4/26/19 Report - Artifact Find Initiates Journey of Discovery. Cannon Aprons. Good Resources.

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

Folded Lead Find From Treasure Coast Beach

This lead find has been sitting around for a while and I never thought of it being anything but a piece of lead sheathing, however after seeing some examples of cannon aprons, I decided I should take a better look at it.  

There is more to the piece than you can see.  It is tightly folded over a couple of times, which isn't like the other lead sheathing that I've found,  It looks like it could have been deliberately folded rather than simply crumpled by the wrecking or surf.

I found some photos of a cannon apron that came from the Queen Anne's Revenge.   That started me on a journey of discovery and learning.

The qaronline.org website says,

Sheets of lead with “fingers” were used to cover the touch hole of a cannon, protecting the powder and the fuse from water spraying into the gun ports. Lead is malleable and could be formed to the shape of the cannon barrel, while the fingers could be bent to create a tight fit around the breech of the cannon. A hole on either edge of the apron would fit a lash to keep the apron tied in place.

See  https://www.qaronline.org/conservation/artifacts/arms-and-armament/cannon-apron

The same web site provides the following photo of a salvaged cannon apron.

'

In the case of the photo shown immediately above, the holes would be on the right and left sides. You can clearly see the hole on the right side.

You can also see what could be the "fingers" on the upper side of the apron in the photo. It looks like the middle finger is broken off or bent.

Although I'm far from concluding that my find is a cannon apron, I've at least learned that there is such a thing.

I discovered another very interesting resource.  It is a thesis presented to East Carolina University by Laura Kate Schnitzer - APRONS OF LEAD: EXAMINATION OF AN ARTIFACT ASSEMBLAGE FROM THE QUEEN ANNE’S REVENGE SHIPWRECK SITE.

This is a very interesting and informative thesis.  You might not want to read the entire thesis, but you will undoubtedly find sections that you do want to read.  It is well worth scanning.

The thesis presents the picture below showing a cannon apron in place on a cannon.

Cannon aprons come in different sizes and shaped depending in part upon the cannon.

The QAR apron illustrated above has a variety of scratched or etched markings on it.  Here is a picture in which those markings are drawn to make them easier to see.

Source: qaronline.org web site.

See link QAR link above.

The thesis discussed those markings and what they might indicate.  Some were thought to be superstitious marks for good-luck or protection.  That discussion makes for some interesting reading.

I recommend at least browsing the thesis for several reasons.  For one thing, it presents an evolution of artillery through the centuries.  It presents a lot of information in addition to what you'll learn about cannon aprons, including a very good bibliography.  It also illustrates a more academic approach to artifact interpretation that expands on some of my previous comments and criticisms of what I've called the "free association" method that you might have seen on TV.   There is a lot of academic jargon and maybe a lot that you won't find interesting, but you can skip the parts that don't like.  I'm sure you will find something that does interest you.

Here is the link.

http://thescholarship.ecu.edu/bitstream/handle/10342/3842/Schnitzer_ecu_0600M_10612.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Back to my find.   Even though I've had it for a while, I have not yet really studied it.  Right now I'm trying to decide if I want to unfold it.  Whether I do that or not, I plan to look at the object more closely.

Digging up an object is one discovery, but a found object can become much more interesting when you do the research and really study it.  

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I am highly supportive or archaeology, but have also commented on some of the problems created by some of the more radical members of the profession.  Here is a link to a post I once did on that subject.

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

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Jensen Beach As Seen a Couple Days Ago.

Photo by Mike A.

Mike said there was nothing but some crusty pennies.

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The surf is running around two or three feet.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

4/25/19 Report - 1600-Year-Old Gold Coin Found by Teenagers. Mystery Items for ID. Sanded Beach.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreportblogspot.com.

Photo by Israel Antiquities Authority
Published by TimesOfIsrael.com

An extremely rare 1,600-year-old gold coin of the Byzantine emperor who made Jews second-class citizens in the Land of Israel has been discovered — ironically, near a new trail built in commemoration of the Sanhedrin he abolished. It is the first time this coin has been found in Israel, according to an Israel Antiquities Authority press release published on Tuesday.

In February, four trekking teens stumbled upon the coin while orienteering in the fields alongside the Zippori stream in the Galilee...

The obverse of the solidus — a solid gold coin with a weight of approximately 4.5 grams that was minted in the later Roman Empire/early Byzantine era — depicts Emperor Theodosius II; its reverse is illustrated by the goddess Victory holding the Staff of the Cross...

And here is the other side.

Photo by Israel Antiquities Authority
Published by TimesOfIsrael.com

Here is the link for more about that.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/1600-year-old-gold-coin-of-emperor-who-abolished-sanhedrin-discovered-by-pupils/

It is not surprising that a sight find would be made along a stream or new trail.

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Kurt R. found this interesting ten-foot long piece of wood and was wondering if anyone might offer any ideas about what it might be.

Here is what Kurt said.

I love all the information that your blogs provides and it can be a great wealth of knowledge when search for things.  I was recently looking for information on large shipwreck timbers and i came across your post about coal... I found a piece a couple years ago and had no idea what it was, but low and behold the picture you posted about it was an exact replica.  Thank you for inadvertently solving that mystery for me.  Do you by chance have any insight into getting more i formation on this piece?  The size is 11"x13"x10'

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Len M. sent me the following email and photos.

I received a very loud hit from this rock while detecting on the treasure coast.

I brought it into my garage and split part of its side off. The object had
a petroleum smell at first and it's magnetic. It's a very hard metal and
somewhat cylindrical. It measured approximately 1 1/2" in diameter and 2
3/4" length. The top side has a slight saddle depression in it as well.

I have spoken to some people and they think it may have be a part from a
boat, others think it maybe a small meteor.

Does any one have an idea what this may be?

Object Partially Removed From the Crust.

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Mike A. who sent a picture of the cut Turtle Reef beach a couple days ago sent the following photo showing the same beach now sanded in.

Turtle Reef Beach.

Thanks Mike.

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According to MagicSeaWeed.com, the Treasure Coast surf will be three or four feet today, decreasing a bit tomorrow.  The tides are more moderate now.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

4/24/19 Report - Treasure Hunter's Cookout April 27. Great American Coin Hunt. Now Parapsychologist on Oak Island.

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

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It has started!  "It" is the Great American Coin Hunt.

On April 21, hundreds of dealers and collectors will be seeding America’s pocket change with millions of vintage coins from the 1800s, including Indian and Lincoln “wheat” cents from 1859-1958, Indian Head and Liberty Head nickels from 1883-1938, silver dimes from the 19th and first half of the 20th century, silver quarters, half dollars, and Ike dollars. The group will also distribute vintage one, two, five, and ten dollar notes. Rob Oberth plans to make one lucky person’s day by spending a gold coin. Other dealers throughout the country will mark the event in their own unique ways.

The United States Mint learned about Oberth’s plan to infuse collectible coins in pocket change last year and worked to create its own chase coin for circulation. As a result, on April 1, the Mint mixed into circulation two million quarter dollars bearing the W mintmark of the West Point Mint...
For more about that, here is the link.

https://coinweek.com/us-coins/the-great-american-coin-hunt-has-arrived/

Watch your change.

Thanks to Joe D. for that link.

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I had pretty much given up on the Oak Island TV show, but last night when switching through the channels, I saw that the producer added a new expert to the show to drum up some drama and attention - a parapsychologist.  I thought we were going to hear the voice of a deceased Templar Knight, but they didn't go that far, even though the producer did try to make something out of a totally ambiguous bit of recorded noise, and another clang that the Lagina's dismissed.

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If you have any ideas on either of the objects, let me know.

The surf will be 2 - 3 feet tomorrow but a foot or so higher the next day when the wind will be from the south.

Enjoy the cookout.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

4/23/19 Report - Beaches From South Hutchinson Island to Sebastian Inlet. Treasure Hunter's Cookout Soon.

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

Fort Pierce South Jetty Park Early Monday Morning.

John Brooks Beach

Well South of Frederick Douglass Early Monday Morning.

The cut was a bit over one foot high, but the sand in front of the cut was mushy.

New Bridge.

I don't know if there is going to be a new park or if it is going to be a new housing development or something.  It is down in the general area where there once was a WW II tower.

Dollman Beach.

There was a big cut at Dollman about three weeks ago, and there was a heavy coin line just south of the beach access.  A couple days ago, I saw that the hot spot was a little farther south, but the hot spot today had an additional foot or two of sand on it.  Below is that filled spit and a large piece of iron that was uncovered.

Filled in Hot Spot.

Notice the piece of iron at left center.  There were rocks in front of the partially covered one a couple of days ago.

Below are some beaches up in the Vero/Sebastian area.  The following photos were all submitted by DJ

Looking North From The Turtle Trail Access About 11 AM  Monday.

Looking South From the Turtle Trail Access Monday Morning.

North From Seagrape Trail Access Monday.

The Wabasso parking lot was closed.

Treasure Shores Monday.

Another View from Treasure Shores.

Golden Sands Beach Monday.

Beach Just North of McLarty.

Looking Towards Sebastian Inlet.

Thanks much DJ!

The beaches from Turtle Trail to the Sebastian Inlet all seem to look [pretty similar.

We will probably be moving quickly into summer beach conditions with few changes other than the occasional storm.

The first quarter of 2019 wasn't bad.  I'm sure it would have been better if it wasn't for all the renourishment sand that has been dumped on the beaches in the last couple of years.

You'll have to adapt and maybe use some different strategies and maybe even some different equipment.

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The annual Treasure Hunter's Cookout is coming Saturday, April 27.  I'll have all the details for you tomorrow.

Happy hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

4/22/19 Report - Treasure Coast Area Find Made Last Week. Native American Artifacts of Precious Metals.

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

Recently Found by Cole S.
Photo submitted by Jonah M.

Some of the guys were recently checking out a washed out area and found this nice bottle.  It looks to me like an 18th century wide cylindrical mallet style bottle - probably of English or Dutch manufacture.  

If someone can correct that or add to that, please do.

Here is a closer view of the top and bottom.

A cork would go in the top and a string or wire would secure it.

These bottles can bring a good price.

Thanks for sharing guys.

As I often say, there is always some place to look and something to find.  When conditions are not good for one kind of hunting, they can be good for another type of hunting.

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Gold Pendant

Silver Tablet.

Above is a gold pendant dated to 800 to 1500 AD.  It came from the St. Marks Wakulla area of Florida.

And on the right is a Calusa silver tablet from Charlotte Harbor area.

Those are two examples, of native American artifacts made of precious metals.  I don't know the purity of the gold pendant.

The finds were posted on the peachstatearchaeologicalsociety.org web site under the artifact identification section.

I posted them in my 10/28/14 post, and I recently found them by accident when I was looking for something else.

I've posted so much that I forgot a lot of it.  I found the above items, as I said, when I was looking for something else after my search led me back to this blog.

Don't forget the search box, which you'll find on the top of the first page of this blog.  


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The tides are still pretty big with negative low tides, but the surf is running around two feet.

Monday morning I checked a few beaches, and it seemed they were filling in.  Some of the better spots deteriorated.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

4/21/19 Report - Detectorists Find $200,000 in Gold Coins. The Crown of Thorns Relic and The Question of Truth.

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

Detectorist With Gold Coin Finds.

Source: See Lite1065.com link below.

Dariusz Fijalkowski , Mateusz Nowak, Andrew Winter, Tobiasz Nowak. Four amateur metal detectorists have uncovered a hoard of 14th-century coins in a field in Hambleden, Buckinghamshire- worth an estimated £150,000. (Credit: SWNS)

A group of amateur treasure hunters in England found a hoard of gold and silver coins from the 14th-century that could be worth nearly $200,000 according to experts.

38-year-old Andrew Winter and three of his friends found the coins, more than 550 in total, in Buckinghamshire, including 12 “orantely decorated” silver Edward I and II coins, SWNS reports...

For more -

https://www.lite1065.com/2019/04/18/amateur-treasure-hunters-find-14th-century-coins-worth-estimated-200g/

Thanks to Dean and Marie R. for that link.

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Turtle Reef

Photo by Mike A.

Thanks Mike!

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In the book of John, chapter 18, verse 38, Pilate asked, "What is truth?"

What an important question! What a challenging question!

The question underlies every other important question, whether today or thousands of years ago.

Just this week the Mueller report provided a present-day example.  One side thinks the report means one thing, and the other side thinks it means the opposite.  But what is the truth? Or does anybody care? Maybe they don't even think there is such a thing as truth. No wonder there is so much disagreement and confusion.
Maybe they just don't want to acknowledge truth, because it might be inconvenient - or disturbing.

Today it seems that nearly everybody has "their" truth and thinks they have a right, if not an obligation, to tell it. But isn't there a higher or better standard?

I just read a story about the crown of thorns that was saved from the Cathedral of Notre Dame. The article asked if it is the "real" crown of thorns. The article gives a lot of the history of the relic, which is truly impressive.  I think you'll want to read it.
Below is an excerpt.
It [the crown of thorns] has been discussed as a relic since the fifth century, and was
transferred from Jerusalem to Constantinople by 1063.

French King Louis IX (Saint Louis) brought the relic to Paris in 1238 and directed construction of
what is known as Sainte-Chapelle to house it. It was later placed in the cathedral.  Thus, if accounts are accurate, we know that a long time ago it had been brought to Paris by way of Jerusalem and Constantinople — through which many relics, including the Shroud, have passed.

The last line of the same article suggests an answer to the question posed by Pilate. It refers to a verse in chapter seven of the book of Matthew that reads, You will know them by their fruits.

The verse refers to a specific situation and two groups of people, but the principle can be applied more generally.  Truth and lies both bear fruit, and you can distinguish them by their fruits.

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To read more about the crown of thorns, here is the link.
https://spiritdailyblog.com/news/that-crown-of-thorns --- Happy Easter, TreasrueGuide@comcast.net

4/19/19 Report - Some Beaches Not Looking Bad on Good Friday. Take a Look.

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

Detectorist at John Brooks Near Low Tide Friday.

I hadn't been out for quite a while, but went out to take a look at a few South Hutchinson Island beaches this afternoon.  There were some decent looking beaches.  The beach fronts were low, as you can see above.  There were a few shells scattered near the low tide line.

John Brooks Friday Afternoon.

At John Brooks there were some cuts both to the south and north.

Frederick Douglass Beach Friday Afternoon.

Frederick Douglass beach was similar to John Brooks.

Frederick Douglass Beach Friday Afternoon,.

Shells on Frederick Douglass.

One of the regulars was detecting down at Dollman (below) where it was heavily cut a week or two ago.  Naturally it had changed some since then, but there was nice spot down where he was.

I believe most of the coins down there was coming from the eroded nourishment sand, but from what I could tell, some things were washing in as well.  Not only were there shells, but also a few fossils, which I doubt came out of the renourishment sand.  I'd bet some of the other beaches are looking decent too.

Overall, today I saw some beaches that I were worth working.  Based upon the few beaches I saw I would give a 2 rating on my five-point treasure beach conditions rating scale.  That is what I call transitional.  A few older things might be found, but it wasn't bad at all for finding newer targets.  I know a lot of clad and a few pieces of gold would be found.  

I didn't get any word on what is happening in the Vero and Sebastian areas and haven't been there.  I would suspect that at least one or two that tend to benefit from south winds aren't bad.

Here's one more.

South of Pepper Park Friday AM

Photo by DJ

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net