KEY WEST, Fla., May 20, 2008
Diver Finds 385-Year-Old Gold Toothpick
Search Of Shipwrecked Spanish Galleon Off Florida Coast Yields Luxurious Grooming Tool
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In this photo released by the Florida Keys News Bureau, a tiny solid gold combination toothpick and earwax scoop is displayed inside a clam shell. (AP Photo/Bob Care)
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Photo Essay Land Of The Found Images of some recent fossil finds, from man's ancestors to extinct dinosaurs.
The late 16th or early 17th century grooming tool, which weighs only about an ounce, was located Sunday by Blue Water Ventures diver Chris Rackley as he searched the area about 22 feet below the surface and 40 miles west of Key West. The value could exceed $100,000.
The divers, who are searching the shipwreck trail of the Spanish galleon Santa Margarita that sank in a 1622 hurricane, also recovered ceramic pieces, spikes, ships' fittings, rigging elements and two skeleton keys.
"We were on the trail on the Margarita site following the artifact scatter pattern to the north," said Blue Water head archaeologist Dr. R. Duncan Mathewson. "This is the furthest point on that trail where gold has ever been found before, so it confirms that we're on the right trail."
The search for Santa Margarita artifacts began more than a quarter-century ago by the late Key West treasure hunter Mel Fisher. Today, the Blue Water team is leading that search under a joint-venture partnership with the Fisher family owned company, Motivation Inc.
Almost a year ago, Blue Water divers located gold bars, gold chains and a lead box containing thousands of pearls that were carried by the Margarita. The value of that find was estimated at more than $2 million.
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Add a Comment See all 25 Comments
- Was there still earwax left on it?
Posted by fibonacci_gr at 04:35 PM : May 20, 2008
Maybe there is enough DNA in the earwax to find out who it belonged to. - Reply to this comment
- razzi? Was that supposed to be funny? I hope you''re not a comedian for a living.
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- Did anyone find W''s silver spoon? He was born with it, but lost it somewhere in the oil fields of Texas. They don''t call it "crude" for nothin'' out there...
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- Boy a earwax spoon. Wonder if that would work on your nose, when moving from Lt.to Rt. ear.
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- WATCH OUT the Spanish government is going to file a LAW SUIT and clame this Golden ToothPick as lost Spanish Art and try to take if from the person who found it. I am positive that SOMEBODY in the Spanish Government has been looking for this tooth pick for the past 384 years.
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- We''ve gone from GOLD ear-swabs to Q-tips :-)
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- Was there still earwax left on it?
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- WOW - this is the best news since Cheney had a heart attack!
Posted by watcher269 at 10:52 AM : May 20, 2008
WOW! Making light of someones potentially fatal condition is sick, sick, sick. Get some help.
Dont tell a republican or they will steal it.
Posted by aheadace at 02:18 PM : May 20, 2008
That''s a nice thing to say about people you don''t know. I won''t dignify it by making some remark about democrats. I''m sure the people who are around you must think you are a great person...NOT! - Reply to this comment
- "tiny gold combined toothpick and earwax spoon", someone mentioned cocaine spoon, didn''t they use snuff boxes back then, oh ya. Woah, what "they" like to tell the public. Gives us something to think about...
- Reply to this comment
- "tiny gold combined toothpick and earwax spoon", someone mentioned cocaine spoon, didn''t they use snuff boxes back then, oh ya. Woah, what "they" like to tell the public. Gives us something to think about...
- Reply to this comment
