Posted on 05/20/2008 1:48:52 PM PDT by Red Badger
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 Monday, May 19, 2008, in Key West, Fla. A Blue Water Ventures salvage diver recovered the artifact Sunday, May 18, about 40 miles west of Key West during a search for remains of the Spanish galleon Santa Margarita that shipwrecked in a 1622 hurricane. According to archaeologists, the 3-inch-long grooming tool is more than 385 years old and was probably worn on a gold chain. Estimated value could exceed $100,000. (AP Photo/Florida Keys News Bureau, Bob Care)
(AP) -- Experts found a tiny gold combined toothpick and earwax spoon, believed to be more than 385 years old, during the search for a shipwrecked Spanish galleon off the Florida Keys.
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. He says its 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.
Looks more like coke paraphernalia .
I just threw up in my mouth a little....
Clams have earwax? I didn’t even know they had ears.
What about the platinum combination nostril hair trimmer and blackhead remover?
Probably depends on how good your hearing is and the size of the gaps in your teeth...
Ping
ML/NJ
hairball
Al Bundy coulda lost that on the family vacation to Florida.
“earwax scoop
I just threw up in my mouth a little.... “
That’s what the tooth pick is for.
Bingo.
Better than a combination catheter swizzlestick.
I just use a paper clip.
Works for both tasks.
... or something worn around the neck while sitting courtside at the NBA All-Star Game...
They had to have special ear wax spoons because pick up truck keys hadn’t been invented yet silly!
Better than a combination catheter swizzlestick.
You’re sick.
Perhaps this was something you could get as Baskin-Robbins...
“I’ll have a scoop of chocolate fudge and a scoop of earwax
in a cup with nuts please.”
** snicker **
Earscope TV comes with a traditional Japanese-style ear pick, a box of twenty Q-Tip-like ear cleaners, and a standard light guide for exploring anywhere, even in dark cramped spaces outside of the body. This is useful for people who actually WANT to see inside their ears, so this video is not for the sqeamish. Ear-cleaning shops called Mimi Kurin (耳�??りん) have begun to spring up around Tokyo in malls and shopping centers, with many more on the way. By using the latest EarScopes from Coden, customers can relax and have their ears cleaned while watching on a video screen. It costs about $8.50 per ten minutes, and includes other ear services plus massage. CScout Japan’s Sven Kilian took a trip this week to check it out for himself (pics below). Besides being great for salons wanting to offer better services, people who experience the scopes find that they want to have them at home as well. It makes sense, as the ears are one of the hardest places to see, and once people see how dirty it gets in there they want to be able to see and clean them easily anytime.
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