

Kirk has been hard to call.  He was stronger then weaker and then stronger again, and he turned north, then south, then north again.  It appears he has turned towards the north again.

Source: nhc.noaa.gov

Happy hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net

6/11/13 Report - Wreck of the HMS Forth & Who Are the Readers of This Blog

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

Three Views of Small Stone
Discoidal Found on a Treaure 
Coast Beach.

Yesterday I talked about some non-metallic finds that are being made on the Treasure Coast, including the olive jar rim discovered by William M.   There are now a good number of shells to be found on some beaches,and other relatively light materials can be found in the shell piles or nearby. 

A few fossils are also appearing.  I showed a  fossilized tooth of a Great White shark found by one reader just a few days ago.

Also, a few shell and stone Native American artifacts have reportedly been seen.

Discoidals are unusual artifacts.  You might not know anything about them.

Here is a nice article on discoidals.  The article presents pictures of a variety of examples, plus some nice discussion.

http://sracenter.blogspot.com/2009/05/srac-discoidal-stones.html



It appears that a nineteenth century shipwreck, probably that of the HMS Forth, which was part of
 the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, was found.   It sank on January 14, 1849 while sailing to Bermuda. Two other 19th century shipwrecks are nearby.

Here is the link to that story.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/07/hms-forth-shipwreck-found-yucatan_n_3404512.html#slide=2541468


If you've listened to the news at all lately, you know that all kinds of data is being recorded and kept on the users of telecommunications of all sorts, and Google is no small player in that.  They really attempt to get all the information they can on users.  Of course most people see no harm in all that.   Most people like to share their information on Facebook and various other places.  It helps form communities. 

As you probably know, I credit finds and submissions made to this blog in whatever manner the user wants to be credited.  If you want to submit something and want your full name posted, I will gladly do that.  If you don't say how you want to be credited, I simply post first name and last initial.

Google collects demographic data of those who visit a blog.  It is used by commercial web sites (which this blog is not) for marketing purposes.  There is nothing real surprising about where the readers of this blog come from.

95% are from the US.  No surprise there.  The other top countries, in decreasing order are after the U. S. are the U. K., Canada, Australia, Germany and Mexico.

62% are from Florida.  I'm a little surprised that that number isn't higher, but remember that there are a lot of snow birds who don't live here but who visit or vacation here and metal detect our beaches.

The other top states in decreasing order are California, Georgia, New York, Texas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and New Jersey.

Of the Floridians,  here are those local areas having the highest number of readers listed in decreasing order  Stuart (most readers), PSL, West Palm, Vero, Sebastian, Jupiter, Melborne, Orlando, Palm Bay, Fort Pierce,Tampa and Miami.  Of course the rankings are influenced by the size of the area.


On the Treasure Coast today, the surf is two - three feet with the wind from the East.  Low tide will be around 4:30 PM.

There is still a good bit of iron and secondary targets to be found, as well as non-metallic targets such as that shown today.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net