Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
I have a lot to talk about today but will have to select one small part of it to post today. There is so much that it will take me many future posts to cover it all.
I'll start by giving you a link to the Mel Fisher research archives. That will give you enough information to keep you busy for weeks, whether you are a long-time hard-core detectorist or a very recent beginner.
In the 256 pages, you'll see Atocha and Margarita target dispersal patterns, detailed illustrations and information on fascinating artifacts, research on new detecting technologies, and much more.
There is some redaction, but not much. I'm sure you'll find a lot of good information.
I was pleased to find that some of the things I talked about years ago are being implemented. Public access to this type of archaeological information is improving. I suggested long ago the creation of virtual museums which can be accessed online and that is being accomplished to some extent. In the past I complained that much of the work conducted by archaeologists "for the benefit of the public" was not available to the public. I've seen some progress in that area however much archaeology is still published only in expensive books and journals that the public never sees.
I was also proud to see that some of the nautical archaeology resources that I've posted in past years was also published in the Mel Fisher research archives. For example, you will find the Muckelroy model of dispersion processes in some of my previous posts and also in the Mel Fisher Research Archives.
Here is one post in which I previously gave you a link to the Muckelroy model.
Anyhow, I'm sure you will enjoy browsing through the material in the Mel Fisher Research Research Archives link.
For your convenience, I also added that link to my reference links list.
Here is that link.
AtochaMargarita2016-2018PermitRenewalReportv2019-01-14_Redacted.pdf (melfisher.com)
Thanks to DJ for the link
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I should also point out that the same Treasure Beaches Report post mentioned above also refers to Melbourne beach finds, and during the 2021 salvage season, 1715 Fleet finds were made off Melbourne beach.
To remind you here is what I reported about that in 2-19 about that.
Here is the Executive Summary and Conclusion of an article that you might enjoy reading. It is by
Dr. Robert H. Baer, Professional Archaeologist, Seafarer Exploration Corp.
Executive Summary This paper provides evidence that the Melbourne Beach shipwreck scatter is derived from one of the missing Spanish 1715 Plate Fleet shipwrecks, the Santisima Trinidad y Nuestra Señora de la Concepción.
Conclusion From the evidence, it is concluded that the diagnostic artifacts – the Monteros Platter and the Ramirez Flintlock Pistol recovered at the Melbourne Beach site approxiamately 14 miles north of the 1715 shipwreck sites is undoubtedly cargo from a missing 1715 shipwreck. It is believed that the vessel scatter at the site is that of the Santisima Trinidad y Nuestra Señora de la Concepcieon, the vessel that transported the consigned box of presents including the Monteros Platter from Veracruz to Havana and from Havana to the Florida Treasure Coast where it was recovered almost 300 years later.
Here is the link if you want to read the entire article.
http://seafarerexplorationcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Dr.-Robert-Baer-Melbourne-Beach.pdf
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We are having some nice big tides now but the surf is down around two to four feet.
I'm sure the Mel Fisher Research Archives will keep you busy for a long time.
I have a long list of additional topics for future posts.
Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net