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Monday, December 23, 2024

12/23/24 Report - Ancient Shipwreck. The River of the Immaculate Conception. Mystery Item Identified. Gift with a Story.

 Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.


Anchor of Ancient Shipwreck Discvoered.


A shipwreck dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries B.C. was discovered near Sicily along with ancient anchors made from stone and iron, Italian officials said.

The 2,500-year-old wreck was found buried beneath sand and rocks by crews working on an underwater excavation project in the waters of Santa Maria del Focallo, near Ispica at the southern tip of the Italian island, said Sicily's Superintendent of the Sea in a statement Monday.

When archaeologists unearthed the sunken ship, they discovered a hull built using an "on-the-shell" construction technique, a simplistic early shipbuilding method often traced to populations around the Mediterranean. They also found a trove of anchors several feet from the wreckage, the superintendent said, two of the anchors were made from iron and likely originated in the 7th century A.D. The other four anchors, which were made from heavy stone, probably date back to the prehistoric era...

Here is the link for more about that.

2,500-year-old shipwreck and anchors discovered off coast of Sicily - CBS News

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“Immaculate” is not a word most people would use to describe the Mississippi River’s famously muddy waters. But Father Jacques Marquette was not most people.

The Jesuit explorer, who came from France as a missionary to Canada in 1666, was one of the first Europeans to name the Mississippi, which he explored and mapped with his companion Louis Joliet beginning in 1673. And the name he gave to this vital artery of North America was “The River of the Immaculate Conception.”

The entrustment of this mighty waterway — one of the largest and most important rivers in the world — to the Virgin Mary was part of the French Jesuits’ mission to evangelize the Native Americans of the area, which by all accounts they did, not with violence but with fellowship and respect...

Here is the link for more about that.

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Related but not related trivia.

Dec. 23rd is the anniversary of the football play known as the Immaculate Reception. It is the 52nd anniversary.  I sat directly behind Franco Harris on a flight  not long before he passed away just before the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception.  Every time I'm in the Pittsburgh Airport I always check out his stature, as I've done for decades.  It is still there.  For many years it was displayed along with a similar statue of George Washington, which is sorta funny.  You would usually see someone taking a photo with Franco, while George was being ignored. There is a history connection between George and Pittsburgh.  Check it out.  Now George and Franco are downstairs from where they stood for many years.

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Mark G. solved the most recent mystery item.  Here is what he said.

You know I love a good mystery item this one took me awhile once I got back to looking at the evidence of where it was found (assuming on the beach). These may not be the correct brand or model but I believe it is part of a bait caster reel. The random hole pattern the offset axial indication for gear reduction and the rivet placement match the examples.   

 

Fishing Caster Reel Plate

Thanks Mark.  Good work.  I think you definitely got it.


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I recently did a post on family heirlooms, and I talked about Christmas ornaments as heirlooms, and I also mentioned that you should provide the story to go with the item.  Below is an example of an item with the story of the item provided.



This 1920s truck ornament (Hallmark) was given to me by my mother along with the enclosed note that told about how my mom and dad drove around rough country roads in their old truck when they were expecting me.  They thought I was weeks overdue, and they hoped the bumpy roads might get things moving.


You can see the typed note that mom gave me along with the old truck that was like theirs.


I don't know if this one will be passed down through generations, but I enjoy it every year, even after mom and dad are now both gone.


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Source: Surfguru.com.

Not much to look at here.  The tides are no longer big like they have been for nearly two months.


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If you enjoy looking at Christmas lights, there are some houses on Buchanan Street near Midway Road that you shouldn't miss.  The first is beside the Seventh Day Advent building on the corner of Midway and Buchanan.


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Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net