4/12/13 Report - Hurricane Season 2013, Fort Capron Lost Payroll History & More

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


First, it isn't hurricane season yet, but it is the season when they make predictions about hurricane season.  The predictions are out.

They are predicting 50 percent more activity this year than normal - 18 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes.   Who knows where they will go?  Or if it will really turns out as predicted.

I'll have to say it seems like they are getting fairly good at predicting the path when a storm forms.

I sometimes hear detectorists say they hope we'll get a hurricane.  I don't.  All the damage and problems it causes isn't worth it.  Besides, it really doesn't take a hurricane.  All that is required is for an off shore storm to sit and churn for a while, sending us some nice high waves from the north or northeast for a while.  Asking for a hurricane is not something that I would do.   Too many people suffer too much, some getting seriously injured or killed.

Here is the link to an article with the prediction for this year's hurricane season.

http://blog.sfgate.com/science/2013/04/10/forecasters-busy-hurricane-season-on-tap-for-the-atlantic/



Yesterday I showed a picture of a gold coin from the Fort Capron payroll treasure.  Brian F sent me the link to an article that tells all about how it was lost.  The article was published in the The Florida Historical Quarterly, Vol. 47, No. 1 (Jul., 1968), pp. 51-58. 

Here is the link.

 http://www.jstor.org/stable/30147407 .

Really nice article, which includes a map, photos of some coins found, distribution of coins, etc.  You'll undoubtedly find it both interesting and informative.   Thanks Brian F.!


And here is an article about the discovery of a cannon ball that was unearthed during road construction.  The cannon ball is from the Battle of Franklin (Tenn.).

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130408/WILLIAMSON01/130408016?nclick_check=1

That is one more reminder to check out any place where the earth has been moved and something might be uncovered.

I recommend checking out the sand from abandoned gopher turtle holes or whatever.  You never know what they might kick out.  But don't disturb the turtles.  They are protected.


Wet mucky areas are usually avoided by most detectorists.  I wouldn't avoid those areas though.  Although some items will tend to sink in mud, I've found some muddy areas to be very productive.

There is one such place that I make sure to detect whenever I am in the area, which is not often.  When you walk in, you sink in the mud up to your ankles.. 

You wouldn't think many people would go in that muck, but enough do.  And you might not think it would be productive, but if someone does go out there and sticks their hand in the mud, they will likely loose whatever they had on their hand because the mud will suck it right off. 

Every time I've detected at this mucky spot, which, as I said, isn't often, I've found a ring. 

Sometimes the good spots don't look like they would be any good.  Those spots can be some of the best because most detectorists pass them up.

Another reason wet muck can be interesting is because it preserves some materials that would otherwise deteriorate.

Here is an article about how waterlogged mud preserved thousands of artifacts from the Roman period that were discovered in London.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/apr/09/archaeologist-objects-roman-london-find

Nice photos of some unusual artifacts.


Yesterday I got fooled.  I was expecting very little surf at low tide, but the wind picked up and it got pretty gusty.  That increased the surf.  Just like the hurricane predictions, the daily predictions are pretty good but not perfect.

On the Treasure Coast today, the surf is predicted to be 1 - 2 feet again.  The wind continues from the South.  The South winds and calm surf is expected for at least a few days.

Low tide will be a little after 4 PM today (Friday).


Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net