Special Edition Treasure Hunters Link Round-Up

I've always been a bit of a pirate at heart... well, a civilized pirate anyway. I've loved archaeology since I was a nipper, and the thought of buried treasure? Or accidentally stumbling across treasure while walking across a pasture? It's enough to make my toes curl.

The other night I didn't feel like doing what I should've been doing, and instead I found myself in search of treasure on the internet. If I can't find one, at least I can read about others who have.

Then it came to me. I'm not the only one around here who likes treasure. Why not share the links I've found? That's what I'm doing today-- sharing links about folks like you and me finding incredible treasure, and links to archaeologists who are uncovering our past each and every day. If you don't like this sort of thing, the entire post will be easy for you to pass right on by, but if you're a kindred spirit, I hope I've found a link or two that will make your toes curl. (By the way, these stories aren't all from 2013.)

A Few Stories About the Pros...

• Mahendraparvata, a 1,200-year-old lost medieval city in Cambodia, is being unearthed by archaeologists.
• The "Gate to Hell" is found in the ancient city of Hierapolis.
• Have you ever thrilled to stories about sunken Spanish galleons? Take a look at some photos of the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes treasure.
• A Mayan ruler's tomb is being excavated in Guatemala.
• A professor has found the mysterious Roanoke Colony's capital.
• An ancient city has been discovered beneath Biblical-Era ruins in Israel.
• Captain Morgan's treasure has been discovered near Panama.
• The oldest pearl in the world (dating back to 5500 B.C.) was discovered in the United Arab Emirates.

Now It's the Amateurs' Turn...

• A treasure chest filled with gold coins is discovered by an Indonesian oyster gatherer.
• The ancient skeleton a couple found in their backyard may lead to a hefty excavation bill. Yikes!
• I think I'll follow along with Wesley Carrington. This UK man found $156,000 in Roman gold coins the first time he used a metal detector.
• Run! A World War II shell was found on the roof of Budapest's City Hall.
• A Danish teenager found 365 items from the Viking Era.
• An "Escrick Ring" with possible royal connections was found by an amateur treasure hunter.
• A World War I nurse's suitcase was found in a cupboard at the University of Abertay Dundee.
• Amateur English treasure hunters found $15.6 million in Celtic coins in the Bailiwick of Jersey.

That's it for this special edition of the link round-up. I hope you enjoyed it! I don't know why, but I have a hankering to watch "Pirates of the Caribbean" now....