8/16/15 Report - Why An Artifact Is More Than An Artifact.

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

Did you ever wonder what it is about treasure hunting that makes it so fascinating?  Even people that have never done it find it interesting.  It is the subject of books and movies, and young children play games and seek pirate treasures.

 I find myself wondering why I like to watch Diggers and those goof-ball guys digging up mostly rusty junk.  It isn't really any great drama, yet I enjoy watching it.

First off there is the element of discovery and surprise.  Those are basic.  The youngest child gets excited playing peek-a-boo and shows joy when things appear.  Some of my earliest memories involve going out to see if the chickens laid any eggs to gather.  The same thing for wild strawberries and other fruit.

There is very little that could have more survival value.  Maybe it is a part of our DNA.

I found an interesting article on the CRUX web site.  I feel like just pasting the entire article, but that wouldn't be right, and also I want to add my own comments.

The article starts off saying, The exhibit "Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology" at the National Geographic Museum until Jan. 3, features 100 carefully crafted film props alongside real archaeological finds.

There’s the golden Ark of the Covenant from "Raiders of the Lost Ark" — the model for the container that housed the Ten Commandments, complete with two winged cherubs as described in the Old Testament.

There’s the cup representing the Holy Grail from "Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade."

I didn't know where the National Geographic Museum is, so I looked it up.  It is at 1145 17th Street, NW (17th and M) Washington, DC 20036. 202–857-7700.  It is amazing how hard it can be to find such basic information on otherwise really good web sites.

Sounds like a great place to visit if you are ever in the area.

The article goes on to mention that archaeology students love the Indiana Jones movies.  The curator of the Indiana Jones exhibit said he thought that was because they make people think about the past, about God and the afterlife.

I never liked the Indiana Jones movies myself and don't really know why I don't like them other than perhaps they are too unrealistic.   Maybe I prefer my treasure hunting to be real.  

The Diggers aren't very dramatic, but they are more realistic.  The only thing that puts me off is the antics of the two fellows.  I'd like the program better without all of that..

But is the appeal of the Indiana Jones movies actually that they make you think about the past, God and the afterlife? 

The CRUX article says, “It’s not simply archaeology but the archaeology of the sacred, the idea that once upon a time humans had this immediate capacity to connect with something sacred,” said Manseau, who writes about Jones’ connection to sacred objects in an upcoming issue of the magazine CrossCurrents.  

According to Webster sacred means worthy of religious worship : very holy. : relating to religion. : highly valued and important : deserving great respect.

Before I go any further, I want to say I think Manseau is partly correct.  I want to strongly disagree with one thing though - humans still have the capacity to connect with the sacred - at least some of them.  It is not a "once upon a time" thing for many people.  It is a daily thing.

The article goes on to say, Sacred artifacts also excite people because they lend legitimacy to religious stories, Manseau noted. As much as religion is a matter of faith, he said, these archaeological adventures are at some level quests for proof because sacred artifacts make religion “physical in a way that’s hard to ignore.”

I'll agree with part of that.  Artifacts help people touch the past.  The treasure hunting community acknowledges that.

Besides the elements of adventure, discovery and surprise, it puts us in touch with something beyond ourselves - something bigger than ourselves.

There is also the success and failure thing.  We are rewarded by our efforts, and we enjoy the exercise and we enjoy nature in the process.

If you think about it, many of the things we seek and have an obvious connection with the sacred.  Sometimes it is symbolic.

Almost every cob has a cross on it.  Did you ever think about that?  And U. S. coins proclaim "In God We Trust."  That is so common and obvious that we tend to ignore it.

The "Ark of the Covenant," and the "Holy Grail" are the ultimate artifacts.  They were sought by the Crusaders and Knights Templar.  They are a part of our cultural roots that extend back thousands of years.  They are part of religion, history, and I think they are part of our psyche in a deeper way than we consciously acknowledge.

If you like old, they are old.  They are more than artifacts, they are archetypes.

It is not accidental or insignificant that almost every cob displays a cross.  Nor is it an accident that our coins say "In God We Trust," no matter if you like it or not.

Then there are the crucifixes, medallions and even wedding bands with a sacred or religious connection.

Even the precious metals and gem stones have been used in symbolically.  Gold has long been a symbol for deity because of its timeless untarnishing lustre.  It is no accident that it is used to create sacred artifacts.

Artifacts can touch as deeply.  They defy time.  They can span generations.

As we dig up a find and wipe away the dirt to see what was underneath, the artifacts sing the words of the old hymn Amazing Grace, I once was lost but now am found,

It is often said that Royals were made as presentation pieces for the King.  Frank Sedwick wrote a detailed paper about Royals, and says they were not likely for that purpose.  In fact they may have actually had a church connection like the uniquely shaped heart and animal votive cobs.

I've posted Laura Strolias research on some of the amazing artifacts found on the Treasure Coast including the Pelican of Piety and a gold reliquary pendant.  

In my 11/4/12 post Laura's article said,  Using the visual art of a pelican in piety, whether it was a painting or a sculpture, greatly aided the devout when contemplating the image of Christ on the Cross and his presence in the Eucharist.

In my 8/31/14 post Laura said this about the reliquary pendant.  The Reliquary Pendant found at Douglass Beach is also called a triptych, a term meaning that a work of art is made up of three hinged panels that can be opened for display, or folded shut when desired.  The circular opening on the 1715 reliquary would have held a holy remain behind a piece of rock crystal.  A fabric-covered paste board would have been stitched to the back of it.

It is intriguing to wonder about the final destination of this 1715 reliquary if the hurricane never happened.  Perhaps it was meant to hang in a private chapel of a wealthy household, or near the bedside of a clergy member?  We will never know the answer. But in this modern day of age, we are so fortunate to be able to view an artifact, such as this one, that holds such beauty and significance. 

What I am saying today is that treasure hunting is more than it seems.  It is deeper, more basic and instinctual than we may realize.  And finds are more than objects.  They provide a bridge - not only to a time and place and person in history, but to something deeper in each and every one of us.

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Here is the link to the article in CRUX.

http://www.cruxnow.com/life/2015/08/13/indiana-jones-quest-for-the-sacred/

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I think I should end there today.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

8/31/14 Report - More On The 1715 Fleet Reliquary Pendant Found By The Booty. More On The Cob Tests. Brevard Beaches Improving.

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

Photos of Reliquaries 

Submitted by L. Strolia

The most read post of July was the 7/31/14 post.  I've been going back to see which posts were the most popular, or to be more exact, the most read posts.

It is not surprising that the 7/31/14 post was the most read post of July.  That is the post that reported on the amazing find made by the crew of the Booty on the Treasure Coast.

I incorrectly referred to that find as a gold pyx.  Laura Strolia, author and researcher has since told us why it is a reliquary pendant rather than a pyx.  I posted on report by author Strolia a few weeks ago, but she was kind enough to provide additional explanation, which you'll find immediately below.

More on the 1715 Fleet Triptych Reliquary Pendant

Here are some more thoughts regarding the TRIPTYCH RELIQUARY PENDANT of the 1715 fleet.

First off, I would like to better explain why this artifact is not a pyx.  A small container called a pyx was used by a priest to transport the consecrated Sacred Host to a sick or dying person.  It was crucial that nothing could penetrate into the body of this vessel and allow absorption.  The material used for a pyx would never have small or narrow spaces, such as we see in filigree work, because there would be a danger the Host would become corrupted.

Upon leaving a church, the priest placed the pyx in a purse or pouch, called a burse, which was hung around his neck by a cord. Even the burse, usually made of leather, cotton, or wool, was not enough to protect a receptacle of filigree metal since all these materials were permeable to water and air.

Another point to consider is the size of the circular opening that would encase a consecrated Host if it was a pyx.  The circle on the 1715 artifact reflects an opening that is too small based on diameters of the average vessel or ciborium of that time period. Additionally a pyx always had a closed lid, and the interior of it was made of precious metal which consisted of solid elements. This was necessary in preserving the sacredness of the Eucharist.  After the sick received Holy Communion, the pyx was then purified by the priest.

Why do Catholics exert such effort to protect and keep a Blessed Host safe?  One of my favorite stories about a Eucharistic miracle (http://fatherfladerblog.com/2013/06/07/pope-francis-and-a-eucharistic-miracle/) can hopefully answer this question. Catholics believe Jesus is alive and has a real presence in a Sacred Host.

The Reliquary Pendant found at Douglass Beach is also called a triptych, a term meaning that a work of art is made up of three hinged panels that can be opened for display, or folded shut when desired.  The circular opening on the 1715 reliquary would have held a holy remain behind a piece of rock crystal.  A fabric-covered paste board would have been stitched to the back of it.

It is intriguing to wonder about the final destination of this 1715 reliquary if the hurricane never happened.  Perhaps it was meant to hang in a private chapel of a wealthy household, or near the bedside of a clergy member?  We will never know the answer. But in this modern day of age, we are so fortunate to be able to view an artifact, such as this one, that holds such beauty and significance. – Laura Strolia

The reliquaries shown above are housed at St. Anthony’s Chapel in Pittsburgh (http://www.saintanthonyschapel.org/)

Thanks Laura!

You can see how the reliquaries shown above are similar to the item found by the crew of the Booty.


I've received a few thoughts from readers concerning the reason for some smaller cobs producing better signals than some larger cobs.  One thought is that it is due to the composition of the metal and another is that it is due to the shape of the object, with more round objects being thought to produce better signals.  I look into that subject more in the future.


The past two days I posted information about tests that I did on some cobs using the Ace 250 and Excalibur detectors.  I used the same cobs for the same tests using the Dual Surf PI, which, as you may know is reputed to be a very deep seeking detector.  I might give more detail on that some other time, but here I'll just say that the PI had difficulties simply detecting the cobs under the circumstances.  The ambient interference made the PI very erratic, and it barely could detect any of the cobs.  It did, but not very well.  I varied the gain, loudness, and delay and still could not do nearly as well with the PI as with the other two detectors.  I am sure the PI would do better on the beach.

That again shows how one detector can be best in one situation while another would be best in another situation.  It also shows why you need to know your detector.


Concerning local beach conditions Dan W. wrote and said that the Brevard beaches have been producing older coins for the first time since the beaches were renourished.

I think they got a little bigger surf up that way, but it could be more a matter of angles.

Thanks for the report Dan!

Today and tomorrow the Treasure Coast will have a one to two foot surf.  There are no storms or anything right now.

That is all for today.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

8/18/14 Report - A Million Dollar Reliquary Pendant MD Find. More On Reliquary Pendants. Beaches Change During Level 1 Conditions Too!

Written by the Treasureguide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.BlogSpot.com.



16th Century Reliquary Pendat
Source; ukwirenews link.

Back in 2010 a four year old and his father using a metal detector found a 16th Century gold religious pendant (See photo.).  I reported on the find, but in light of the recently posted information from Laura Strolia that  identified the Booty's find as a reliquary pendant , I wanted to point out the fact that I also recently learned that the 16th century pendant was also a reliquary pendant.   It once had a back panel that opened. 

I think that is a very attractive and unusual item.

Here are two links for more details on the 16th century pendant.

http://www.ukwirednews.com/news/108762/Boy-four-unearths-16th-Century-gold-pendant-in-Essex

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz3LIz3LSkE

And my 11/20/10 post.

That is one attractive and neat pendant.  Worth a lot too!


While on the subject of reliquaries, Laura Strolia sent me some additional information and another link on the subject. 

The Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics in Ohio has hundreds of reliquaries, including relics enclosed in golden sunbursts of many different designs.  The round clear cases containing the relics are sometimes only an inch in diameter or less.  Many reliquaries throughout history were intentionally made with built-in metal rings for the purpose of hanging on walls – Laura Strolia  

One can see examples at:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQmzKWnFP_E

Thanks again, Laura.


Beaches can change very significantly, even when there is very little surf, as has been the case lately.   I'm not talking about the big changes that occur when you have a big surf that can change my beach conditions rating.  I'm talking here about the very subtle changes, that unless you are really paying close attention, might not be noticed.  If you are hunting recently dropped items, those small changes can be very significant.

As you probably know my beach conditions ratings are designed to give some estimation of the chances of finding old items on the beach.  When we are having storms or big waves, huge amounts of sand can be moved in very little time.  Those changes are hard to miss.  Big cuts occur.  Where there was once a big pile of sand, there will be cliffs and erosion.  That isn't what I'm talking about today.

The changes that I'm talking about now are the changes that occur when the weather is more like what we have been having for the past month or more.  Those changes occur during periods of calm surf.  They aren't nearly as obvious and they don't increase the chances of finding old items.  They do, however, affect the beach enough to determine where you will have the best chance of finding recently dropped items.

A few weeks ago one beach had a hard flat front beach.  Modern items including coins and jewelry were being found clustered in a few hot spots on the wet sand area of the beach.  Now the hot spots have moved.

Unless you were observing carefully you might not have noticed the change to that beach, but a foot or maybe more of sand has been added to that front beach area and the old hot spots disappeared.

It is not easy to see the change in the level of sand like that.   If I had a stationary post or something to measure the change in the level of sand, I suspect it might measure a foot or two of additional sand, but to the casual observer the change in level isn't noticeable since it is so gradual and spread over such a large area.

I used to often say that there is always some where to hunt and something to be found.  Lately it has been challenging to find the few scattered better areas where concentration of good items could be found.   There are still a few out there even though they are few and far between.

Some of the hot spots of a week or more ago have moved.  I suspect the change is due at least in part to the big tides we had.  On the beach where I was working a hot spot back a week or so ago, the best spot is now maybe twenty yards to the East and out in the water  

When the sand accumulates in one place, it came from someplace else.  The trick is to find the place where the sand has moved from.  That is where you will often find items besides those that were dropped just a few hours ago and possibly even items that were out of detector range for a while. 

I hope it is clear that I'm talking today about areas that are affected by moving water and not the dry sand today.  

Today I want to alert you to the fact that even when we aren't seeing the kind of beach changes that affect my beach conditions ratings, there are still small but important changes taking place.  They determine where you will have the best chance of finding modern items.  Those change occur during times of level 1 beach conditions.  Those changes are much less obvious, but still important when you are hunting modern items.  Hot spots still exist, as few and scattered as they might be, but they can move from day to day.


People have been getting ready for school to start again.   When school starts there will be fewer beach goers on the beach during week days until the snow birds return.

The weather disturbance that I've been mentioning for a few days is now nearly half way between us and the Atlantic.  Still far out and hasn't formed yet.

On the Treasure Coast it is still the same old thing.  Very calm surf.

As I explained today, there are still some scattered concentrations out there.  A lot of people have simply been hunting the dry sand.

Like I said yesterday, there is one very exciting inland project going on.  Very exciting.  Can't wait until I can tell you about it.

The posts about the hull pins, reliquary pendant and 1715 Fleet inscriptions are the kind of thing that I think makes very good posts.   I don't know how others feel about it though.   That is why using the plus button can help me know which ones you like.  I can't go by number of readers alone, because that fluctuates around holidays and different things as well as how much publicity a post receives.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@Comcast.net

8/14/14 Report - Treasure Coast Gold Artifact Find Identified As Reliquary Pendant. Google Higher Resolution Satellite Imagery Coming Soon. Massive Tomb Found.

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



2014 Treasure Coast Find (on left) From the Salvage Vessel Booty



New information just in about the Booty's Treasure Coast gold relic find.

I received a photo of this find back a few weeks ago and showed it in my 7/31/14 post.   After doing a little research I said I thought the object might be a pyx.  Yesterday I received an email about the item from author and researcher Laura Strolia.   It seems I was wrong about the identity of the item.  

Here is what our friend Laura Strolia said.

In regards to the recent find ... I believe it is a RELIQUARY PENDANT.  The central oculus would have held an object that belonged to a saint, such as a piece of hair, or a painted image of a holy person.  Crystal would have been added for protection, as well as a chain.

This piece of devotional jewelry exhibits a cross above a sunburst.  The sunburst was intentionally created to take on features of a monstrance, an object used to display the consecrated Eucharistic Host for adoration.  During the Colonial Era, the monstrance design was quite common for displaying relics, with some relicarios being several feet high and others being only a few inches long.  For instance, a beautiful hanging pendant from the late 1600s, belonging to the Hispanic Society of America Collection, shows an intriguing sunburst with a topped cross.  While it does not contain a relic, the subject matter of reverence is an example of its popularity for the time period.

Reliquary pendants suspended on a chain would have been worn with upmost care and love because of their precious contents.  Catholics venerated saints and owned relics to be intimately connected to a favorite saint through prayer.  The remains were a reminder of their existing spiritual relationship.

The size of the pendant recently salvaged seems to be of a quite large dimension compared to the smaller lightweight personal pieces that were worn around the neck or waist.  Wearing a pendant of this size, along with its bulkiness, would put the holy object within at significant risk for physical damage.  Therefore, one would assert it was not designed as a wearable piece of jewelry, but to display elsewhere.  The devout often kept religious items in view, hanging from chains in their private quarters for adoration.  Often these exquisite pendants were given as votive offerings and church treasuries owned many donated ones.  On a holy person’s feast day, it was common for reliquaries to be carried and suspended for public view.  They would then be exhibited in the church during hours of prayer.

It had been mentioned that the found artifact might have been a pyx and would have carried the consecrated Host to the sick or dying.  Catholics believe that the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  The container used for such an important mission needed to be completely closed on all sides, front, and back. It was crucial no elements came into contact with the consecrated Host through any cracks or opened wire, and that was why small round boxes with secured latches were usually used for the job.  A pyx would have been put in a burse (pouch) that hung around a priest’s neck while traveling.  When looking at the artifact, there seems to be a circle on its top that most pendants have for chains.  This piece of hardware would not be needed on a pyx because it was the burse that included the long fabric or leather pieces for hanging.  When taken out of a church, a pyx would never be hung by itself without being in a burse, and especially with having airy filigree metalwork.  If any Hosts had not been used, the pyx immediately went back to the Church where the Blessed Sacrament was returned to a closed tabernacle.  Now, three hundred years later, the Church still acts with laws regarding the importance of the Sacrament, as I recently attended a meeting by our Bishop in protecting the sanctity and dignity of Holy Communion distribution.  After all, the Blessed Host IS the very life of God, a sacrament which Christ taught is necessary for eternal life. -- Laura Strolia

Thanks much Laura.  

You might have read Laura's book The Marigalera of the 1715 Fleet.  I've read it and mentioned it in this blog.

 Google Maps provides a satellite and street views.  Most of you probably know that.  Maybe you have used google to research remote sites.   Well Google now has a contract with a satellite company to obtain imagery from space that will detect objects as small as ten inches.   That is a good tool for higher definition remote research.

Here is the link.

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/googles-satellites-could-soon-see-your-face-from-space



A massive tomb from the era of Alexander the Great was uncovered in Greece.  Nearly 500 meters in circumference, it is one of the largest ever uncovered in Greece.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2401057/Have-archaeologists-discovered-grave-Alexander-Great-Experts-enormous-marble-tomb-fit-king-Greece.html

Just goes to show how many things remain undiscovered if this huge tomb could remain hidden for so long.


On the Treasure Coast the tides are still bigger than normal and the surf is predicted to be 1 foot or so for at least several days.

No new tropical activity in the Atlantic either.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@Comcast.net