I think you are right, this has to do with the lost plane. They also took two tall antennae down. I would bet the NSA had him as a primary location all the time for years to find out what he was doing with everything since he worked on the atomic bomb and satellites. They would know he had this technology to find black boxes after they stopped emitting sound. Since he knew how to do it, he was likely sending email to a close friend or whomever, and the NSA got that and sent the FBI to get his stuff relating to that and the artifacts aren't their purpose for being there.
If you ever had a responsible position with the federal government, you will never lose them.
For me, I am worried since in my compound little townhouse I have teapots/cups from numerous countries where I have been. Been collecting those for many years. I have an antique Mote spoon made in the middle 1600s to mid 1700s from England. Bought it legally from underground silver vault shop in the middle of London, went through customs, but maybe some FBI man wants a Mote spoon? It was the first way to get tea leaves out of a cup of tea as there were no tea strainers then.
If any of you have anything from another country, are you now suspect for having it? This is ridiculous of course that the FBI would be interested in tea pots/cups/Mote spoons, but who would have thought a man of 91 would have his compound house surrounded?
What's in your compound?
We traveled to Papua New Guinea 40 years ago. We have carved walking sticks and *watchers*, which are wicker shield-shaped wall pieces featuring faces made from turtle shells and human hair (likely that of the artisan) with shell eyes. They were made to guard homes from vengeful ghosts.
Visited Tonga where, back then, huge 12’x20’ tapas, including wedding tapas (very soft and thick), were available in the marketplace for $10US. These have been on display in our home since then, seen by many, many people.
It is difficult today to find similar items of the same quality. In New Zealand, today, the tapas are being “re-collected” by Maoris and are in demand for commercial bar/restaurant decor.
We also have carved ivory tourist pieces from China, purchased in Fiji. The identical pieces were offered years ago on eBay for $1500-$3k. Today, they are always labeled *bone*, even dating from the 1970s and the prices are very low.
The Oceanic stuff is also difficult to sell directly, although some galleries handle them.
Who kept bills of sale from back then? There were no bills of sale at the native villages on the Sepik. My husband dealt directly with the men in the “men’s hut”. There was only a “number one price”.
We are getting ready to downsize and I may just pack them all up when we move and not display them again.
Exactly. I must have slept through 4th grade history class when they discussed Indians having antennas.
"Never overlook an opportunity to keep yer big mouth shut."
I have paper plates and a spork from KFC to eat with... as my "tea set" was lost in a tragic boating accident.