Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
Besides shipwreck treasures salvaged from the sea there are buried treasures that inspire the detectorists of America. The story is a big part of any great treasure. Great treasures are the kind of things that books and movies portray. The are dramatic characterizations of an era. It might be something like a buried sack of Civil War valuables, or a stagecoach shipment taken by bandits, or buried pirate loot, gangster riches. The story accounts for the existence of the treasure in a dramatic or romantic way and give it meaning. The story excites the imagination and motivates searchers, whether it is entirely true or embellished by imagination or error. The hunt is for truth as well as valuables, but the whole truth can remains hidden until long after the treasure has been found.
Below are a few of those types of famous treasures that as far as we know remain hidden.
Here is another.
Another stagecoach-gold legend says that robbers got away with about 15 gold bars and more than two pounds of gold dust. Some believe that one is buried in Portneuf Canyon, Idaho, while others believe it is farther away.
surfgur
Tropical storm Fay is out there, but won't affect us.
In 1863, Mosby and his raiders captured Union soldiers, horses, and, according to the story, a large stash of valuables. As Mosby moved back toward Confederate lines, scouts warned him that Union troops had entered the area. So Mosby buried the valuables in a burlap sack between two trees. Then he marked the spot with his knife.
Here is another.
On July 26, 1865, the Picket Corral Gang attacked a stagecoach carrying two large strongboxes. Inside sat gold, including 15 heavy gold bars, along with pouches of gold dust and nuggets.
One passenger survived the attack and identified the gang. They bandits were caught and killed but the dead men carried only about $50. So the treasure might still be out three.
And another.
One passenger survived the attack and identified the gang. They bandits were caught and killed but the dead men carried only about $50. So the treasure might still be out three.
And another.
Another stagecoach-gold legend says that robbers got away with about 15 gold bars and more than two pounds of gold dust. Some believe that one is buried in Portneuf Canyon, Idaho, while others believe it is farther away.
And then there is the pirate treasure buried by 16-th century Captain Thomas Cavendish thought to be buried at Palemanō Point, Hawaii.
And of course there is John Dillinger's suitcase containing $200,000 in cash said to be buried in the Wisconsin woods before his death.
And Jesse James' loot thought to be buried in the Wichita Mountains of Oklahoma.
Those are just a few to illustrate how story adds to the aura of lost treasure whether it is fact, myth, legend or any combination in various proportions.
When you make a find that is not a part of a storied treasure, it is just a find until you develop the story. You might go on a hunt because of a story. Your story might involve a treasure wreck on a nearby beach, various reports of finds made in the area, wind and surf action, etc. etc.
As an individual your self-concept develops from a combination of stories. Being a treasure hunter is one part of that. Your parents, family, friends and acquaintances provide parts of that story and validate or invalidate your own ideas of your role or the part you play in your story. Your story continues to develop through life experiences.
Being a treasure hunter probably means you believe the stories of treasure you hear and that it is more than fiction and that you can find treasure. It involves your view of the world and your place in it. Of all the things you could do at any moment, you make a decision to spend a part of some part of your life seeking treasure. The reasons for that can be various. You think it is easy money, or it is fun, it is a challenge, or you like history. All of that reveals a part of your story and how you see your role in the world. A treasure hunter might see himself one way while an archaeologist might have a different view of himself. He might have a view of himself that makes him look down upon treasure hunters as looters. Perhaps he prefers to portray himself with a more altruistic, aloof, academic intellectual image.
I've used the word story a lot. By story I mean the way we find meaning in the bits and pieces of our lives and the things we experience.
Stories are constructed. They are neither complete fantasy nor complete fact.
There are methods for testing reality. Science prescribes methods for testing reality, but there are different approaches to science too, as well as outright fraud. But to some extent; it results in some level of agreement. It is interesting to note that our view of atoms as being orbiting particles, something like the solar system, has been replaced by a story of fields or waves rather than particles. Science develops new stories as new methods are used and information obtained.
As a treasure hunter, you start with some ideas and go out and test them. If you are flexible and adaptable, you will benefit from your experiences and modify your ideas when they don't prove out. I highly recommend doing a lot testing. Test your ideas. Test your detector. Test your techniques. If they are no proving out, change.
As much as I've written in this blog, I put it all out there for your consideration. Test it and prove it for yourself.
Some ways of interpreting reality are useful and effective while others are not. Some people see themselves as lucky, and others do not. It makes a difference.
But my main point today is that a big part of the value of a treasure is the story. You can see that in auction results. Items that have a proven provenance go for more. Proven links to a famous shipwreck or fleet, adds to the value of a coin. But the story itself is valuable. You know that if you set out to find something like a shipwreck coin or any other storied treasure.
When you make an isolated find that you can't identify or date, you want to know its story. Then you do more research. Something is missing. You want to learn it's story.
Besides the story of the treasure, you are creating your own story. Maybe it is a story you share online or maybe it is a story you will tell your friends or children. In any case, it is part of your story. It is part of who you are. Keep becoming.
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surfgur---
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| Source:nhc.noaa.gov. |
Tropical storm Fay is out there, but won't affect us.
But look at this.
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| Surf Chart for the Fort Pierce Inlet Area from Surfguru.com. |
I love that. It is the first good sign of us finally breaking out of the boring summer beach conditions. I hope it is at least that good.
Good hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net