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Monday, May 4, 2020

5/1/20 Report - 22 Shipwrecks Discovered in 17-Mile Area. Chain Mail Analysis. Mystery Item.


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





A spate of shipwrecks recently found near a group of Greek islands has given researchers new insights into how trade routes and sailing technology evolved in the Eastern Mediterranean. And with more exploration planned, additional discoveries are still likely.

Over a stretch of two weeks in September, tips from local fishermen and sponge divers led a team of Greek and American archaeologists to the precise locations of 22 shipwrecks in a 17-square-mile area around the Fourni archipelago in the eastern Aegean.

The find is remarkable both for the sheer number of wrecks in the small area and the range of time periods the vessels came from.

The earliest wreck dates to the Archaic Period (700-480 B.C.), while the most recent is from the Late Medieval Period (16th century A.D.). Ships from the Classical Period (480-323 B.C.) and the Hellenistic Period (323-31 B.C.) were also found, though a majority—12 of the 22—sailed and sank at some point during the Late Roman Period (300-600 A.D.)...

Here is the link for the rest of that article.


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Links of What Is Thought To Be Chain Mail 
Salvaged From The Site of The Mary Rose 


The artifacts shown above, which are thought to be links of chain mail from the wreck site of the Mary Rose, were analyzed using synchrotron X-ray diffraction.  The analysis provided detailed analysis of the composition of the links, and identified not only the main metals used, but also changes due to corrosion and preservation processes.

The links are 73% copper and 27% zinc.  The analysis suggested that zinc was lost from the surface of the links during corrosion.

Very small amounts of lead and gold were also found.  It was hypothesized that the minisciule amounts of those metals on the links could have been from tools used in the process of forming the links or pollution of the site.

Here is the link for more about that.

And here is the link to the original scientific article on the analysis.  Good reading.


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Since the beaches have opened and people are back on the beaches, we will be seeing more finds.  William K. found a couple of unusual sinkers.  The one shown below, and wondered if anyone had any thoughts.  I don't know the reason for the large amount of wire on the top of the item or the loop at what would appear to be the bottom.


What do you think?  Any ideas?

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In my 2/3/20 post I said, "Wouldn't it be better if our heroes were maybe scientists, engineers, or saints or people that do good things, rather than athletes and entertainers?  Its a crazy world."  

I don't know why I said that back when coronavirus wasn't yet being talked about - at least not much, if at all - but I wasn't hoping for anything like this.

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The Kentucky Derby is going to be virtual.  No real race.  Too bad.  I was there for a couple of them.  The University of Louisville was within walking distance of the Downs.

The surf is still a bit choppy on the Treasure Coast.  I'm hoping for some really flat seas for a short while.

Happy hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net