Never-Before-Seen Pure Gold Artifact Found Off Fla. Coast
POSTED: Tuesday, May 20, 2008
UPDATED: 9:42 am EDT May 20,
2008
KEY WEST, Fla. -- An archaeologist and treasure-hunting divers found a never-before-seen gold artifact likely from a Spanish galleon that sank in a hurricane in the 1600s.
IMAGES: Larger image and more unique photos
The treasure, believed to be an intricate grooming tool made with gold and earwax, was found 40 miles off Key West."It's a grooming tool, composed of toothpick and an earwax little spoon made of almost pure gold," Dr. Duncan Mathewson said. "It's very, very unique. Ah, we've never seen anything like it before."Treasure hunters were searching the shipwreck trail of the Spanish galleon Santa Margarita that sank in 1622 when the discovery was made.Several other discoveries were made, including skeleton keys, ceramic pieces and rigging elements.About a year ago, gold bars and a lead box containing thousands of pearls carried by the Margarita ship were found. It was estimated to be $2 million worth of items.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
IMAGES: Larger image and more unique photos The treasure, believed to be an intricate grooming tool made with gold and earwax, was found 40 miles off Key West."It's a grooming tool, composed of toothpick and an earwax little spoon made of almost pure gold," Dr. Duncan Mathewson said. "It's very, very unique. Ah, we've never seen anything like it before."Treasure hunters were searching the shipwreck trail of the Spanish galleon Santa Margarita that sank in 1622 when the discovery was made.Several other discoveries were made, including skeleton keys, ceramic pieces and rigging elements.About a year ago, gold bars and a lead box containing thousands of pearls carried by the Margarita ship were found. It was estimated to be $2 million worth of items.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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