Go to the Image Gallery to check out Photos from our recent expeditions.

For more updates visit our Projects Page.

The Trials of Treasure Hunting

Treasure Hunting is not for the faint of heart and much more complicated than just digging it up or taking it from the sea. To begin with, time and money must be spent to qualify the existence of the treasure. This is accomplished by first, researching the history that supports the location and second, physically exploring the location using geophysical instrumentation that confirms the presence of precious metals and artifacts. Usually the archival research is done before the first dollar is spent on exploration.

The next step is dealing with local government and/or land owner that control the property where the treasure has been deposited. In the case of the Bahamas, The Government has eminent domain over all antiquities,(Buried over 50 years)since passing The Monuments and Museum Protection Act No. 5 of 1998. A formal petition for the removal of the treasure is presented and if accepted, a permit is then issued. But this is only the beginning.

Determining the necessary equipment, the support and logistics and assembly of a team of qualified personnel is imperative to assure that artifact recovery is in accordance with all precepts of current archaeological science. This is of the utmost importance as the academic society can accurately point out too many examples where "smash and grab" treasure hunters have destroyed the historical significance and the worth of the recovered artifacts.

The value of these artifacts is greatly enhanced by their history. Typically, the intrinsic value may be multiplied many times over by conservation, research, and documentation of the items recovered. For example, a Spanish silver coin with no history attached may be sold on the open market for as little as $300, but if the same coin is documented as coming from a known shipwreck, such as the "Atocha", it can bring up to $3,000! Need I say more?

Once the artifacts have been recovered, more time and money must be spent on documentation and research. The historical value attributed to the artifacts is what treasure hunting is all about...if it is to be profitable. Recovery is only the starting point. Additional research is the next and most important step that must be taken before the artifacts can be made available to the public.

In order to be profitable, treasure hunting must be a marriage between the sciences of modern technology, archaeology, and historical research. All these components are equally important. Treasure Hunting is about writing history, and that is what makes it so exciting!

Should you wish to be a part of these exciting projects, feel free to contact me directly at donpatterson@oldcharter.com

Sincerely,

Don Patterson
Director OCS