Written by the Treasureguide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
A surprisingly intact ring dating to the 1700s was found by a Michigan archaeology student on the grounds of an 18th century French stronghold known as Fort St. Joseph. The ring is believed to have been a trade trinket used when southwest Michigan was known as New France, experts say. The fort, about 95 miles east of Chicago, was key part of France’s presence in the Great Lakes region, serving as a “mission, garrison, and trading post” before being abandoned in 1781. Such historic baubles have come to be known as ”Jesuit rings.” “Fort St. Joseph was occupied from the 1680s to the 1780s so the ring could have been lost at any point during that time frame,” according to Erika Hartley, field director and curatorial fellow at the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project. “It was most likely manufactured prior to its arrival at the fort, but at this point it is hard to narrow down a specific date.”
Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article265297941.html#storylink=cpy
Or Ring dating to 1700s uncovered at French fort in Michigan | Charlotte Observer
There are many old silver rings found on our beaches. People always wonder if they might be from the wrecks. According to one of the top salvagers, few, if any, silver rings have been found on the wrecks though.
Similarly, large numbers of half reales are found on the beaches, but more larger denomination coins are found on the wrecks. Why the discrepancies?
I don't know, but one theory is that the inexpensive and small denomination silver was used to pay early salvage participants. I have no evidence, and don't give much weight to the theory, but it is one idea I've come up with when thinking about the apparent discrepancy. I don't find it very convincing but can't think of a more convincing theory other than there being no relationship between the many silver rings found on the beaches and the wrecks.
Half reales might be found more on the beaches simply because they wash up more often, or once dredged up, easily lost in the sand again.
[Added 9/15: I did the above hurriedly and will redo and add additional considerations sometime in the near future.]
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| Source: nhc.noaa.gov. |
As the Treasure Coast surf decreases over the next few days, another system heads in our general direction. This one is expected to go to somewhere around the Dominican Republic, before turning to the north.
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| Expected Wind Speeds for Sept. 22. Source: Ventusky.com. |
According to the model, the closest this system will be is shown above on Sept. 22. At that time, it isn't expected to be a strong hurricane - perhaps a tropical storm or something close to that.
If the Ventusky model is correct, the system will likely stay east of the Bahamas, however it looks to me like the wind direction might actually be better than that produced by Earl. There is a lot of time before we find out exactly how this one will develop.
In the mean time, the predictions show a decreasing surf, back down to one or two feet.
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| Source: MagicSeaWeed.com. |
Actually today, it looked to me like the surf was just as high today as yesterday. Maybe it was just the time of day that I saw it.
Good hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net