10/18/18 Report - Using Nature and Finds in Treasure Displays. History, Constructs, Genetics and Humor.

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

Display and Photo by John C.

John C. sent in the above photo along with the following message.

Well, not exactly a display case, but it's the closest thing I have for now, always wanted to put together a nice display case, but I haven't gotten around to it yet, but everything in the picture is real, except of course the coins and the small piece of China, pictured are musket balls, copper spikes ,some lead sheathing and some pottery shards.  I got this big guy diving off Corrigan's some years ago, so I tried to make it look, as close as I can, to its natural environment.

Thanks John.  I like the natural look.

I think this series of posts on displays will motivate some of you to do something with your own finds so they are not just sitting in a closet in a box.  That would be too much like a lot of the stuff in our museums.

The displays that I've posted are all awesome.  John shows how a variety of things you can pick up at the beach can be used.

Here is something that might give you an idea.

Clump of Barnacles Used to Display Coin.

You could mount a clump of barnacles, concretion, or shells on a piece of drift wood and get as creative as you want.

Someday I might get around to giving some other tips on how to use found or scrap items to inexpensively create displays.

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Unlike a book or cinema, there is always more to the story.  History is never the whole story.  It doesn't end when the credits roll.  Only the simple-minded can unapologetically offer simple answers to complex problems.

Elizabeth Warren's attempt to prove her Native American ancestry didn't end up how she hoped.  Race or ethnicity is a construct.  It can not be proven.  Not even with genetic markers.  The whole discussion illustrates that.

Fact is, we are all a mixed up mess - not entirely one thing or another.  Elizabeth Warren, according to her 23 and Me test results, was determined to have anywhere from 1/64 to 1/1,024th Native American ancestry.  I won't even comment on the questionable methods used by the test to determine Native American ancestry, but why wouldn't a person claim to be of a group that they more closely match - say 90, 70 or even 50%.  It's obvious - personal gain.

A Cherokee tribal leader said that only the tribe could determine membership.  He said that you could not use genetic markers to determine that.

If you do attempt to use genetic markers to determine ancestry, as Elizabeth Warren learned, only more questions are raised.  What is the criteria for group membership?  Do you have to be 90, 70 or 50%, or can you be as little as one millionth.  If you can't define the criteria, you have a problem.

If a genetic marker crietion is used, a lot of tribal leaders will find that they no longer qualify as members.  To them such things as culture, respect and participation are more important than genetics.  For some that is indeed fortunate because otherwise they might be disqualified.

Most people in American say they are Christians.  Born again Christians might say that a majority of those who say they are Christians are not because they are not born again Christians.  Some people claim they are Christians because they observe some traditions such as Christmas, or go to church on Easter.  What is the criterion?  That is the important question.

Many Native Americans claim that their ancestors were always in America.  Many archaeologists, on the other hand, claim that Native Americans only came to North America around 30 thousand years ago.   (See http://theconversation.com/first-americans-lived-on-land-bridge-for-thousands-of-years-genetics-study-suggests-23747 for a more adequate discussion.)

History is not the whole story.  It is someone's perspective.  History takes on a different flavor or color with each telling.  It becomes something other than what it was, no matter how much we try to capture the whole truth.  Ancestry is the same.  It is the history of a family.  It is usually more fiction than fact.  That doesn't make it less important.  It has a lot to do with how people see themselves.  The only thing I object to is using it for advantage over other people.

If you are an evolutionist, we have another ancestry.  Our ancestors were relatives of the Chimpanzees or Bonobos.  Humans and chimps share 98.8 percent of their DNA, so does that mean that Elizabeth Warren is more chimpanzee than Native American?  

Roll the credits.

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Did you ever see such a long setup for a punch line?

The tides are flat, but some higher surf is expected.

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com

Looks like the four to six foot surf has been delayed a little.  Look for it Monday.


Keep the treasure display photos coming.


Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

10/17/18 Report - Two More Excellent Treasure Coast Reader Treasure Displays. More Ancient Shipwrecks Discovered. Weather Map Clean.

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

Finds Made by Jerry P in a Display Box Created by Jerry.

Photo by Jerry P.

Jerry P. sent photos of two of his treasure displays along with the following message.

... I like the shadowbox look so most of my displays are done this way. I also keep a detailed catalog on the back of every display with the date the item was found, beach it was found at along with GPS coordinates and a description of the item/items. The first display is a collection of large bronze ship spikes in a cigar box, that one can acquire for free at any ABC liquor store. I just cut out the top of the box and place a piece of picture frame glass that can be found in a trash pile of thrift store cheap. The second shadowbox I picked up at a thrift store and put smaller bronze spikes, square nails and a brass side plate to an old musket. I photo shopped pieces of the 1774 Bernard Romans map and printed it on old brown paper for an old rustic look. Thank you for all your posts. 

Treasure Display by Jerry P.

Those are excellent finds and displays.  Thanks for sharing Jerry.

There are some things Jerry said that I want to emphasize.  First, on the back of his displays
 he writes the date of the finds, GPS coordinates and item descriptions.  That is a great idea.

He got a good start for one display in a thrift store.  That is also a great idea.   
Also notice the nice graphics.  You can do a lot with a home computer and printer.

The cigar box idea is a great tip.  With a little creativity you can inexpensively make 
some excellent displays.

I'll add one more thing.  Put your name on the back of the display.  Those displays might be 
around after you are long gone, and although you don't need that information now, some day it 
might be good to have it on the display.

Thanks again Jerry.

Source: See APNews link below.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A Greek-U.S. team of marine archaeologists has located three 
more ancient shipwrecks with pottery cargoes, including 1,900-year-old branded designer 
lamps, and two from much later times in a rich graveyard of ships in the eastern Aegean 
Sea, a project official said Tuesday...

The older wrecks date to the 4th and 2nd centuries B.C. and the 5th-6th centuries A.D., 
while the more recent ones are from the 18th or 19th century, said archaeologist George 
Koutsouflakis, joint leader of the project.

He said they were discovered at depths of 10-40 meters (33-130 feet). Because that is 
relatively shallow, the wrecks bore traces of looting by illegal antiquities hunters or of 
damage by fishing nets...

Here is the link for more about that.

https://apnews.com/2153bb35180f4f9190260beb927d70c1

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There is absolutely nothing on the National Hurricane Center map in the Atlantic or
Caribbean right now.

The tides are near flat, as is the surf.

The prevailing swell is from the southeast.

Friday the surf will increase to three to five feet.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net