FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH WILLIAM KIDD SHIPWRECK TIPS & TRIX
INTERVIEWS
THERE’S A GOLD IN THEME HILLS
SECRETS OF THE REAL PIRATE OF THE CARIBBEAN
TREASURE MAGAZINE
TREASURE HUNTERS
BLACKBEARD 1
Idea and projecting: Sonny Willde Editor and design: Amalie Willde Text: Cornelius Rose
SJEFREDAKTØR: Steve Park steverpart@treasurehunters.com REDAKTØR: Sonny Willde sonnywillde@treasurehunters.com ART DIRECTOR: Jack White Jackwhite@tresurehunters.com REDAKSJONSJEF: Marilyn Manson Marilynmanson@tresurehunters.com LAYOUT: Sonny Willde, Nikki Sixx KORREKTUR: James Bond PRODUKSJONSSJEF: Rihanna Bond, Marilun Monroe ABONNEMENT: Tlf. 23 47 65 90, abo@sært.no MEDIAGRAFIKER: Anna Katarina Gulli TREASURE HUNTERS Trykt og distribuert månedlig av lisenstaker Treasures and co med tillatese fra Treasures and co, Bahamas. POSTADRESSE: Postboks 50 Sentrum, 0866 Oslo. BESØKSADRESSE: Storgata 99, 0866 Oslo. SENTRALBORD: 21 33 56 89 FAX: 21 30 45 68 UTGIVER:Treasures AS TRYKK: Treasures and co Thanks to: Cleopatra James Bond Sonny WIlde Jesus Christ Tracii Guns Jack Black
www.treasurehunters.com
CONTENTS TREASURE HUNTER LIFESTYLE 8 FAMOUS CASES 9 INTERVIEW 10-11 HOW TO BECOME A HUNTER
LOST TREASURES 12-15 LOST TREASURE LIST 16-17 6164 KG LOST GOLD 20 King of queens
HUNTER PORTRAITS 18-19 TRASURE HUNTERS 20-23 WILLIAM KIDD HISTORY 18-19 TRASURE HUNTERS 26-31 SHIPWRECK IN THE ZONE 32-33 FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
Finaly our new magasine is out. This magazine examines The Treasure Hunter magazine from a number of different angles. The section on the ‘Cosmopolitan Appeal and House Style’ of the magazine examines the disctinctive brand of humor that came to be known as the New Yorker style. It also explores the interesting issue of the appeal of a highly local city magazine to a wider national audience. What was it about The New Yorker that attracted readers from all over? How did the magazine carve out such a unique niche for itself? LOOK OUT FOR COMPASSES! In this magazine we have putted a number of compasses around in the magazine. Count how many you can find and send us and email at treasurehunters@magazine.com with your numbeer of compasses. Maby you will win the prise? First place is a trip to the carribean, second place is a trip to england to the treasure museum. We allso give out 100 year subscriptions for Treasure Hunter Magazine. So keep counting couse maby you will be the one to win! Treasure Hunters ‘Advertisements & Audience’ discusses the elitist advertising policy of the magazine, which reinforced the upper class focus of the magazine as a whole, as well as the target audience of the magazine.This section seeks to understand how the magazine’s advertisements functioned as part of its overall theme. In order to better place the magazine within the literary and professional context of the time, and the new section on ‘Contemporary
Magazines’ explores the competing visions of the country offered by three other prominent journals. The next two sections examine in detail the magazine’s covers, which were the public face that was put forward week after week. The segment of the entitled ‘Contextualizing the Covers’ attempts to place the specific covers within their larger historical context. In the section called ‘Covering the War,’ the stylistic elements of the covers are examined to show how the magazine’s presentation of it was influenced by prevailing upper class attitudes about the conflict. These two sections thus attempt to examine the covers from two different, yet complementary perspectives. Through the use of this amazing magazing, we hope the readers will assemble the tools necessary to development a comprehensive and informed perspective on The Treasure
Steve Park Oslo, 21.5 2012
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TREASURE HUNTER LIFESTYLE
Famous cases of lost Pirate gold treasures Tekst: Amalie Willde
In reality, pirates burying treasure was rare: the only pirate known to have buried treasure was William Kidd, who is believed to have buried at least some of his wealth on Long Island before sailing into New York. His bid was unsuccessful, however, and Kidd was hanged as a pirate. There are a number of reports of supposed buried pirate treasure that surfaced much earlier than these works, which indicates that at least the idea was around for more than a century before those stories were published. For example, some underground passages and structures on Oak Island (in Nova Scotia) have supposedly been excavated extensively since 1795 in the belief that one or more pirate captains had stashed large amounts of loot there. These excavations were said to have been prompted by still older legends of buried pirate treasure in the area. No treasure has ever been found. The only authenticated treasure chest in the United States, once owned by Thomas Tew, is kept at the Pirate Soul Museum in Key West, Florida. In 2009, the Staffordshire Hoard was discovered by a metal detector enthusiast, and is the largest collection of gold Anglo-Saxon discovery ever in Britain. There are 1,500 pieces in gold and silver, most of them war artifacts adorned with precious stones, which experts believe dates from the 7th century. In 2010, a bricklayer from Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, found a collection of 8,352 historic coins in his backyard. Are exemplary of the time of réis, through cruzeiro, cruzado to cruzado novo. In 2011, an Austrian man found a treasure buried with hundreds of precious objects and jewels, in Neustadt district, south of Vienna. In July 2011, a treasure of gold and silver jewelry, with a value of billions of dollars, was discovered in a temple in India. They differ widely in plot and literary treatment but are blood kin from the common ancestor of the William Kidd legend. David Cordingly states that “The effect of Treasure Island on our perception of pirates cannot be overestimated,” and says of the idea of treasure maps leading to buried treasure that is an entirely fictional device. Stevenson’s Treasure Island was directly influenced by Irving’s “Wolfert Webber”, Stevenson saying in his preface “It is my debt to Washington Irving that exercises my conscience, and justly so, for I believe plagiarism was rarely carried farther.
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TREASURE HUNTER LIFESTYLE
TREASURE HUNTERS
W E I V TER
IN
Fredrik Peterson
Eleanor Hub
Frank Lawson
Where do you hunt? – Oslo, Norway.
Where do you hunt? –Paris, France.
What do you look for? – Treasures from sunken ship in the north of Norway.
What do you look for? – Louise Vuitton bags.
Whats you best find? – I found this big treasure box full of lost treasures
Whats you best find? – This big white bag full of bugs and crocodiles.
Where do you hunt? – Eastern Europe.
Aaron LaPedis Where do you hunt? – I usually look for treasures aoud the west coast of canada.
What do you look for? – Romanian 60’s sentury gold. Whats you best find? – A diamond neckless from queen Elisabeth.
Michel Tocque Jack Larwson Where do you hunt? – Egypt. What do you look for? – Cleopatra, the greatest women ever lived.. Whats you best find? – Pirate gold.
Where do you hunt? – Bahamas, Carribean.
What do you look for? – I really hope to find a pirate medallion one day. Whats you best find? – I found this gold spoon in the pasific osean.
What do you look for? – Diamonds. My wife love diamonds. I can’t come home without it, them she beats me. Whats you best find? –Probably a big pease of diamonds. One I found this big piece, them my wife did me.
John Ederson
John Howland
Where do you hunt? – Amazonia.
Carl Ruthson
Clark Jameson
What do you look for? – Eldorado, the city of gold.
Where do you hunt? – In the border of Canada.
Where do you hunt? – Sweeden.
Whats you best find? – Black beards ship. I found it in north carolina. With queen annas revenge.
What do you look for? – National treasure.
What do you look for? – The amazing gold.
Whats you best find? – A green neckless
Whats you best find? – A silver box.
Where do you hunt? – Texas, USA. What do you look for? – Gold mostly. And pirate treasures in the sea. Whats you best find? –A Round piece of amazing marmor stone. I think it came from the UFOs. Tekst: Amalie Willde Foto: Kurt Jameson
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TREASURE HUNTER LIFESTYLE
How to Become a Treasure Hunter Tekst: Tracii Willde Guns
8 STEPS Good treasure hunters do not simply go into the wilderness hoping for luck. They know where to go, how to get there and who to go with. It takes time and patience to become an experienced treasure hunter and I am here to help. Following is a list of ten easy steps for your treasure hunting education. Please note that each step builds from the previous one so make sure to read them in order.
1 2 3
4 10
The best metal detector is the one suitable for you. This depends on a number of different factors such as your budget, experience and time. Before buying a metal detector, you must consider each one of these variables and based on the output, decide. At Parxy.com, we have written a great article to Help you Choose the Best Metal Detector. I also suggest that you ask an experienced local treasure hunter for additional help. When you finally have a brand new (or used!) metal detector, you should learn how to use it. New metal detectors are extremely simple to use, but you must know some basic concepts though. Here are the Basic Metal Detection Instructions to help you learn to use your new metal detector properly. The third step to become a good treasure hunter is to follow the law. I cannot emphasize enough how important this is. You must always ask permission before treasure hunting in private property as not doing it might bring serious legal action against you. I do not recommend to “Night Hawk” as this is obviously against the law. Also make sure to check your country’s and State’s law to make sure you don’t get into any sort of legal trouble. In the United States, it is legal to treasure hunt in your private property and some national parks. However, treasure hunting in a known Civil War battlefield is strictly prohibited without explicit permission! There are many other places where you cannot treasure hunt such as near monuments, etc. In some European countries such as Sweden, it is totally illegal to treasure hunt. Check the law, it will be worth it. This I really recomand. Always bring proper equipment and attire. Metal detectors have many Extra Accessories designed to help you. They may be expensive, but purchasing them is well worth your time and money for security and enjoyment purposes. Make sure to wear proper which will depend mostly on the weather and landscape. For additional information about this, read the Treasure Hunting Risks article. And more articles like this.
TREASURE HUNTER LIFESTYLE
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Even though it is widely believed that treasure hunting is 100% luck, I know otherwise. To have a successful treasure hunt, you must research and I can almost guarantee success. A good treasure hunter has MANY maps of the intended treasure hunting location. This means that you should buy a handful of maps so you may have a good treasure hunting strategy. Make sure to include the places which you think may have already been treasure hunted, the places you WANT to treasure hunt and whether any historical events took place in that given place. If a small army slept for just ONE night in a field, you’d be surprised of how many treasures you may find in that place. You should also consider looking in a known army’s path. For example, when Napoleon sent hundreds of thousands of soldiers to Moscow and only a few thousand returned, can you imagine how many belongings were left on the way? Planning should be an essential part of your main treasure hunting strategy. If you are thinking about going to the middle of the desert, then you will probably find nothing at all. Ask yourself the questions: Who inhabited the place? Who passed through here? Did any battles take place here? Is this land habitable? What’s the story of this place? What have other people found around? Is this place frequently treasure hunted? Based on those questions, you should be able to deduce whether treasure hunting in that given place is worthy of your time or not. For additional planning, I suggest you join a club, though that will be fully discussed in step nine. Here are the Basic Metal Detection ever seen in the whoe world seriously. You have one thing to your advantage. Most people are lazy! When you are planning you should try to treasure hunt in a remote place (if it’s hardly accessible, better!) this will almost guarantee that nobody has treasure hunted before. If you find such a place WITH a known history, then you have found your dream treasure hunting spot. In this case, I don’t recommend sharing it with anyone! You would like to keep it a secret.
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Most successful treasure hunters don’t treasure hunt alone. Out in the wilderness, there is an immense array of dangers awaiting (animals, health problems) which may become deadly if you are alone. Whether it is your wife, a friend you know since High School, etc., I recommend to always treasure hunt with more people. It is also much more fun to do it as you may share your findings at the end of the day, talk through a walkie-talkie, etc. I say this through experience for I have treasure hunted countless times alone and even though I have no health problems, it has been a much better experience when I have hunted with friends or family overall. If you have a hermit-like personality, I recommend to always take a cellular phone with you just in case. Something you must really consider is to always bring a first-aid kit with you. If you are going to treasure hunt with friends, it is important. However, if you are going to treasure hunt alone it is a requirement. If you have health issues, ALWAYS consult a doctor before treasure hunting. Always take plenty of food and water to wherever you are going! Also make sure to have a very nutritional breakfast before treasure hunting as this may save you from a very unpleasant experience. It is extremely important that you take as much water as you can! More water is better, always. If you can, avoid to eat junk or fast food before treasure hunting and take with you extra nutritional food. This is something very important which I have learnt from experience.
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LOST TREASURES
Photo: A. Rodriques
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LOST TREASURES
Lost
Treasures Text: James Curtson.
“There’s gold in them hills!” Treasure Mountain Date Found: In the 1700’s Location: What is now called Summitville, CO. Several miles east of Wolf Creek Pass How was the treasure obtained? A French expedition of 300 men were prospecting their way west and found a vast amount of gold on Treasure Mountain How much is it worth? $33 million+ Key Players: 300 Frenchmen One sole Survivor - LeBlanc Treasure Map(s)? Supposedly two maps remain. the one belonging to the French government, and one to the descendants of the LeBlanc family French explorers had a big successful gold expedition until they arrived at Summitville to set up camp and bury their loot. Their neighbors were Native Indians, and at first, the relationship was friendly. However, one group provoked the other and a battle ensued. The gold was reburied and the French made a map to the new location. However, through the battle with the Natives, the weather, a second battle with the Natives, and
starvation, there was one sole survivor a Frenchman named LeBlanc. He had two maps, one he gave to the French government, and the one he kept for himself. There are many versions of what happened next. Some say there have been several unsuccessful expeditions to find the gold. Some say that the French government did found it and kept it a secret of where it was. The truth of what happened has yet not been discovered. No one really know where the map is now, maby you will find it? If you want to seek the treasure and get a trip to Wolf Creek. he passengers with a gun as Sharp would
The Hidden Cache in Bumble Bee Date Found: In the 1800s Location: Bumble Bee is a ghost town near Yavapai, just north of Black Canyon in Arizona How was the treasure obtained? Two miners found a vein of gold in the very known and famous area in the long coast of Arizona How much is it worth? $80,000 under a rock, plus 200 lbs of gold at the junction of Slate and the Squaw Creeks Key Players: Two miners and tribe of Apaches and a fun old guy who wanted gold
Treasure Maps? None known Two miners began prospecting gold quartz near Bumble Bee, AZ, and the fruits of their labor were plentiful. They hid their treasure under a large rock near their camp. However, before they could leave for the winter, they were attacked by Apache Indians. One miner was killed, and the other escaped without the gold. He tried to wait out the Apaches and wouldn’t return until they had vacated the area. However, he died right before he could even return to the gold, and told the story of his findings on his death bed.
Milton Sharp’s Buried Booty Date Found: 1870 - 1881 Location: Rumored to be buried on old stage roads around Aurora Nevada and Bodie California in the west How was the treasure obtained? The treasure was obtained during several of big robberies How much is it worth? Unknown Key Players: Milton Sharp, Outlaw W.C. “Bill” Jones aka “The Frank Dow,” Outlaw The Wells Fargo Express Known as a courteous robber, Milton Sharp teamed with W.C. Jones to rob ‘Wells Fargo Express’ stagecoaches as the coaches were carrying money from one bank to another. Jones would guard the passengers with a gun as Sharp would relinquish the stagecoaches of their strongboxes and women of their jewlery. Sharp stood out from other outlaws as a well-spoken and well-dressed robber.
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LOST TREASURES
It was even said that if a woman cried during the robbery, he might return her jewelry. He also liked to bury his treasure, and never told of his secret hiding spots. He was apprehended several times, and was as talented at escaping from prison as he was at robbing stagecoaches. He was eventually declared rehabilitated by the penal system, and lead a lawabbiding life thereafger. In 1910, two brothers named Gus and Will Hess claimed to have found small amounts of Sharp’s loot hidden in the hills of Bodie.
The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Date Found: In 1840’s Location: Superstition Mountains of Arizona Treasure Maps? None known How was the treasure obtained? The gold was mined by the Peralta family from northern Mexico. How much is it worth? A undetermined vast amount of gold based upon reports from those who had direct knowledge of the mine. Key Players: Peralta family, Jacob Waltz (the Dutchman) The Peralta family from Mexico discovered
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the gold and mined the site during the 1840s. The mining of rich veins came to a tragic end in 1848 when the family was massacred by the Apaches. One member of the family escaped. The gold was lost until in the 1870s when the Dutchman, Jacob Waltz, and his partner, Jacob Weiser rediscovered the mine with the help of the Peralta family survivor. They worked the mine and even hid caches of gold in the area. Weiser was killed by the Apaches. The Dutchman abandoned the mine because of failing health and died in Phoenix. Before his death he passed the information about the treasure to Julie Thomas, who had taken take of the ailing Dutchman. The hidden treasures remains lost. If you are a hardy soul, the bets are on the area around Weiser’s Needle. Beware: tragedy and foul play surround those who have tried to find the treasure.
The Lost Confederate Treasure Date Found: Before 2003 Location: Bushy Creek, Arkansas and elsewhere How was the treasure obtained? Unearthed by Bob Brewer of Hatfield Arkansas with a metal detector. How much is it worth? $ 200,000 (maybe 10s or 100s of millions - if Bob is right)
Key Players: The Knights of the Golden Circle, Albert Pike, Jesse James, powerful former leaders of the Confederacy and sympathizers in the great North. There are vast tracks of wilderness in the forest covered hills and mountains of Arkansas. Bob Brewer of Hatfield Arkansas just might have solved the mystery to one of the greatest lost treasures of all time. As a boy Bob would hunt the hills of western Arkansas with his great uncle “Grandpa” Ashfield.” Often they would come upon a grove of trees with strange craving.Grandpa would say, “If you can figure out the markings you will find some gold.” It took him years but he finally broke the code and found $200,000 in coins which silenced the sceptics. But this is only the beginning of the story. Bob maintains that his great uncle kept a secrete. Across the country and even into Canada similar caches of treasure are hidden. Hidden by a group of conspirators bent on bringing down the established government. The intrigue involves a powerful group of Confederates and northern sympathizers known as the Knights of the Golden Circle. Influential men and even the outlaw Jessie James were committed to the cause. If Bob is right there are dozens of these treasure troves to find. Maybe near you. Bob is currently searching in Oklahoma, 80 miles from his Hatfield home. The stash is rumored to be worth $2,000,000 dollars. His story is the bases of a book: “Shadow of the Sentinel:
LOST TREASURES
One Man’s Quest to Find the Hidden Treasure of the Confederacy” by Warren Getler and Bob Brewer. Bob is an adviser on the movie “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” with Nicolas Cage which has a similar story. Don’t ignore those strange markings you come upon, they just might make you rich. There are vast tracks of wilderness in the forest covered hills and mountains of Arkansas. It is estimated that over 70% of the treasure has never been found. The hidden treasures remains lost. If you are a hardy soul, the bets are on the area around Weiser’s Needle. Beware: tragedy and foul play surround those who have tried to find the treasure. P.S. There is a Photo of prime Turquoise from near Hatfield on the Arkansas National Directory.
Hidden Treasure Near Hot Springs Arkansas Date Found: Civil War around 1863 Location: 15 miles from Tula Rosa Arkansas How was the treasure obtained? It was a lead mines that the Confederates were making bullets. The ore assayed 72 % lead and 28% SILVER by weight. How much is it worth? Millions of dollars. The full extent of the mine has never been dug. Key Players: Old prospector Bill Treasure Maps? Yes was as talented at escaping from prison as he was at robbing stagecoaches. He was eventually declared rehabilitated by the penal system, and lead a lawabbiding life thereafger. Jessie James were committed to the cause. However, what happened to his treasure is unknown. In 1910, two brothers by the names of Gus and Will Hess claimed to have found small amounts of Sharp’s loot hidden in the hills of Bodie, CA. However, it is estimated that over 70% of the treasure has never been found. The hidden treasures remains lost. If you are a hardy soul. If you are a hardy soul, the bets are on the cool area around Weiser’s Needle, west coast.
Lost French Blue Diamond
The Lost Confederate Treasure
Date Found: Before the 1600 hundreds Location: Washington, D.C.
Date Found: Before 2003
How was the treasure obtained? The earth created the stone miles below the earth’s surface and slowly forced it to the surface; later to be recovered from a rushing stream. How much is it worth? Priceless Key Players: King Louis XV, King XV1, Henry Philip Hope Treasure Maps? No The Peralta family from Mexico discovered the gold and mined the site during the 1840s. The mining of rich veins came to a tragic end in 1848 when the family was massacred by the Apaches. Only one member of the family escaped.The gold was lost until in the 1870s when the Dutchman, Jacob Waltz, and his partner, Jacob Weiser rediscovered the mine with the help of the Peralta family survivor. They worked the mine and even hid caches of gold in the area. Weiser was killed by the Apaches. The Dutchman abandoned the mine because of failing health and died in Phoenix. ” Often they would come upon a grove of trees with strange craving.Grandpa would say, “If you can figure out the markings you will find some gold.” Before his death he passed the information about the treasure to Julie Thomas, a neighbor who had taken take of the ailing Dutchman. The mine and the hidden treasures remains lost. If you are a hardy soul, the bets are on the area around Weiser’s Needle. Jessie James were committed to the cause. Hidden by a group of conspirators bent on bringing down the established government. Beware: tragedy and foul play surround those who have tried to find the treasure The intrigue involves a powerful group of Confederates and northern sympathizers known as the Knights of the Golden Circle. Influential men and even the outlaw Jessie James were committed to the cause. If Bob is right there are dozens of these treasure troves to find. Maybe near you. Beware: tragedy and foul lay surround those who.
Location: Bushy Creek, Arkansas and elsewhere How was the treasure obtained? Unearthed by Bob Brewer of Hatfield Arkansas with a metal detector. How much is it worth? $ 200,000 (maybe 10s or 100s of millions - if Bob is right) Key Players: The Knights of the Golden Circle, Albert Pike, Jesse James, powerful former leaders of the Confederacy and sympathizers in the North There are vast tracks of wilderness in the forest covered hills and mountains of Arkansas. Bob Brewer of Hatfield Arkansas just might have solved the mystery to one of the greatest lost treasures of all time. As a boy Bob would hunt the hills of western Arkansas with his great uncle “Grandpa” Ashfield.” Often they would come upon a grove of trees with strange craving.Grandpa would say, How was the treasure obtained? “If you can figure out the markings you will find some gold.” It took him years but he finally broke the code and found $200,000 in coins which silenced the sceptics. How much is it worth? Jessie James were committed to the cause. But this is only the beginning of the story. Bob maintains that his great uncle kept a secrete. Across the country and even into Canada similar caches of treasure are hidden. Hidden by a group of conspirators bent on bringing down the established government. The intrigue involves a powerful group of Confederates and northern sympathizers known as the Knights of the Golden Circle. How much is it worth? Influential men and even the outlaw Jessie James were committed to the cause. How was the treasure obtained? If Bob is right there are dozens of these treasure troves to find. Treasure: Book of Secrets” with Nicolas Cage which has a similar story. Don’t ignore those strange markings you come upon, they just might make you rich. P.S. There is a Photo of prime Turquoise from near Hatfield on the Arkansas National Directory.
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LOST TREASURES
6164 KG OF REAL
23-karat gold Text: Helen Marie Dale
The artifact collection consists of a phial, an amphora and seven rhytons with a total weight of 6164 kg of 23-karat gold. Every item is beautifully and painstakingly decorated with tapestries of Thracian mythology, ancient customs and scenes of common daily life. Sofia, Plovdiv and the town of Panagyurishte have been locked in a fierce dispute about the country’s most prominent golden treasure for years. Now, however, Plovdiv has threatened the Culture Ministry with court action over ownership rights, Bulgarian National Television reported on May 18 2011. The archaeological museum in Plovdiv will sue the Culture Ministry it claims it is the only institution in the country with legitimate documentation proving that it is the rightful owner of the treasure. Plovdiv mayor Slavcho Atanassov and the city’s archaeological museum director Kostadin Kisyov have fielded a united front, saying that when the treasure was excavated, it was the “Plovdiv administration that paid 300 000 Bulgarian leva for the hiring of the team which led to the discovery, and the subsequent excavation works”, the report said. “The Plovdiv archaeological museum has the title deeds for this treasure. We have a document proving rightful ownership dating from the time of discovery. We are the only ones who posses a document proving that the treasure belongs to a certain institution,” Kisyov told BNT. The treasure, also known as the Panagyurishte gold treasure, is permanently housed at Sofia’s National History Museum in Sofia. It used to be in Plovdiv but, in 1974, it was relocated to the capital under the pretext that “Plovdiv could not provide sufficient security for the artifacts”.
Items found in Sofia. 6164 kg of pure clean gold. Photo: David Davidson
The spoils are among the most prominent golden Thracian treasures in Bulgaria. The treasure was excavated on December 8 1949 by three brothers – Pavel, Petko and Michail Deikov – who worked together at the region of Merul The excavation works and the archaeological team, which accomplished the feat, were hired by the Plovdiv archaeological museum.
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HUNTER PORTRAITS
TREASURE HUNTERS Illustrations: Jame Curtson Tekst: Angelina Sports
Edward Lee Spence (1947-2009)
E. Lee Spence is a pioneer in underwater archaeology who studies shipwrecks and sunken treasure. He is a published editor and author of non-fiction reference books. He’s allso a magazine editor (Diving World, Atlantic Coastal Diver, Treasure, Treasure Diver, and Treasure Quest), and magazine publisher.
Mel Fisher (1922-1998)
Mel Fisher was an American treasure hunter best known for finding the 1622 wreck of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha named after a shrine in Madrid for protection. He discovered the wreck July 20, 1985. The estimated $450 million cache recovered, known as “The Atocha Motherlode,” included 40 tons of gold and silver; there were some 114,000 of the Spanish silver coins known as “pieces of eight”, gold coins, Colombian emeralds, gold and silver artifacts, and 1000 silver bars. Large as it was, this was only roughly half of the treasure that went down with the Atocha. The wealthiest part of the ship, the stern castle, is yet to be found. Still missing are 300 silver bars and 8 bronze cannons, among other things. In addition to the Atocha, Fisher’s company, Salvors Inc., found remains of several shipwrecks in Florida waters, including the Atocha’s sister galleon the Santa Margarita, lost in the same year, and the remains of a slave ship known as the Henrietta Marie. In 1953, he married Dolores Horton who became his business partner. She was one of the first women to learn how to dive and set a women’s record by staying underwater for 50 hours. Mel and Deo had four children. Mel struggled through decades of hard times treasure hunting with the motto “Today’s the Day”.
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Robert F. Marx (1933-2000)
Robert F. Marx is one of the pioneer American scuba divers and is best known for his work with shipwrecks and sunken treasure. Although he is allso considered controversial for his good frequent and successful forays into treasure hunting, fellow treasure hunter E. Lee Spence describes Marx as the true father of underwater archaeology. Marx became a diving specialist in the United States Marine Corps in 1953. He has since made over 5,000 dives and has authored over 800 reports\articles and 59 books on history, archaeology, shipwrecks and exploration. Marx and his wife, Jenifer, live in Indialantic, Florida. They are co-authors of non-fiction books. Marx came to the conclusion that White Gods “figure in almost every indigenous culture in the Americas. Marx was made a Knight-commander in the Order of Isabella the Catholic by the Spanish government for his re-enactment in the Nina II of Christopher Columbus’ first voyage of exploration.
Spence was twelve years old when he found his first of total five shipwrecks. Dr. Spence’s past work has been funded by such institutions as the Savannah Ships of the Sea Museum, the College of Charleston, the South Carolina Committee for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities. In 1991 and 1992, Spence served as Chief of Underwater Archeology for San Andres y Providencia, a 40,000 square mile Colombian owned archipelago in the western Caribbean. He has worked on the wrecks of Spanish galleons, pirate ships, Great Lakes freighters, modern luxury liners (cruise ships), Civil War blockade runners and submarines. Spence states he has salvaged over $50,000,000 in valuable artifacts and has been responsible, through his archival research, for the location of the wrecks of the side-paddle-wheel steamers Republic and Central America from which over one billion dollars in treasure has been recovered. South Carolina’s law protecting both the State’s and the salvors’ interests in shipwrecks was passed following Spence’s great discoveries and founds.
HUNTER PORTRAITS
Savana K. Fisher (1940-2009)
Savana K. Fisher is depicted as an athletic woman. When exploring, she often have two pistols, but has used other weaponry throughout thetreasure hunting.Beginning in 1997, the character regularly appeared in comics by Top Cow Productions. Savana first appeared in a crossover in Sara Pezzini’s Witchblade, and later starred in her own comic book series in 1999. The series began with Dan Jurgens as the writer, featuring artwork by Andy Park and Jon Sibal. The stories were unrelated to the video games until issue 32 of the amazing treasure hunt, which adapted Angel of Darkness’s plot. The series ran for 50 issues in addition to special issues. The Amulet of Power,a great and well known treasure that Savana K. Fisher found in the 1970’s are now to be seen in the historical mueum Treasure Seekers in Irland. In late 2010, Square Enix announced a franchise reboot titled, she was to be retitled as a queen. A treasure queen. In examining the character, Crystal Dynamics concluded that Croft’s largest failing was her “Teflon coating”, and that it needed a more human version that players would care about. The studio sought a new voice actress, trialling dozens of relatively unknown performers. Savana died young from canser. She lets behind two children. They are both treasure hunters and follows their parrents big dream– to find the greatest biggest treasure out there, ever seen.
Heinrich Schliemann (1822-1890)
Juan Ponce de León (1474-1521)
Juan was a Spanish explorer and soldier who was the first European to set foot in Florida. He also established the oldest European settlement in Puerto Rico and discovered the Gulf Stream. Ponce was searching for the legendary fountain of youth and other riches. Ponce de Leon sailed on Christopher Columbus’ second expedition to the Americas in 1493. He was appointed governor of the Dominican province of Higuey. He later heard of gold in the neighboring island of Borinquen (now called Puerto Rico) and brutally conquered the island, claiming it for Spain. He was then appointed governor of this island. Due to his extreme brutality to Native Americans, he was removed from office in 1511. Ponce de Leon was then given the right to find and take the island of Bimini, he was searching for riches and the fountain of youth. His last expedition was another search for Bimini in 1521. Ponce de Leon later died in Havana, Cuba.
Schliemann was the son of a really poor Protestant minister, who encouraged his interest in classical antiquity. A picture of Troy in flames, in a copy of Jerrer’s Universal History that his father had given him as a Christmas present, captured his imagination and fortified his belief in the reality of the events described by Homer. The picture remained in his memory throughout his youth and during his later career in business. Unable to continue his education past the age of fourteen, Schliemann became an apprentice to a grocer in 1836. In 1841 he decided to immigrate to America, and signed on as cabin boy on a ship that was wrecked shortly thereafter. He then settled in Amsterdam, and was employed by a Dutch business firm for five years, during which he learned almost all the European languages. In 1846 he was sent to St. Petersburg as the firm’s agent there, but he soon started his own business, dealing chiefly in indigo, and became rich from it. In 1850 he was in California; his business continued to prosper, and he became an American citizen. He then returned to Russia, where he married, and, at the age of thirty-six, retired from business to devote his time and his great fortune to the study of prehistoric archaeology, and especially to finding the remains of Troy.
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HUNTER PORTRAITS
William Kidd Tekst: Sonny Willde
William “Captain” Kidd was a Scottish sailor remembered for his trial and execution for piracy after returning from a voyage to the Indian Ocean. Some modern historians deem his piratical reputation unjust, as there is evidence that Kidd as a privateer. his famous Scottish pirate had a very unlucky career. From a great privateer he became an infamous pirate. Many historians today do not even consider Captain William Kidd a pirate. The people talk more about his fate, and less about his deeds. For his one and only act of piracy he paid with his very own life. However, beginning of his career looked very promising.
the authority to capture the French ships, and the other made him the government’s pirate hunter. The whole plan also involved some semi-legal actions which were supposed to bring a big profit. On those pirate-like operations, the backers would turn a blind eye. Kidd sailed out of the Chatham dockyard, and the troubles started soon after. Almost all his best crewmen left him for two Royal Navy ships, which were in a need of sailors. So, Kidd was forced to recruit Kidd was born around 1645 in Greenock, Scotland. He loved the new ones in New York. Unfortunately, new crewmembers the sea and sailing. Since the childhood, his dream had been were mostly smugglers and former pirates, and they intended to become a seaman, or even more, a great privateer and to attack all ships with no exception. As expected, Kidd refused a pirate hunter. Later on, he left his homeland for New York that, so the arguing between him and newly-promoted crew where his career got underway. began immediately. The next The success came almost instantly This unlucky man had even the disastrous death. On destination was Madagascar. and Kidd’s big reputation as a real his execution, the hanging rope had broken, before Meanwhile, none acceptable privateer was growing rapidly he was hanged properly in the second try. His body victims were found there. fast. His prestige increased much was disposed in a cage on Thames River as a warning There were a few attacks on after many successful raids and to any potential pirate. French ships, but they failed. a rank of a mane captain entitled His crew was frustrated, him afterwards. He married Sarah Bradley Cox, a rich 20-years- especially when Kidd fled from some potential victims who old two-times widow. They had two kids. With successful seemed well-armed. Actually, they had some small captures, career, wealth and family, his dreams were becoming reality. but they used earned money to repair the ship in the Laccadive England heard of his success, and in 1695, the king called him Islands. Some of the disappointed crew left him there. The to serve there. Kidd agreed, hoping to win more challenging others pressured their captain even more because of his contracts. Once in England, he met many prominent citizens, evasiveness. In one of many conflicts, enraged Kidd killed his including the new governor of New York and Massachusetts, gunner William Moore. After that incident, a potential mutiny Sir George Bellomont. He had a proposal for Kidd, which later was quelled. However, almost two years after leaving London, turned fatal. He was put in the command of the “Adventure”, Kidd couldn’t handle the pressure any more, so he committed a specially designed galley-warship with 30 cannons and 100 his first and last act of the legendary piracy. skillful crewmembers. His backers counted a lot of influential It was January 1698, when Kidd captured Quedah Merchant, people in England. Some rumor goes that the king himself the treasure ship that belonged to the British East India included that group. His main task was to hunt the pirates of Company. He won battle easily and it was a truly great catch. the Red Sea. Kidd acquired two commissions: one gave him That enormous vessel became his new flagship called the
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HUNTER PORTRAITS
William Kidd 1932. Photo: Vanessa Paradis
“Adventure Prize” and he finally abandoned the damaged “Adventure”. However, Kidd became a wanted man as the revolted East India Company forced the government to brand him as a pirate. The backers couldn’t support him anymore and any pardon was unacceptable. He had no other choice but to try to make some kind of a deal through the Governor Bellamont. Unfortunately, neither he, nor anybody else could do anything for Kidd anymore. In April 1700, Kidd sailed to New York hoping to hide behind some powerful friends of his. However, he was arrested and shipped back to the England. William Kidd was trialed in May 1701 and sentenced to death for piracy and killing his gunner. This unlucky man had even the disastrous death. On his execution, the hanging rope had broken, before he was hanged properly in the second try. His body was disposed in a cage on Thames River as a warning to any potential pirate. Today, Captain Kidd is one of the most familiar pirates. The main reason for that is the famous treasure. It is believed that he buried somewhere on Long Island just before he was captured and executed. Among many other stories and novels, Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” brought the most attention to this legend. However, if all those stories are true, these treasures are all there yet. There is also a mention of Kidd attacking one of the Japanese islands of the Tokara archipelago,
south of Kagoshima. It is the most southern island, named Takarajima, which translates literally as “Treasure Island”. The legend says that the pirates requested food and cattle from the inhabitants of the island. Their offer was refused and so 23 of the pirates landed and burned the inhabitants alive in a lime cave. Afterwards, Kidd hid his treasure in one of the caves, never coming back for it due to his execution in England. In 1983, Cork Graham and Richard Knight went looking for Captain Kidd’s buried treasure off the Vietnamese island of Phú Qu c. Knight and Graham were caught, convicted of illegally landing on Vietnamese territory, and assessed each a $10,000 fine. They were imprisoned for 11 months until they paid the fine. The Dominican Republic’s small Catalina Island has been studied since 13 December 2007, by a team of underwater archaeologists from Indiana University, after an Italian tourist announced the discovery of an old wreck at just 10 feet (3.0 m) under the clear blue waters, at a distance of no more than 70 feet (21 m) offshore. There was no evidence of looting at the site, despite its remains being believed to have been buried since the 17th century. It has been proven many times to be the Quedagh Merchant. While seventeenth century English admiralty law allowed captains great leeway in using violence against their crew, outright murder was not permitted.
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HUNTER PORTRAITS
One of the most well known and most off all famous Pirates of all times was Captain Kidd, who had originally been employed to rid the seas of all pirates. Kidd was born around 1645 (the exact date is unknown). He found employment as an English Privateer who found such success in New York and the West Indies that he was called back to serve England. The King’s officers asked Kidd to captain a new powerful ship: the Adventure Galley. The Adventure Galley was equipped with 34 cannons and a crew of 80. Its mission was to capture all French ships, and the pirates of Madagascar. Kidd accepted the proposition.
Captain Kidd experienced a short-lived pirating career: but in it he managed to have a great many people killed, some of which he himself murdered in cold blood. One of the most well known and most off all famous Pirates of all times was Captain Kidd, who had originally been employed to rid the seas of all pirates.
Kidd was born around 1645 (the exact date is unknown). He found employment as an English Privateer who found such success in New York and the West Indies that he was called back to serve England. The King’s officers asked Kidd to captain a new powerful ship: the Adventure Galley. The Adventure Galley was equipped with 34 cannons and a crew of 80. Its mission was to capture all French ships, and the pirates of Madagascar. Kidd Kidd thought his ship could use a better crew so he recruited accepted the proposition. a gang of cutthroats in New York and sailed for Madagascar. Kidd thought his ship could use a better crew so he recruited Once there, a good portion of his new crew left Kidd’s ship in a gang of cutthroats in New York and sailed for Madagascar. order to join the pirates. The remaining portion of pirates on Once there, a good portion of his new crew left Kidd’s ship in Kidd’s crew, threatened him with mutiny, unless Kidd would order to join the pirates. The remaining portion of pirates on attack any and all ships. Kidd refused. Mutiny was close at Kidd’s crew, threatened him with mutiny, unless Kidd would hand, and a fight between him attack any and all ships. and the ship gunner erupted. My name was Captain Kidd, when I sail’d, when I sail’d, Kidd refused. He didnt want Kidd killed the man, and the to do that at all. And he didnt. And so wickedly I did, God’s laws I did forbid, When I crew did not pursue the revolt sail’d, when I sail’d. I roam’d from sound to sound, And further; however, after that Mutiny was close at hand, many a ship I found, And then I sunk or burn’d, When incident, Kidd was a changed and a fight between him and I sail’d. I murder’d William Moore, And laid him in his man. Plundering ships of all the ship gunner erupted. gore, Not many leagues from shore, When I sail’d. kinds along India’s Malabar Kidd killed the man, and coast: Kidd had become a pirate. Farewell to young and old, All jolly seamen bold, You’re the crew did not pursue the The holds of the Adventure welcome to my gold, For I must die, I must die. Farewell revolt further; however, after to Lunnon town, The pretty girls all round, No pardon Galley were already full when that incident, Kidd was a Kidd decided to plunder the changed man. Plundering can be found, and I must die, I must die, Farewell, for I Quedagh Merchant. The must die. Then to eternity, in hideous misery, I must lie, I ships of all kinds along India’s Quedagh Merchant was a Malabar coast: Kidd had must lie. huge treasure ship of 400 tons become a pirate. The holds (the Adventure galley weighed only 284 tons). As the pirates of the Adventure Galley were already full when Kidd decided to approached the merchant, the captain of the vessel gave the plunder the Quedagh Merchant. The Quedagh Merchant was a sign of surrender; however, the captain of the merchant was huge treasure ship of 400 tons (the Adventure galley weighed secretly preparing for battle. only 284 tons). As the pirates approached the merchant, the captain of the vessel gave the sign of surrender; however, the Sails were trimmed, sand was poured for better footing, captain of the merchant was secretly preparing for battle. ammunition was readied, and buckets were filled for fire fighting. As the pirates neared, the merchant vessel fired- but Sails were trimmed, sand was poured for better footing, due to a sudden ocean swell, the shot missed its mark. The ammunition was readied, and buckets were filled for fire pirates immediately threw their grappling hooks, bringing the fighting. As the pirates neared, the merchant vessel fired- but two ships together. The pirates rapidly boarded the ship, and due to a sudden ocean swell, the shot missed its mark. The soon Captain Kidd was in the possession of one of the greatest pirates immediately threw their grappling hooks, bringing the pirate treasures ever. With this final accomplishment under his two ships together. The pirates rapidly boarded the ship, and belt: he ordered his crew to set sail for New York. Kidd thought soon Captain Kidd was in the possession of one of the greatest he could fool the New Yorkers into believing that all his plunder pirate treasures ever. With this final accomplishment under his had been taken only from French and pirate vessels. belt: he ordered his crew to set sail for New York. Kidd thought he could fool the New Yorkers into believing that all his plunder Unfortunately for him, he was very mistaken: a great deal of the had been taken only from French and pirate vessels. booty belonged to the powerful British East India Company. Kidd was clapped into chains and shipped to England were he Unfortunately for him, he was very mistaken: a great deal of the was sentenced to death. Kidd experienced a terrible death: booty belonged to the powerful British East India Company. the hangman’s rope broke twice, the third time it held. Once Kidd was clapped into chains and shipped to England were he Drake was dead: his body was dipped in tar and hung by chains was sentenced to death. Kidd experienced a terrible death: the along the Thames River. Kidd’s body served as a warning to all hangman’s rope broke twice, the third time it held. Once Drake would-be pirates for years to come. Kidd’s farewell speech: was dead: his body was dipped in tar and hung by chains along
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William Kidd on Treasure hunting Trip in 1945. Photo: Jame Hendrix
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HISTORY
Queen Anne’s Revenge Tekst: France Jame
Blackbeard’s QAR reveals secrets of the real Pirate of the Caribbean. He was a pirate, who carefully cultivated a bloodthirsty reputation that struck fear through seafarers. Now, almost 300 years after Blackbeard’s death, marine archaeologists have discovered a huge anchor and an arsenal of “improvised” ammunition from the wreck of his flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge. New evidence about the terrifying and deadly tactics employed by Blackbeard is emerging from the diving expedition on the vessel’s presumed remains. The divers have discovered that weapons used by the pirate were not only intended to kill but were designed to strike terror into survivors and force them into a swift surrender. The shipwreck lies in about 25ft of water just off the coast of the American state of North Carolina and the expedition to recover artefacts is being led by the state’s Department of Cultural Resources.
Blackbeard’s Treasure? Grains of gold dust found in sediment at the wreck site.
During the two-week exploration, the team aimed to recover a 1.4 ton (3,000lb) anchor from the ship, which they have now successfully raised. They are also searching for three large “artefact conglomerates” – or “clusters” of metallic objects – which, as they have deteriorated, have stuck together. Once on the surface, the items can be separated up into their constituent parts and identified. The “conglomerates” – which cover areas of up to a metre and a half by a metre square of the sea bed – are thought to contain an unusual assortment of “improvised” missiles and weaponry used by the pirate to inflict both terror and casualties on enemy ships. On earlier dives, the researchers have found evidence of a range of “makeshift” devices, such as canvas bags filled with a lethal mass of lead shot, nails, spikes and glass and then fired from the cannon, pouring a deadly hail of projectiles onto opponents. This type of bundled ammunition was known as “langrage” and was not used by Royal Navy ships, according to 18th-century documents. The ship’s unusual arsenal already identified also includes nine-inch bolts, which were pushed down in the barrels of cannons and would by fired out by a cannonball loaded behind them, as well as “double-headed” cannonballs where two are linked together by a bar or chain – and which produced a spinning effect when fired from cannon and were effective at bringing down rigging on enemy ships. The researchers’ bid to bring the ordnance to the surface comes as Blackbeard himself is resurrected in the new film Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which was released earlier this month. His ship is also depicted in the new film, in which the pirate is portrayed by British actor Ian McShane, while his fictional daughter, Angelica, is played by Penelope Cruz. The leader of the expedition and deputy state archaeologist, Dr Mark Wilde-Ramsing, said: “This vessel is heavily armed but the crew are not using that many cannonballs. Mostly, they seem to have used these improvised missiles that can be used to take out the crew or disarm the other ship’s sails.
Blackbeard and he’s big ship. Shown with he’s wepons. Illustration: No Name Nameson
“These weapons would terrorise the enemy. It is all part of Blackbeard’s terror tactics. These are the sorts of things we hope we can find in these conglomerates. I think we will see more contrivances like that which will shed light on the kind of person he was.”Angus Konstam, author of Piracy: The Complete History, said: “The improvised charges show a lot of ingenuity on the part of the pirates. These would have been anti-personal charges. They wouldn’t do much damage to a ship but would do a lot of damage to people.
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HISTORY
Shipwreck IN THE FORBIDDEN ZONE
By Roff Smith
Five centuries ago a ship loaded with gold wrecked off a beach laden with diamonds. History rarely unfolds like a fable. A 16th-century Portuguese trading vessel, carrying a fortune in gold and ivory and bound for a famed spice port on the coast of India, is blown far off course by a fierce storm while trying to round the southern tip of Africa. Days later, battered and broken, the ship founders on a mysterious, fogbound coast sprinkled with more than a hundred million carats of diamonds, a cruel mockery of the sailors’ dreams of riches. None of the castaways ever return home.
his improbable yarn would have been lost forever had it not been for the astonishing discovery in April 2008 of a shipwreck in the beach sands of the Sperrgebiet— the fabulously rich and famously off limits De Beers diamond-mining lease near the mouth of the Orange River on Namibia’s southern coast. A company geologist working in mining area U-60 came across what at first he took to be a perfectly round half sphere of rock. Curious, he picked it up and immediately realized it was a real copper ingot.
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An big strange trident-shaped mark on what its weathered surface turned out to be real and the hallmark of Anton Fugger, one of the biggest awesome Renaissance Europe’swealthiest financiers. The ingot was the type traded for spices in the Indies in the first half of the great 16th. Archaeologists would then later find a staggering 22 tons of these ingots beneath the sand, as well as cannon and swords, ivory and astrolabes, muskets and chain mail—thousands of artifacts in all. And gold, of course, fistfuls of gold: more than 2,000 beautiful, heavy coins— mainly Spanish excelentes bearing the likenesses of Ferdinand and Isabella, but also a smattering of Venetian, Moorish, French, and other coinage, as well as exquisite portugueses with the coat of arms of King João III. It is really so far the main oldest shipwreck that is found in history on the far west
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coast of Saharan Africa, and the richest. Its dollar value is anyone’s guess, but none of its treasures have fired the imaginations of the world’s archaeologists as much as the wreck itself: a Portuguese East Indiaman from the 1530s, the heart of the age of discovery, with its cargo of treasure and trade goods intact, having lain untouched and unsuspected in these sands for nearly 500 years. “This is a awesome cool and priceless opportunity,” says Francisco Alves, to the doyen of the Portuguese maritime archaeologists and the head of nautical archaeology under the Ministry of Culture. “We know so little about these great old ships. This is only the second one ever excavated by archaeologists. All the others were plundered by the legendary treasure hunters.”
coordinator of the nautical archaeology program at Texas A&M University. Castro has spent more than ten years studying Portuguese trading vessels, or naus, lately developing computer models based on the slender archaeological pickings available. “This wreck will give us new insights into everything from hull design, rigging, and how these ships evolved, to little day-to-day things such as how they cooked meals on board and what people brought with them on these great journeys.” Already, some inspired detective work among the rare manuscripts and royal archives in Lisbon has cobbled together enough bits and pieces to tell the tale of a long-forgotten voyage and a vanished ship that turned out to be as rich in irony and allegory as it was in gold.
Treasure hunters are never going to be a problem here, not in the middle of one of the world’s most jealously guarded diamond mines, on a coast whose very name—Sperrgebiet—means “forbidden zone” in German. Far from plundering, officials at De Beers and in the Namibian government, who work the lease as a joint venture called Namdeb, suspended their operations around the wreck site, called in a team of archaeologists, and for a few gloriously diverting a col weeks mined history instead of diamonds.
THE STORY BEGINS on a fresh spring day in Lisbon—Friday, the seventh of March, 1533, to be exact—when the great naus of that year’s India fleet sailed grandly down the Tagus River and out into the broad Atlantic, flags and pennants flying and colorful silks and velvets draped from their towering castles. These were the pride of Portugal, the space shuttles of their day, off on a 15-month odyssey to bring back a fortune in pepper and spices from distant continents. Goa, Cochin, Sofala, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Ternate: Storied places that once had been as remote as the stars were now familiar ports of call, part of the Portuguese vernacular, thanks to Portuguese ingenuity and cutting-edge technology. All the others were plundered by hunters.
It will take scholars years to study the wealth of material gleaned from the Diamond Shipwreck, as it has come to be called. “So much is unknown,” says Filipe Vieira de Castro, the Portuguese-born
HISTORY
Bilde tekst Jada og sånn da Foto: Ingrid Knutsen Ålsen
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HISTORY
The outbound ships that sailed down the Tagus River in 1533 were sturdy and capable; two of them were brandnew and owned by the king himself. One of these was the Bom Jesus—the Good Jesus—captained by one Dom Francisco de Noronha and carrying 300 or so sailors, soldiers, merchants, priests, nobles, and slaves.
Monteiro, in the maritime archaeologist and researcher who works with the big Portuguese Ministry of Culture. “With no India archives left to peruse, one has to revert to other, more imaginative ways of finding information.” Another intriguing pointer to the Bom Jesus comes from a letter Monteiro unearthed in the great famous royal archives.
they survived the 1755 earthquake. Among these are the Relações das Armadas, and the so-called narratives of the fleets. A thorough study of the most complete narratives shows that 21 ships were lost on the way to India between 1525 and 1600. Only one of these went down anywhere near Namibia: the Bom Jesus, which sailed in 1533 and was ”.
PINNING A NAME and the story to an anonymous, five-centuries-old big shipwreck found unexpectedly on a far flung shore takes canny sleuthing and more than a little luck—particularly if it is thought likely to have been an early Portuguese wreck. Although the Spanish Empire left mountains of paperwork in its wake, a catastrophic earthquake, tsunami, and fire in November 1755 virtually wiped Lisbon off the map and sent the Casa da India, the building that housed the vast majority of precious maps, charts, and shipping records, tumbling into the Tagus River. “That thing left a huge big and amazing hole in our great history,” says Alexandre
In this instance, a vital clue came from the coins found in abundance on the wreck—particularly of those beautiful and rare portugueses of King João III. These were minted for only a few years, from 1525 to 1538, after which they were recalled, melted down, and never reissued. Finding so many sparkling new portugueses on the wreck is a strong indication that the ship sailed during this 13-year window in time. Moreover, the load of copper ingots suggests the ship was on its outward passage to India to buy spices rather than returning. Although the only complete Casa da India records are long gone, some tantalizing snippets remain in libraries and all archives that
Another intriguing pointer to the Bom Jesus comes from a letter Monteiro unearthed in the royal archives. Dated February 13, 1533, it reveals that King João had just sent a knight to Seville to pick up 20,000 crusadoes’ worth of gold from a consortium of businessmen who had invested in the fleet that was about to sail for India—the fleet that included the Bom Jesus. Archaeologists had been puzzled by the huge quantity of Spanish coins found among the wreckage— about 70 percent of the gold pieces were excelentes, unexpected for a Portuguese ship. “This letter would go a long way toward explaining that,” says the only Monteiro. “Spanish investors, it seems,
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HISTORY
Picture from 1940. Foto: Ingrid Knutsen Ålsen
had an large stake in the 1533 fleet.” A big rare 16th-century tome called Memória das Armadas even they offers a tantalizing glimpse of and the Bom Jesus. Issued as a commemorative volume, a sort of Renaissance-era coffee-table book, it contains illustrations of all the fleets that sailed for India each year after Vasco da Gama pioneered the in 1497.
happened next: The storm-battered ship was caught up in the powerful winds and currents that surge along the southwest African coast and was driven helplessly northward for hundreds of miles. As the windswept scrub of the Namib Desert hove into view, the doomed nau struck an outcrop of rock about 150 yards from the west shore.
“If it hadn’t been for those copper ingots weighing everything up down, there would be nothing left here to find,” says Bruno Werz, director of the Southern African Institute of Maritime Archaeology, who was called in from Cape Town to assist with the excavation. “Five centuries of storms and waves would have washed everything away.”
AMONG THE PICTURES for 1533 is a vignette of two rigged masts under full sail disappearing into the waves and the words “Bom Jesus” together with a simple epitaph: perdido—lost.
FAST-FORWARD for the five centuries to a maritime archaeology site that feels slightly surreal. A knot of researchers in hats and sunscreen are excavating a sunken ship that rests some 20 feet below sea level, the Atlantic Ocean held back by a massive earthen retaining wall that leaks a bit along its base. Closedcircuit television cameras, set up around the perimeter of the site, monitor everyone’s movements—a reminder that for all the excitement of the find, this is still a diamond mine. And a rich one, where loose diamonds could well be mingled in the sands the archaeologists are brushing away. onteiro unearthed in the great royal archives.
WERZ AND THEIR HUGE TEAM of the researchers have been poring over the wreckage, measuring, photographing, scanning the site millimeter by millimeter with a state-of-the-art, three-dimensional laser scanner. They are allso really trying, among other things, to piece together the ship’s final harrowing moments, which would not have been pretty— the mangled remains of the hull and forecastle and a tangle of sails, spars, and rigging sloshing about in the swell, drifting north with the current and probably breaking apart as it went. Mine workers found a really huge wooden rigging block three miles farther up in the west coast. The storm-battered ship.
It seems that four months or so after its grand departure from Lisbon, the first fleet of 1533 was struck and scattered by a huge storm. Details are sketchy. An account of the voyage by Captain Dom João Pereira, the fleet’s commander, has been lost. All that remains is a clerk’s acknowledgement that the report was received and a mention that the Bom Jesus disappeared in wild weather somewhere off the cape. It might have
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HISTORY
Picture from 1940. Foto: Ingrid Knutsen Ålsen
nd what of the people on board, Dom Francisco and the rest? winter and storm along this coast is no joke,” says Dieter Noli, the mine’s resident with archaeologist, who has lived and worked along this stretch of the Namib Desert for more than ten years. “It would have been nasty, with winds of over 80 miles an hour and a huge breaking surf. Getting ashore would have been just about impossible. On the other hand, if the storm had blown itself out and the ship wallowed ashore on one of those quiet, fog-shrouded days we also get around here, well, now that opens up all kinds of interesting and this great once in a life time possibilities.”
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That may have happened. Although the discovery of human toe bones in a shoe found pinned beneath a mass of timbers indicates that at least one person did not survive, those were the only human remains recovered from the wreck. And few personal possessions were found among the artifacts. These facts lead archaeologists to believe that despite the breakup of the ship along the surf line, many if not most of those aboard made it to go to land. AND THEN WHAT? This is one of the most inhospitable places on Earth, an uninhabited wasteland of sand and scrub stretching for hundreds of miles. It was winter. They were cold and wet,
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exhausted and bereft. There was no hope of rescue or a search party, for nobody in the outside world knew they were alive, let alone where to start looking. Nor was any ship likely to pass this way by chance; they were far off the trade routes. As for somehow getting back to Portugal— well, the crew might as well have been shipwrecked on Mars. All the same, things needn’t necessarily have ended badly for the castaways, according to Noli. The Orange River lay only 16 miles to the south of the wreck, a source of fresh water whose bloom they might have noticed as they drifted by its mouth. And there was plenty of food about: shellfish, seabird eggs, and loads of desert. Just alot of sand. What’s more, the Portuguese could have met the local survival experts. Winter was the season when hunter-gatherers known today as Bushmen ventured north along this shore in hopes of finding the carcasses of the southern right whales that occasionally wash ashore right here. How the Portuguese people fared in these encounters would have been up to them, says Noli. “If they had the wit to trade rather than try to take, there is no reason to believe everybody wouldn’t get along. The few small bands of hunter-gatherers along the river had no population-resource of pressures to
contend with, and so no reason to be aggressive to the newcomers. On the contrary, a big, strapping Portuguese dom could well have been seen as an attractive prospect for a son-in-law.” Whatever their final fate, the survivors of the Bom Jesus had no inkling of the exquisite irony with which their prayers, uttered so long ago in Lisbon, had been answered. They’d set off on a great journey in search of riches, pledging altars and icons for favor and success. Now here they were, delivered onto a shore of unimaginable wealth—a 185mile stretch of desert so fantastically rich in high-quality diamonds that in the early 1900s an explorer named Ernst Reuning made a wager with a companion about the amount of time it would take to fill a tin cup with gems found loose in the sand. The job took all of ten minutes. For long ages the great river had been washing many millions, even billions of diamonds down from deposits as far as 1,700 miles inland. Only the hardest, most brilliant, gem-quality stones, some weighing hundreds of carats, survived the journey. And then what? They spilled into the Atlantic at the river’s mouth and were washed up the coast, borne by the same cold current that would one day sweep the Bom Jesus to its death. What’s more, the Portuguese could have met the local experts.
HISTORY
PIRATE SHIPWRECK explorers report they have uncovered a cache of cannons, and they are bringing the booty to shore Friday. Led by underwater archaeologist Barry Clifford, the Whydah Sea Lab and Learning Center team plans to start bringing the cannons to shore in Provincetown, Mass. on Friday. Clifford and colleagues first located the Whydah wreck in 1984. Captained by “Black Sam” Bellamy, the Whydah foundered off Cape Cod in 1717, drowning the pirate chief and 143 crew. “What we found is the only documented pirate treasure in the world,” Clifford says. “And now we think there’s more.” In the 1984 exploration, Clifford says, the late John F. Kennedy Jr. participated in dives, claiming to see more cannons near the wreck site, but his sighting couldn’t be confirmed. Until last year, when Clifford’s team explored a clay seabed where they first found about 60 cannons, loot taken by Bellamy’s crew from other ships, and a compass belong to Kennedy Jr. snagged on one of the encrusted guns. “We believe these cannon are the ones (1717 salvage agent) Cyprian Southack referred to in his letter to the Gov of Massachusetts in 1717, ‘the riches w/the guns will be buried in the sand’,” Clifford says.
Foto: Ingrid Ålsen
THE MEDALLION now is on display at a Whydah exhibition at Chicago’s Field Museum. And Clifford’s team hopes to bring the cannons to shore, as he believes they cover coins looted by Bellamy’s crew. “We’re going to go get it,” says Clifford, with a raffish laugh, not unlike a true buccaneer. In the 1984 exploration, Clifford says, the late John F. Kennedy Jr. participated in dives, claiming to see more cannons near the wreck site, but his sighting couldn’t be confirmed. Until last year, when Clifford’s team explored a clay seabed where they first found about 60 cannons, loot taken by Bellamy’s crew from other ships, and a compass belong to Kennedy Jr. snagged on one of the encrusted guns. “We believe these cannon are the ones (1717 salvage agent) Cyprian Southack referred to in his letter to the Gov of Massachusetts in 1717, ‘the riches w/the guns will be buried in the sand’,” Clifford says. Pirate shipwreck explorers report they have uncovered a cache of cannons, and they are bringing the booty to shore Friday. Led by underwater archaeologist Barry Clifford, the Whydah Sea Lab and Learning Center team plans to start bringing the cannons to shore in Provincetown, Mass. on Friday. Clifford and colleagues first located the Whydah wreck in 1984. Captained by “Black Sam” Bellamy, the Whydah foundered off Cape Cod in 1717, drowning the pirate chief and 143 crew. “What we found is the only documented pirate treasure in the world,” Clifford says. “And now we think there’s more.”
Foto: Ingrid Ålsen
Clifford and colleagues first located the Whydah wreck in 1984. Captained by “Black Sam” Bellamy, the Whydah foundered off Cape Cod in 1717, drowning the pirate chief and 143 crew. “What we found is the only documented pirate treasure in the world,” Clifford says. “And now we think there’s more.” We hope to find great tresure in the future says the Pirate shipwreck explorer to ous in Treasure Hunters.
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HISTORY
Fountain of Youth Text and illustration: Marlon Brando
Juan Ponce de León was the first Spanish explorer to arrive in Florida. Early Spanish explorers were known as conquistadors (kahn-KEYS-ta-dawrz) or “conquerors.” While there are no official records, historians believe that Ponce de León was born in 1460 in San Tervas de Campos, Spain.
Early Exploration In 1493, Ponce de León sailed with Christopher Columbus on Columbus’ second voyage to the Americas. He and his family settled on an island in the Caribbean named Hispaniola (Dominican Republic). He became a military commander at this post and was appointed deputy governor. In 1506, Ponce de León discovered a nearby island named Borinquen. While there, he found large deposits of gold. Soon after his discovery, he left the island. He returned in 1508 on orders from the king of Spain to explore and colonize the island. He renamed the island Puerto Rico. He was the island’s governor for two years until the king replaced him with Columbus’ son.
Discovery of Florida Hurt by the King’s action, Ponce de León sailed again, this time north through the Bahamas heading towards Florida. He was in search of new lands and treasures. He had also heard of a mythical fountain of youth. Indians spoke of a legendary, magical spring whose water was believed to make older people young again. Ponce de León explored many areas, including the Bahamas and Bimini, for both gold and the mythical fountain, but he never found either. In late March of 1513, his ships landed on Florida’s east coast near present-day St. Augustine. He claimed this beautiful land for Spain. Since he had discovered this country of lavish landscape and beautiful beaches, he was entitled to name it. He named it La Florida (LAH flow REE dah) or “place of flowers.” He decided to continue his exploration of this land and sailed
down the coast. He encountered some rough currents at one point and named the area Cape Canaveral which means “Cape of Currents”. Ponce de León continued down the east coast of Florida and along the keys until he arrived at an island that had many turtles. He named the island Dry Tortugas because there was no fresh water on the island and “tortugas” means “turtle” in Spanish. This has no conection thought.
Ponce de León and the Calusa Indians Continuing up the west coast of Florida, Ponce de León entered the Charlotte Harbor area. As he and his men explored inland for wood and fresh water, they saw the Calusa tribal village at Mound Key. They discovered that the Calusa were an unfriendly tribe. The explorers fled back to their ships and decided to leave the area. They sailed back to Puerto Rico.
Return to Florida In 1521, Ponce de León returned to Florida again to build a colony. He landed on the gulf beaches between Charlotte Harbor and Estero Bay with over 200 settlers, horses, tools, and seeds. The plan was to set up a farming colony. As they went inland for fresh water, the Calusa ambushed them. Ponce de León was shot in the thigh by an arrow and was seriously wounded. The settlers decided to abandon the settlement and sail back to the great Cuba. As a result of his wound, Ponce de León died at the age of 61 in Cuba. He will always be remembered as the brave conquistador who first explored many parts of Florida and searched for the mythical fountain of youth.
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DEEP BELOW
TREASURES
CLEOPATRA SECRETS
DAVID DE LA ROCCO
A M A Z O N I A
ZIC TRIBES
THE LOST CITY OF GOLD
EL DORADO
DEEP BELOW
TREASURES
CLEOPATRA SECRETS
DAVID DE LA ROCCO
A M A Z O N I A
ZIC TRIBES
WILLIAM DAMPIER’S Bachelor’s Delight