8/13/17 Report - Old Maps From the Internet. The Watch Videos. Different Terms. D.B. Cooper Treasure Mystery. Tropical Storm Forming.

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

Super Old Map For Locating Metal Detecting Sites.

The internet provides so much good research material.  I found this 1876 map showing the area where I grew up and where many of my ancestors settled in the 1800s.  There farms are well marked on the map.  You can see where the old school house was, and you might be able to see the Plank Road running down the middle of the map, which was actually covered with planks back in the day.  Now it looks like any other road.  And near there used to be an old one-room school house that has been remodeled many times so that you would never guess that it was either a school house or old.  These kinds of old maps are invaluable for locating good metal detecting sites.

I also found an early 1700s map showing where one of my ancestors had land near Lancaster PA.  As I've said before, I really enjoy digging up (in more ways than one) my own family's history.

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The past few days I showed some videos.  One thing you should get out of that series is the need to be careful about selecting the mode you use when you metal detect.  I generally prefer an All Metals or Pinpoint mode.   If you used coin mode for those watches, for example, you probably would have missed them a lot of the time, and even if you used All Metals mode and were going by the signal tone or ID meter, you still could have missed some of the watches.  Other artifacts could be missed just as easily.

I used the Garrett Ace for the videos.  It is not a high-end detector, but the circuitry is basic and similar to that used in many detectors.  I might demonstrate how different types of detectors woud respond some time in the future.

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I remember once reading that someone didn't like the use of the word "detectorist."  I forget their reasoning, but for me the term is a good one.  They preferred the label "coinshooter."

I prefer the word detectorist because it is more general.  Few people who are out there hunting coins would not want to find a nice gold ring or something else of value.  Most people who search the treasure beaches hunt for and find things other than coins, including rings, spikes and other artifacts. And those that too narrowly focus on coins, might not realize how many other types of nice shipwreck items they are missing.

Treasure hunting is an even more general term.  There a lot of different kinds of treasure that can be found on a beach.  Some aren't even metallic.  The 1715 Fleet wax seal impression that I found is one example.  There are also pottery, stone, fossil and other types of treasure that can be found while detecting.  I don't like being too restrictive.  I don't like to miss much of anything that I might find interesting.  I'm not just interested in coins or jewelry or silver or gold.  Even when I really want to find one type of thing and go out with that intent, I do not see any reason to pass over any other interesting things that might be there.  You can be looking for one thing and find something else even better.  Also, the other things you see along the way, such as a pot shard or musket ball, might provide just the clue you need to help you find the thing you set out to find.  Everything that has been on a beach for a while provides some indication of how the beach and other things are moving and therefore can provide very important and useful information.

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A crew of volunteer cold-case investigators in the Pacific Northwest, led by a former FBI agent, has uncovered what they believe to be “potential evidence” in the 46-year-old mystery of D.B. Cooper...

Here is the link for more about that.

https://dbcooper.com/2017/08/1382/

Thanks to Dean for the link.

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Tropical Storm Eight.
Source: nhc.noaa.gov

Tropical Depression Eight looks like it will be a storm, but it won't come our way.  I'm not expecting to get anything off of this one at all.  It has been a very long sustained period of south and southeast wind and building beaches.  Someday that will change.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

2/1/16 Report - Historic Ceramics Research Resources.

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

Source: http://anthropology.tamu.edu/papers/Donachie-PhD2001.pdf

The above illustration can be found in a dissertation on 17the century Port Royal ceramics.  You can use this link.  http://anthropology.tamu.edu/papers/Donachie-PhD2001.pdf

The illustration shows a protected water situation where mud or silt has settled and sea grass is growing.  An ocean beach would have more waves, which would keep silt and mud from settling and not allow sea grass to grow.  Silt and mud would be moved to deeper water where the waves would not stir things up while sand, shells and other bits and pieces would be washed up onto the beach and back down from time to time.   Some ceramics and glassware would flow in and out very much like sea shells.

In the same dissertation mention was made of a ceramics classification system (POTS).  That typology can be found in A Vessel Typology for Early Chesapeake Ceramics: The Potomac Typological System by Beaudry, Long, Miller, Neiman and Stone, in Historical Archaeology 17(1):18-42.

Here are a few of the categories in that typology.

The pictures and definitions can be helpful.

Watch for ceramics, bottles and shards.  They are one of the first clues you will often get to a good detecting location.

Some people use a metal probe to probe the mud or sand for bottles or other ceramics or glass.   On land sites, you'll only have to look at the surface.

Another thing to look for in shallow protected water, is clumps of moss.  An unusual clump might be attached to a bottle.  Sometimes it will be a piece of wood or something, but one of my favorite bottle finds was made when I investigated a clump of sea grass sticking up in an otherwise plain sandy area. The sea grass was stuck to the bottle.  It was a nice old blob top.

Here are a couple excellent resources about historic ceramics.

http://www.connarchaeology.org/html/historic_ceramics.html


http://nautarch.tamu.edu/class/313/ceramics/period-1.htm

I'll post some pictures of Treaure Coast ceramics including Native American up to 20th century.

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This was one beautiful day.  Warm and calm with very little surf.  The surf will be small but increasing very slightly over the next few days.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

6/22/15 Report - Recent Atocha Finds. Bonsteel Beach. Nautical Archaeology Research Resources. Roman Artifacts Found By Detectorist.

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

The above is an illustration is from a dissertation on flint lock pistols found on a 17th Century shipwreck.
Source: http://anthropology.tamu.edu/papers/Garigen-MA1991.pdf



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In the past couple of posts I showed some of the super finds made by Treasure Coast salvors   The guys down south on the Atocha are making finds too.

One very nice lead bale seal was found.  It is being researched to see if they can identify the owner.  


Other recent finds on the Atocha site include four silver coins, a musket ball, several large spikes, encrusted objects, pottery, and some big ballast stones. The location of the large ballast stones suggests that there might well be more to be found to the East.

They will also soon be resuming the search for the Lost Merchant. 

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One Treasure Coast coin beach that doesn't get mentioned as often as some of the others is Bonsteel.  Back a few posts I was talking about hurricanes Frances and Jeane.   One detectorist picked up 24 half reales there in one day.  I'm sure there were others doing the same.

Bonsteel is known for producing small half reales.

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I just added a great new link to my Treasure Site Reference Link List.  The link that I added will take to a large number of graduate dissertations from the Texas A. & M. Nautical Archaeology program. \

That provides a lot of really good information.  The dissertations are good alone, but if you go to the references listed at the end of each dissertation you'll find a lot more good research materials.

Whether you are interested in Chinese porcelain from 17th Century Port Royal or the development of English anchors from 1550, you'll find plenty of interest in these dissertations.

Here is the link that I added to my list.

http://anthropology.tamu.edu/html/graduate-theses-dissertations.html

The dissertation on flintlock pistols which provided the above illustration is on that list.

You might want to look through that list if you haven't done it for a while.

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Bronze Roman Urn Found By Detectorist
Source: See LiveScience.com link

A man in England went exploring with a metal detector and made the discovery of a lifetime: an exquisitely preserved Roman-era grave filled with artifacts, including bronze jugs, mosaic glassware, coins and hobnails from a pair of shoes, all dating to about A.D. 200.

Here is that link.

http://www.livescience.com/50510-grave-artifacts-roman-england.html

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For many years I hunted exclusively in the all-metals or pinpoint modes.  That included a number of detectors.  Some of the best of those were built by individuals rather than any of the major detector companies.  However I did use detectors made by the major manufacturers and used those almost exclusively in the pinpoint or all metals mode as well.

That often results in greater sensitivity and depth, but that isn't the only benefit.  The "raw signal" that you get in those modes will help you get a good idea of the size, shape and depth of the object.  If you use it enough, you'll learn how much information you can get from that.  Knowing something about the size, shape and depth of a target often gives me the identity.  

I once explained how to identify nails and similar objects in all metals mode..  I'd rather know the size, shape and depth first, and then IF I actually want to know more about the object's identity before digging it, switch to a discrimination mode or target ID display.

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On the Treasure Coast don't expect any improvement in conditions this week.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

5/21/15 Report - Nautical Archaeology And The Rich History Of Florida. Great Resources For Shipwreck Research.

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

Today I'm going to provide some information that will serve as background material for a future discussion on some shipwreck salvage topics.  I think you'll find it very interesting on its own.

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Florida has a lot of interesting history.  Have you ever heard of Beard's raid?

The Civil War had devastating consequences for industrial northwest Florida. To prevent the local industrial complexes from being captured and used by encroaching Union troops, Confederate forces burned and destroyed the industrial infrastructure as they retreated (Rucker 1990). Among those destroyed were the immense industrial complexes located along the Blackwater River.  

The map above shows  Colonel William K Beard's path of destruction.

I had the opportunity to hunt that area when I was doing contract work for the Naval Air Station at Pensacola.  A fellow that worked there had done some detecting with little luck near Milton, which you can see near the top center of this map.  He was detecting an old site that was near the river.  The hotel had burned down years ago.  He wanted me to show him how to work the site.  I've told a little about that before.

I found some old coins, a silver plate, tax tokens, a gold plated lapel pin and other items in just the first couple hours of detecting.  It was obviously a good hunting location, and I wish I had more time there.

The area had a long thriving lumber business and was a shipping center.  A lumber mill was established in the area by the Spanish as early as the 18th century.

Here is a thesis that will tell you something about that.

Here is one good resource.  It is the thesis PARADOX ON THE BLACKWATER RIVER: THE HISTORY OF AN UNKNOWN SHIPWRECK By Marisa Lee Foster B.A., University of West Florida, 2009.

That thesis is the source of the map shown at the top of the page, as well as the quote.   Here is the link.

http://etd.fcla.edu/WF/WFE0000440/Foster_Marisa_Lee_201406_MA.pdf

One of the best things about academic studies like this is the list of references that you'll find at the end.

Here is a thesis on abandoned ships in the same geographical area that I found in the reference list.

THE HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY OF SHIP ABANDONMENT AT SHIELDS POINT by Paul Goodwin Sjordal B.A., The University of California, Davis 2000

And here is that link.

http://www.blackwaterriver.org/documents/Sjordal_Paul_2007_000.pdf

This is something I think you'll want to browse.

Here is the Palafox as it looked when being built.

 Below is the same ship as it looked years later.

There are numerous sunken ships in that area.

The next picture shows a lead draft marker.

I once found what I thought was a lead draft marker on a Treasure Coast shipwreck beach.  The one I found was in the shape of a V.  Roman numerals were used then.

In this thesis you'll see a good number of illustrations and photos.  It is very informative.

It also talks about the culture and evolution of wreck sites as well as many helpful concepts related to nautical archaeology.   That is something I'll discuss more sometime in the near future.

My main point today is the wealth of research material that you can find on the internet these days, including academic studies like the two I mentioned today.  And don't forget to check out the reference list at the end of each thesis.

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On the Treasure Coast we have one or two more days of two foot surf then we'll get a slight increase.  We still have the negative low tides but they are moderating.  No big beach changes are in the forecast.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

10/21/14 Report - The Magic and Memories of Metal Detecting. Excellent Research Links. Thin Silver Coin(?)

Written by the Treasure Guide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.BlogSpot.com.

Thin Piece of Silver
About Dime Size If Complete
 

 

I was looking through some old coin finds and noticed how often I could remember the exact moment when they were found.  I'm not talking about the routine pennies, nickles and dimes, that I don't pay much attention to, but those finds that are just a little distinctive in some way.  I was really amazed by how many of those finds brought back a crystal clear memory of the exact time and place.

Isn't that the magic of detecting? You create memories.  It surprises me how I remember exactly where and how so many items were found.  So many of those memories seem as clear today as they were 20 years ago. 

They might be moments of elation, surprise, wonder, or maybe exhaustion or fear.  Those memorable moments are very different, but they stick in memory just the same.

I remember stupid things that I did.  I remember the first time I got caught in a rip tide.  And the time I got bumped by something in the ocean at night, and I still don't know what it was.  (I don't do that anymore.)  It got my heart pumping.

They say God watches over helpless fools.  He took care of this ignorant soul.

You might not know exactly what something is when you first dig it up, and that seems to add to the excitement. 

There often is excitement when you first dig up an item.  I clearly remember the diamond that I saw sparkling through a couple feet of crystal clear water as it came up in my scoop.  That was beautiful, and it was memorable.  The sky was so blue and the water was crystal clear that day.

I remember the time my wife thought she had a real hot spot when she had a hole in her goody bag and kept picking up the same coins.  That was funny.

I remember the time I found a very nice gold chain and religious medallion and it slipped through a hole in my pocket on the way back to the car.  After discovering that it was missing I walked back a mile or more to find it, and was lucky enough to see part of it sticking out of the sand at the edge of the water. 

Those are just a few.  There are tons of them, and they come marching back one by one as I look through old finds.

Some of those finds will last a long time.  Somebody else will own them some day, but whoever gets the item won't get all the magic.  They weren't there.  I was.

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Above are two views of a dug silver object.  It looks like it could have been a coin, but most of it is missing, as you can see.  The side shown in the second photo is almost completely covered with a thin coat of encrustation.  It looks like it was in the water a good long time.  It looks like it attracted some iron residue.

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This blog has become a very good resource.  I find myself often using the blog search box to find old postings to locate information or links.  There are quite a few links to good reference works. 

One reader commented on especially liking the gem stone link from the other day.

Below are some very good links relating to Florida archaeology.  Some deal with 16th Century Spanish exploration.  

The works are by Jeffrey M. Mitchem.  The articles are a few years old but excellent.

The first describes the archaeological evidence for the location of Narvaez's Aute.  Very good article about one of the very first Spanish explorations in Florida.  Well worth reading.

https://www.academia.edu/1419291/Archaeological_and_Ethnohistoric_Evidence_for_the_Location_of_Narvaezs_Aute

Here is an good list research resources by the same author.

http://uark.academia.edu/JeffreyMMitchem

Thanks to Mr. Mitchem for making his works easily available to the public.  That is how is should be.

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On the Treasure Coast today and tomorrow we are supposed to have a small surf -  only one to two feet.   That is as calm as it is going to be for a week or so if the predictions are correct.  Unfortunately the tides are pretty flat, so we won't be getting much of a low tide.

There is one disturbance hanging around in the south of the Gulf of Mexico.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@Comcast.net