4/9/25 Report - Fourteen-Year-Old Finds Submerged Bomb with Drone. Repurposing Junk Finds. Dire Wolf from Extinction.

 

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

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WWII Bomb Found by Fouteen-Year-Old Using an Underwater Drone.

In a remarkable turn of events in the United Kingdom, a teenager’s underwater exploration led to the discovery of a live World War II bomb packed with 250kg of explosives. Cameron Makewell, a 14-year-old from Ripon, was reportedly piloting his underwater drone in the River Ure when he encountered a mysterious cylindrical object. Initially mistaking it for a gas canister, Cameron’s father, Adam Makewell, quickly identified it as a WW2 bomb, unaware at the time that it was still live.

The father-son duo had ventured to the River Ure to test new lighting equipment for their remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). After completing their tests, Cameron continued exploring the riverbed, stumbling upon the ominous object. Adam, recognizing the danger, stayed calm to avoid alarming his son. The bomb, later identified as a SC500kg aerial explosive commonly used by the Luftwaffe during the Blitz, posed a significant threat.

Adam and Cameron promptly reported their findings to the local plice, who initially met their claims with skepticism. However, upon viewing the footage, authorities took the matter seriously and involved a Specialist Royal Navy bomb disposal unit from Glasgow. The unit, facing challenges due to heavy rain and reduced visibility, eventually conducted a controlled explosion, safely detonating the bomb and leaving a substantial crater in the riverbed...

Here is the link to the article for more about that.

Teenager Discovers Live WW2 Bomb With Underwater Drone

Thanks to Alberto S. for that link.

Sometimes detectorists act like every problem or goal is a nail, so they always use a hammer. 

Of course, what I am talking about is the tendency to go metal detecting like there were no other methods of finding treasure.  I've posted several posts about other techniques that can be used.  Sifting is a good example works extremely well in some circumstances.

Similarly, divers are divers because they dive.  That is what they do, even when there may be other approaches.  I've commented on divers using a metal detector and diving in two feet of water when they could more easily stand up and walk around.  

It isn't always necessary to stick your face in the water.  In fact, sometimes you can't see a thing anyhow.

You don't always have to dive hunt underwater.  There are submersible video cameras and long handled scoops for example.   

And now underwater drones are becoming more affordable and available.  This shows how they can help.

I just like to consider alternatives.  Do what you like, but I always recommend considering alternative approaches.  That is what I am doing here.

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Dug Railroad Plates Repurposed as Pavers.

I once told how I repurposed metal plates that I once dug up and just kept around not knowing what I was going to do with them.  There was an area in front of my mailbox where the mail truck kept making a deeper and deeper rut.  I considered using concrete to pave the area but decided to use these metal plates I had dug up.  So I filled the rut and put the plates over the area where the truck's tires had be creating the rut.  I pounded in dug railroad spikes to keep the plates to keep them from being moved.  I wanted to see if it would work and figured there was a good chance that it wouldn't, but it worked way beyond my expectations.  They never slipped or moved at all, and they prevent the truck from creating a rut. 

I enjoy finding things that might be useable in some way some day.  I enjoy the creative process and making use of junk instead of just throwing it away.

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Ancient DNA from the dire wolf, a species that has been extinct for at least 10,000 years, now lives on in three pups whose genes were edited by Colossal Biosciences to restore the “once-eradicated species through the science of de-extinction” in what the company says is its latest genetic breakthrough....

The dire wolf was the largest mammal in the dog family during the Late Pleistocene period, 129,000 to 11,700 years ago. The first fossils were found in the Ohio River in 1854, according to the National Park Service.  The wolf’s skull could reach 12 inches and while its size mimicked today’s largest gray wolves, its teeth were larger...

Here is the link for more of that story.

Extinct Dire Wolf Has Been Resurrected, Company Claims—Here’s What We Know

Dire Wolf Tooth From Treasure Coast Beach.

Jurassic Park coming soon near you.  Just joking.  It is amazing to think about this though.

Dire Wolves were at one time on the Treasure Coast.  If you like finding old things, you'll like finding something really old, like this.

I've talked about Florida fossils many times before.  It is fascinating to thing of some of the creatures that were living in Florida thousands of years ago.

I always remember this tooth, which was unlike many Florida fossil finds, simply by itself at the water's edge one day when there was not much else to be seen. 

It was identified as a Dire Wolf tooth by Richard Hulbert of the Florida Museum.

Remember, if you want to hunt fossils in Florida, you should obtain a permit or hunt with a permitted person, perhaps on a paid guided hunt.

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Thursday will have a bigger surf after the front goes through.  It is a common pattern.  Check the wind change Wednesday.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net