3/28/20 Report - 18th Century Shipwreck Dated. Archaeology and Detectorists. Closed Beaches Ideas.

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

Source: See SeaCoastOnline.com link below.

YORK, Maine — Findings from a study conducted on a shipwreck site on Short Sands beach indicate the vessel was built before the American Revolutionary War...

Claesson said he had records of the wreck’s unearthing in 1958, then 1978.

“Photos taken during that time indicate the mast was cut off,” he said.

Claesson asked for anyone with photos or artifacts to contact him.

“I’m not trying to be the archaeology police,” he joked. “But people have been interacting with the site for decades. I’d love to see photos or learn anything else about it to be able to tell the full story of the site.”...

Here is the link for the rest of the article.

https://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20200325/york-shipwreck-predated-american-revolution-say-researchers


In the past year or two it has seemed to me that archaeology has not been bashing treasure hunters or metal detecting hobbyists as once as they once did.

A few years ago it seemed that at least every other article involving detectorists included the word "looters" or something to that effect.  I haven't been seeing that very often since around the time I did a piece entitled "The Problem With Archaeology."  I can't imagine that it had such an effect, but at the same time, it could have.

I mentioned some compelling facts including the notion that archaeologists claim to be "saving the past for the public" while acting in a very contradictory manner.  I pointed out that "treasure hunters" in some ways serve that goal much more effectively than archaeologists.  That is evidenced by a number of facts, including the fact that many more of the readers of this blog have seen shipwreck items in the Mel Fisher museums than in the Florida Museum of Natural History.  That is just a part of my argument and recommendation for archaeology.

Here is the link to the post in which I talk about that.

https://treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com/2018/02/22518-report-problem-with-archaeology.html

One point I made in that post is how the public can assist archaeologists.  Claesson asks for that assistance, but because of the mistrust created by archaeologists has to let the public know that he is not going to "try to be the archaeology police."

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With the beaches close you might be wondering where you can metal detect.  We've faced beach closings before, and there are always people who manage to get on the beaches one way or another.

I often say there is always away.  I am a person that enjoys finding alternative methods of doing things.  There are ways you can get on the beach even if it is closed without doing anything illegal.  You don't have to jump fences or do anything like that.  For example, you can go by boat or jet ski.  Maybe you have friends or acquaintances that have beachside residences or you might rent a room at a beachside residence or resort.  Some detectorists have passes through their jobs or do contracting that can get them on the beach.  There are things that I won't mention.  They are used by some detectorists every time the beaches get closed for hurricanes.  I'ts not that I'm trying to keep them secret, and I don't use them myself.  I just want you to know that there are ways to do it legally if you really want to do it.  .

Better yet, there are some good alternatives to the beach, which you should realize because the beach is not always the best place to hunt anyhow.  Let's think off-beach.

The first thing is to be alert to what you see as you go about your normal daily business.  You will see some decent sites.  I always have a long list of sites in mind that I plan to test someday when I get around to it.  When I think of beaches, I have my high and low priority beaches, but I also have a long list of off-beach detecting spots too.

You know how when you are driving along A1A and you see all of those spots where fishermen kayakers and others stop along the west side of the Indian River.  They've been doing it for many years, but those spots aren't detected much.  There is a reason that people don't detect those spots.  For one thing, there will be a lot of trash and sinkers and very little good treasure, but if you adjust your techniques, you might find a few interesting things.  I've done those spots before, and have found some nice things.  You might even find something old - maybe a nice old shell native American artifact.  There is more to be found in the river than you might think.  There are even spots where galleons or pieces of galleons washed over the island and into the river.  You'll have a better chance if you've done your research.

There is a lot of construction going on.  The railroad is adding tracks and roads are being widened and repaired.  In the process old ground is being churned up.  Don't try to detect an active construction site, but if you watch what is going on, you can identify some good metal detecting possibilities.  Work around the edges or after the work is done.  If you've been reading this blog very long, you've read numerous articles about archaeological sites being unearthed by construction projects.

The recent drought will open up some areas that were overgrown.  I know of one area that I've been watching for a while and the overgrowth is thinning out so I won't have to do so much work to make it detectable.  It was heavily covered by overgrowth, but you could see surface evidence of old glass and bricks.  You can open up new areas if you are willing to remove brush.  You might still need to adjust how you sweep your detector.  Maybe use non-motion mode.

You might ask for permission to detect private property.  Most beach hunters have never done much of that.  It never hurts to try something new.

You can hook up with other detectorists who might have access to good areas.

Remember the old silver coins that came out of the Peace River.  Waterways are good areas to metal detect and often have public access.  Search the banks or shallow water, or dive.

Watch for grass covered parking lots.  I know where there are a few of those.  They are often not closed off.

I always enjoyed working old carnival grounds especially just after the carnival picked up and left. I found mostly modern coins.  Sometimes there would be dollars of quarters laying on the surface and dollar bills blown up against the fences.

Generally, just keep your eyes open as you go about your normal daily business and notice any possibilities.

Try something new and different.  It might be outside your comfort zone, but you'll probably learn something new and improve your skills for when you get back to the beach.

Another possibility is do another kind of treasure hunting.  Maybe go look for some fossils.

There are a few ideas.  If you have others that you'd like to share, let me know.

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I just thought of this last night and thought I should post it.  I don't know exactly why.  I just have a feeling.

You'll remember it from 1985 if you are old enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M7c-JOnPdw

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The surf will be around four feet today and then decreasing for the next few days.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

5/6/18 Report - Beach Renourishment: The Danger and Problems. Plimsoll Marks. Ring Stretcher.

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

The live bidding starts on May 15, 10 AM

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Here is part of an interesting article sent to me by Will B.

“We are not saying nourished beaches are more dangerous but there does seem to be some link between beach projects and increased risks, so we need to study this further,” said Brian Haus, a professor of ocean science at the University of Miami, and one of the authors.

At stake: Billions of dollars in beach-buffing funds, not to mention the tourist dollars attracted to Florida’s golden coast....

The authors’ research shows that, in Ocean City, Md., for example, numbers from the U.S. Lifesaving Association show the number of serious medical accidents on the beach increased three times over between the summers of 2006 and 2007, after a project widened the beach there.

Closer to home, data collected by the Brevard County Ocean Rescue shows the number of rip-current and preventative rescues increased about by about a quarter in the two years after a beach widening project, compared with the number of those rescues during the two years before.

I don't like the beach renourishment projects, which seem to be the rage these days.  Heaven forbid that a tourist see a natural beach.  I know it is too late for that in many cases, with hotels, sea walls, groins etc.

The money spent on these projects has to be loved by who increase their power and influence and throw big bundles of tax payer money around to their friends or whoever they choose, but the there are a lot of things to dislike about beach renourishment, especially at locations where it is done every year or more frequently.

One of the things I dislike most is the ugliness, noise and long period of time when beach access is restricted.   People can't get to the beach for all the barriers, huge rusty pipes and noisy tractors.   I can't imagine that people are attracted to a beach like that, or go away with a favorable impression. And it isn't for just a day or two, it takes weeks or months in many cases.  And for some strange reason, there are times they do it at the peak of tourist season or the when people most want to be there.

Another thing I don't like about it is how it erodes so quickly after the project.  It doesn't last.  Large steep drops are often created that make it difficult for people to get to the water.  Turtles lay their eggs in the renourishment sand and then the eggs get washed out.   

The quality of sand is important.  Of the projects conducted at Fort Pierce Jetty South in recent years, one dumped tons of garbage on the beach.  It looked more like a landfill.  One dumped large stones, which could easily turn an ankle.  And one dumped fine sand that destroyed visibility in the nearby water and undoubtedly also affected fish, vegetation and other wildlife.

Concerning the dangers created, beyond those I've already mentioned, the unnatural placement of sand deflects wave energy and creates potentially dangerous currents.  That is one reason why the renourishment sand won't stay put.  The more sand that is dumped where it won't stay, the quicker it will be removed by nature.

Here is the link for the rest of the article.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-reg-beach-erosion-complications-20180504-story.html

Thanks for the link Will.

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Yesterday  I mentioned how some authors publish whatever they can glean from other sources.  That has always been done, but the more honest authors make an effort to credit the sources of their ideas.  Metal detecting books are one thing, but it seems even academics are doing the same thing these days.

I heard the author of Living in a Mindful Universe doing a radio interview Saturday morning.  He talked about a filter theory of mind as if it was a new theory that he produced.  I immediately recognized the theory as identical to one proposed by William James and published in 1898 in a book entitled Human Immortality.  Ideally William James should have been credited as the source of the theory.  Maybe he wasn't aware of James' theory, but any serious researcher should have been, and I have to believe he was.  I can overlook the omission in a radio interview where you don't have much time and can't say everything you want to or need to, but not in the published book.

I know people don't care.  They'll rip off other people's intellectual property or do whatever they can to promote themselves or find a little fame.

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I once found what I believed to be a part of a lead bow depth-marker on the Treasure Coast.  I'm not sure that is what it is though.

Sebastian Steve offered these remarks on plimsoll marks.

The PLIMSOLL MARKS... are often written in Roman Numerals on the bow of a ship to show the "load line." These Plimsoll Marks are required by law. I have seen them on shipwreck bows underwater dating from the 1880s. They were often carved into the stem of the ship and then the indentations painted with white lead paint that evidently was quite durable!

Steve also mentioned how he used a ring stretcher/sizer. If you didn't know you could stretch or size some rings, look it up. Seems like it could be handy.

Thanks Steve.

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The tides are pretty flat now, and we won't see a surf higher than three feet on the Treasure Coast next week.

Happy hunting,
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