Archaeology Takes Away Our Wilderness

Come On Folks Help Out Louisville!!

My name is Eddie Black 1-502-448-7665 I am the Secretary of the Bluegrass Loop and Coil Club in Louisville Ky, I would like to request a phone campaign to our Mayor (Jerry Abramson) to complain about his ban aaginst metal detecting in all city and county parks. We have not been able to have a public meeting with his office or the Alderman to discuss his decision. I understand he is about to bring this policy before the Alderman for a vote without us having a say so. Thanks for your help! Yours in Christ, Eddie Black P.S. His email link is below and his office number is also.

http://www.louisvilleky.gov/Mayor/contactusmayor.htm (Jerry Abramson) His phone number is:1-502-574-2003 Louisville,Ky

Treasure Hunting Is Not Cool - Must READ!!

Treasure Hunting Is Unethical To

Treasure Hunting Adventures

Now you can experience the excitment of a lifetime with professional treasure hunters as your guides.

I am treasure hunter, Frank W. Pandozzi, and the Executive Producer of Exploring Historys Treasures Metal detecting, TV series.

I am proud and excited to announce the creation of

Exploring Historys Treasures, (EHT’s), Treasure Hunting Adventures

Whether you are an avid metal detectorist, or a beginner in the hobby, or a person who has always dreamed of experiencing a real treasure hunt, now you have the opportunity to do so.

Together with my co-host, Mike Austin, we will guide you to some of the most remote and exciting hunts anywhere.

Professional treasure hunter, Mike Austin, who is a co-host of my TV series, and me, will be your guides.

These treasure-hunting opportunities are a once in a lifetime experience.

Search for silver and gold bars buried by the Spaniards during the inquisition.

Search for KGC treasures buried in different States.

Search for hermit caches, or buried payroll from the French & Indian War.

Search for Spanish wrecks in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

Search for wrecks from the 1800’s in the lakes of the Northeast,

and much, much, more.

We only allow a manageable amount of people on these adventures, usually 5-10 individuals. It is a first come, first in opportunity for each exciting and fun filled treasure hunt. Everyone must sign our non-disclosure form, and waivers of liability, as well as make the initial deposit that is required to secure a spot for these treasure-hunting adventures.

You will have the opportunity to:

Ø Search for real treasures. Ø These are real; Ø They are not coin hunts in a park, Ø Or a staged farm field, Ø And, you share in any treasure located.

HOWEVER, WE DO NOT GUARANTEE that a treasure will be located on each trip.

We cannot promise that you will find buried treasures, but we will promise that you will have a great time and benefit from many years of research experience!

The cost for a 2-3 day treasure hunt is $1100 per person. Family pricing is available. This price does not include travel to and from the hunt sites. We pay for food and lodging, as well as the cost to secure any private land for use. We also have a paid staff researcher who has one of the largest, private treasure research databases on lost and buried treasures.

In the near future our website will be updated with more information. In the meantime, if you have any questions

please contact me by clicking on the "Contact Me" form on the menus tab.

We are now chartering our recovery boat for treasure hunting searches in the freshwaters of the US.

Mike is a commercial diver with many years of experience. He is one of the few treasure hunters who has researched the Great Lakes and many other freshwater bodies, for the wrecks of many vessels that have disappeared during storms and battles from the French & Indian and Revolutionary wars.

His capabilities to locate such wrecks are due to his owning of a ROV (remotely operated vehicle), side scan sonar, and sophisticated software for tracking anomalies below water. By chartering Mike’s boat, you have the exciting opportunity to be part of a treasure search on water. You can have a hands on opportunity to fly the ROV and see how the unit operates as it moves below the waters surface. You will even receive a DVD of the underwater adventure afterward!

Do you know of a wreck in your area? Want to be a part of the fun of searching for it?

Mike will travel to any part of the US, but is based in New York State. For more information about this exciting opportunity please contact me through this website, or visit Mike’s website at ROVSURVEYS.COM Thanks, Frank

Prospect Park NYC Follow-Up

Commissioner Adrian Benepe (212) 360-1305 or (212) 360-8111 or (212) 639-9675 Adrian.Benepe@parks.nyc.gov Prospect Park Administrator Tupper Thomas (718) 965-8951 tupper.thomas@parks.nyc.gov

To keep us all on the same page; below is a suggested guide of what needs to be said when calling or emailing Adriane Benepe and Tupper Thomas

- I am calling to voice my concern about the closing of Prospect Park to myself and others who enjoy the hobby of metal detecting. I would like to speak with Commissioner Benepe / Tupper Thomas.

(the odds of getting transferred through to them are slim to none so you will be voicing your concerns to an "assistant". Then tell the person....).

- The NY/NJ Task Force speaks for me and I understand they have requested a meeting with NYC Parks to discuss Prospect Park but the Task Force has been denied a request for a meeting with the Commissioner. I am calling for answers and I would like some assurance that the public officials will work with our Task Force and not discriminate against our hobby.

Prospect Park NYC Detecting Suddenly Not Allowed

January 13th, 2009 Adrian Benepe Commissioner of NYC Parks The Arsenal – Central Park 830 5th Avenue New York, NY 10065

Dear Mr. Benepe, We spoke with your office last Tuesday 01/06/09 and your assistant informed us that a meeting we desired to have with you will not occur. It is unfortunate that you refused our request for a meeting regarding our problem with the Prospect Park Administration. Instead, your assistant, without forewarning, transferred us to the Administrator of Prospect Park, Tupper Thomas. We have had numerous correspondences with their office and you were copied on many of the emails.

Let this letter serve as a brief outline of what we were going to address at our proposed meeting. We will be sending you a hard copy of this letter accompanied by a folder containing previous correspondence from/to the NY/NJ Task Force. Evidenced by the material contained in that folder, you will see that for years we have had a very good relationship with the NYC Department of Parks, Prospect Park Alliance and many other officials including past Commissioner Henry Stern.

A large number of organizations and metal detecting clubs in New York and nearby metropolitan areas, comprised of thousands of citizens, are very upset with the unnecessary steps taken by the Prospect Park Administrator. Our hobby is widely accepted and currently 38 states in America allow the use of metal detectors within their state & city parks in all public use areas. They have looked at this hobby with open eyes and realized that it is not harmful to parks. In addition, millions of acres managed by the Army Corps of Engineers are open to metal detecting in designated areas. In 1989 representatives of our hobby went to Washington DC and they laid the ground work for and established a national policy allowing metal detecting use within lands administered by the ACE and the BLM. These government officials realized, among other reasons, that it would be discriminatory not to do so. To this date, they have had no problems with our hobby or those who participate.

Many of the thousands of folks who metal detect in New York are senior citizens. This large and ever-growing group of citizens use the metal detecting hobby as a method of keeping in physical shape and in active good health. They all adhere to a strict code of ethics established by the national organization FMDAC (the Federation of Metal Detecting and Archeological Clubs). In short, members leave property cleaner and in better condition than it was found. All of our members are very concerned with the preservation of our natural resources and historical sites.

We are afraid that the Prospect Park Administrator has looked upon the metal detecting hobbyist as unlawful and without ethics. This is simply not true! It is an unfortunate “knee-jerk” reaction to ban ALL who enjoy the hobby of metal detecting from Prospect Park.

We can supply you with letters from Public Officials who do not consider our target recovery method, by using a small hand tool, as a problem. Especially since members of our clubs and of the FMDAC securely fill in all recovery sites after carefully removing the detected object. When they leave the site there is no sign of a "hole".

We consider the over-reaction by the Prospect Park Administration to be in direct discrimination against the recreational hobby of metal detecting, senior citizens, and all individuals who enjoy the pursuit of this hobby.

If in fact the Prospect Park Administration / Tupper Thomas were concerned only about possible damage to the lawns of Prospect Park, thousands of dogs that relieve themselves and dig (what dogs naturally do) would not be allowed in Prospect Park. The complete closing of Prospect Park to the recreational use of metal detecting reeks of discrimination by ill-informed and uncaring stewards of the Public Trust.

We request your immediate involvement in remedying this situation.

Best Regards, Carter Pennington NY/NJ Task Force 178 Ave S Brooklyn, NY 11223 Dear Commissioner Benepe,

It is unfortunate that your office has not followed through with a promised response to our letter "within two weeks" as stated in an email from your office to the Task Force on 1/13/09. Our email and phone message, left with your office three days ago, has also been unanswered.

We look forward to hearing from you today.

Best Regards,

Carter Pennington NY/NJ Task Force 178 Ave S Brooklyn, NY 11223

Hello Mr. Pennington, Thank you for your email. We will be working on a response and will get back to you within 2 weeks. If you have any questions, please contact me directly. Thank you,

Smith, Rebecca wrote: Rebecca Smith Deputy Chief of Staff City of New York / Parks & Recreation The Arsenal, Central Park 830 Fifth Avenue NY, NY 10021 212-360-1305 rebecca.smith@parks.nyc.gov

Louisiana Detectorists Need Our Help

Texas Needs Our Help

We were assigned a House Bill number HB 1016 today for our House Bill to open Texas State Parks to metal detecting activity across the state.

Now is the time to contact your House Rep in your area and express to him how much you want him to vote "YES" on this Bill. I have a sample letter below that you can use or change into your own words.

This Is Very IMPORTANT---We know they are going to throw every thing they have at us in the House; since that is where the Texas Parks and Wildlife stopped our Bill in 2001. So we must contact every House Rep in the state by each of us being responsible to contact their own Rep and make a strong argument why metal detecting Should Be Allowed in Texas State Parks. PLEASE get this to all members of your club, any friends, neighbors and etc. I want the House to be swamped with letters from all over the state, please!

Also, if possible, please forward any responses you get from your Rep to me so I will know whom I must visit that was against the Bill when I get to Austin and also prove to Rep Chuck Hopson who sponsored our Bill, that we are working hard on our end.

Thank you all for your help in this, without it we would have no chance at all. This part of the legislature will be our toughest group to win over.

When the committee assignments are finished, I will let you know who are the committee members that I will have to face in Austin, please write them too when I get that info. to you.

SAMPLE LETTER Dear Honorable Rep.____________ date: I contact you today to request your support in favor of HB 1016 Bill in the House.

The major facts for voting "YES" on HB 1016 Bill is that 38 other states in America allow this recreational activity of metal detecting on "pre-disturbed public use areas" of their state parks that have no archeological or historical significance where we find lost coins and jewelry that many times allow us to return to the original owner and at the same time creates a means of physical activity to keep us healthy, especially for our many senior citizens here in Texas. These 38 current states that allow this recreational activity also had the same concerns of protecting our many natural and cultural resources as we do and as is the duty of the state of Texas, however these states found a way to co-exist with this activity by designating areas for the activity to be allowed that has no archeological or historical significance; public use areas.

The Army Corps of Engineers has allow this activity on their lands in "designate public use areas" since 1989 without incident nationwide, which they too have been successful in the protection of their many thousands of significant resources all those years.

Let's not forget that most all Texas county and city parks currently allow responsible metal detecting activities on their properties and are also able to protect their significant resources and co-exist with the activity. There just is not any reason why Texas can not also allow this legal and responsible recreational activity within their state parks. The Texas Parks and Wildlife have been against it, but allow all other recreational activities and sports on Texas State Parks. This is nothing more than discrimination against our activity and the many thousands of taxpaying folks here in Texas that enjoy the activity for recreational and family purposes.

We request that you please vote "Yes" to HB 1016 and allow the people of Texas the use of their State Parks.

Sincere thanks for taking the time out to listen and considering supporting this Bill. I will be more than happy to discuss this Bill anytime with you. Your supporter, ________________________ Folks, if you think the following (below) will also help with your letter you are sending to your House Rep, then please feel free to use it. BILL Analysis: DIGEST AND PURPOSE

Current law establishes that no ground-disturbing activities can be conducted on state lands without prior permission from the Texas Historical Commission (THC). This prohibits hobbyists from metal detecting in state parks where visitors are currently allowed to participate in other activities such as picnicking, fishing, camping, and swimming. As proposed, this Bill amends the Natural Resources Code to permit the use of metal detectors in state parks. The bill also amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to direct the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to allow recreational metal detecting in designated areas of state parks as determined by the Parks and Wildlife Commission. The bill also further protects parks by prohibiting the removal of objects, implements, or artifacts listed in the Antiquities Code of the Natural Resources Code.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 191.0525, Natural Resources Code, by adding Subsection (j) to provide that this section does not apply to recreational metal detecting in designated areas of state parks. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 13B, Parks and Wildlife Code, by adding Section 13.1021, as follows: Sec. 13.1021. REGULATION OF RECREATIONAL METAL DETECTING IN STATE PARKS. (a) Requires the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to allow recreational metal detecting in designated areas of state parks subject to rules adopted by the Parks and Wildlife Commission. (b) Provides that this section does not authorize the removal from state park land of any object, implement, or artifact the removal of which is prohibited under Chapter 191 (Antiquities Code), Natural Resources Code. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2007.

Florida Trouble: Archaeology And The Government!

Archaeology, our government and various states are at it again.

This was an email that was sent to me. I have kept the names off the post for privacy reasons. Please read: It's important that we stay on top of this and do whatever that is necessary to help and to stop this kind of non-sense.

Thanks Frank

"About 5 months ago I received an email from someone named Whit inquiring about an arrowhead I had for sale on eBay. She claimed she was a 4th grade school teacher from the Orlando area that was doing a school project on native Americans and wanted to learn more about arrowheads etc and wanted some info on one I had up for auction. I told her not to bid on any as I would give her 1 to help her with her project. She kept emailing me for several months asking me to take her kayaking so she could see how I did it and kept asking about a few points I had on eBay for sale which I once again told her please don't bid as I would be very happy to just give her one. A few more weeks whet by and the Spirit of the Suwannee show was coming up and I invited her to come up and I would show her around and introduce her to some other of my fellow collectors. She came up and I showed her around, noticing she kept asking me how you tell the difference between a land find and a water find but never thinking twice about it. Couple more weeks go by and she calls saying her boss had given her half a day off and she could come up and get a point. I told her just drive to my house and I would show her my collection and find a point that would work for her. She brought over a very nice project board and a text book she said she was using to teach the class. I gave her a very nice point, one I had turned down offers to sale because I really thought I was doing something nice. She seemed really happy and went on her way...two weeks later I was arrested at work and fired on the spot, issued a search warrent on my house to which they took my computer, kayak, every artifact book I had and my entire collection of artifacts that took me 15 years to acquire as well as my bottle collection. The 'teacher" was and under cover agent of the DEP and was wired at the show as well as at my house. Getting me on tape telling her what beach the arrowhead was found on. I have 5 misdemeanor charges as well as 5 felony charges against me right now including the felony charge of trafficking stolen state property for the arrowhead i GAVE her. I have about lost all faith in our government. Hope this story can help others as well and bring me some help in my case to find these people who think we work for them instead of the other way around."

Archaeology and archaeologists are behind this kind of non-sense.

Read More Here!

Here is a law you should get to know!

Revised Archaeology Law 1979

Want To Know More About Me And What I Do?

What I'm all about!! My TV Series And DVDs Our Discussion

In Regards To Florida Issue!

Folks, I agree with this:

Frank

Some people don't get it about the war on terrorism just like they don't get it about the attack on our hobby. The terrorists are not just after my head but all Christian's and Jews heads. The war on my detecting hobby is not on just my hobby but on everyone's hobby. The war on our hobby in Florida is just as much our war as theirs and the war against our hobby in Texas is as much theirs as ours and the same in all states their fight is our fight and as in terrorism you have to fight the battle wherever it pokes it's ugly head up. To lose any battle in any state, in any county, in any city for any park, any school ground, any beach any public or private place or land is A loss to all of us every where. Not only do we loose that place, that city, that county, that state but we give grounds for every person against our hobby to point that loss out and use that loss as grounds to take the use of all places from us in all cities, all counties and all states including public and private lands. We don't want to loose our heads or our hobby and these people are not just simply going to go away because we stick our heads in the sand and pretend it isn't so. We have to make A united stand here and now and let all know that we are not about to give our hobby away. Remember what Kennedy had to say in his famous speech. "Ask not what the hobby can do for me but what can I do for the hobby?". It's that time folks! What ya gonna do? WELL???

The US vs England Archaeologists!

England Praises The US Treasure Hunter!

Many times metal detectorists have assisted the England Archaeologist in locateing artifacts.

And in return England has thanked us.

Why can't the treasure hunter in the US get the same respect.

Frank

Texas Law

This was sent to me a while back. Again, I have omitted names. I also omitted words that affected the length of the article but not the intention. However, all of this information can be authenticated.

This will show that we must fight, and fighting wins, when it comes to protecting our rights as treasure hunters. Frank

The Texas Historical Commission has had an agenda for sometime now to systematically close all county parks to metal detecting here in the state. Their reasoning is to use the state's Antiquity Act to scare the county commissioners into believing that they have broken state and federal laws by allow this activity of metal detecting within the public lands of the county parks for the last 20 years.

They have already shut Harris Co. parks down and when they attempted to shutdown Travis Co. parks, a metal detecting club would not accept this sitting down, so they fought back.

It was proven that no state or federal law has or was broken by allowing this activity in county parks. It was also discovered that the state's Antiquity Act is there only to preserve "known" landmarks and burial sites and was not created to remove existing recreational activities from public lands as the THC has done here.

Thus the THC was discovered as folks that would say anything or do anything so to accomplish their end goal in the state. To add to their aggression, the THC tried to convince the county commissioners that if they decide to allow this activity in the future, then those properties which the THC had already preformed a natural resource survey on before allowing the parks to be built, would again cost the county for more in-depth surveys of the natural resources within those parks so to allow metal detecting activities in the future. Such surveys could cost as high as $5000. per acre as stated by the THC.

The THC is attempting by this move, to scare the commissioners into keeping their parks close because of the extreme cost for a survey that was already preformed by the THC once.

However a solution had already been offered for the same problem many years ago when the national policy with the Army Corps of Engineers properties was created governing their lands and the use of metal detectors on them, the solution is the wording of: "designated pre-disturbed public use areas" where the bulk of the coins and jewelry are lost and where surveys had already been preformed for any possible natural resources.

As you will see below, is the new Guidelines to Metal Detecting in the Travis Co. Parks.

This ruling will open other county parks that are now closed and support our hobby on those public lands for many years to come here in Texas.

Guidelines and Procedures Regarding Use of Metal Detectors in Travis County Parks Description: Metal detecting as a recreational activity is allowed within portions of certain Travis County owned parks. Metal detectors may not be used on any prehistoric, cultural or historical archaeological site, any human burial location, Travis County preserves or reserve land, LCRA owned property, or athletic fields, and shall be further restricted to areas listed below. Where Applied: These guidelines and procedures are applicable on all Travis County owned Parks. (LCRA leased parks are not included in this authorization) Enforcement Emphasis: Travis County personnel will ensure adherence to these guidelines and any applicable laws. Violation of these guidelines and procedures may result in prosecution and/or the loss of the privilege to use metal detectors within Travis County owned parks. Users are expected to work cooperatively with Travis County personnel and report any violation. Rationale: Travis County recognizes that there are legitimate uses of metal detectors that should be allowed in designated Travis County owned parks when they do not infringe on specific Travis County stewardship responsibility for operation of Travis County facilities. This responsibility is pursuant to the State Antiquities Code found in Chapter 191 of the Texas Natural Resources Code. Users acknowledge, and also accept, this responsibility if they pursue metal detecting in the County Parks. Guidelines Metal detectors may only be used in Travis County owned parks in the following disturbed areas: · Playscapes · Picnic areas · Parking lots · Volleyball courts · Basketball courts · Tennis courts · Trails and sidewalks · Boat ramps · Fishing piers *Note: Travis County reserves the right to exclude areas listed above if they are in or adjacent to sensitive areas. If in the future the State Historical Commission designates a site as an archeological landmark, then no metal detecting may occur there. Procedures Each user must obtain a free, annual Metal Detecting Permit from the Travis County Parks office before using metal detector on Travis County owned parks. Users can contact park personnel for information by telephone or by a personal visit at the parks office. Extraction and removal of objects located with a metal detecting device shall be: · Conducted only with a hand implement, e.g. hand trowel, screwdriver. · Limited to a depth of six (6) inches below the surface and a diameter of six (6) inches. · Refilled and ground surface returned to its original condition. · Limited to designated areas. Any trash or debris generated by metal detecting activities will be removed from Travis County property or placed in a trash receptacle. Items of prehistoric, cultural or historical archaeological nature must be either left in place and park personnel made aware of the items location and description, or turned over to the parks office. Park personnel at the parks office must review items found. Metal detecting activity may not conflict with other special events or rented use of parks.