North of Zuma beach, sandhill dunes, N side of pacific coast hwy

[ghostdog]

Maybe about 10-12 mi, this is a good place to search for Spanish artifacts,past resarch at the Los Angeles public library tells me a Spanish ship went down close to this area in the 1500"s,and I recall talking to divers at this beach looking for treasure in the early 70"s. The dunes are very high with constant shifting sands. Not confirmed ,I have also heard of ancient chinese stone ring anchers being found by divers along the northern Calif.coast. Their are maps around that show where some Spanish explorers went inland from some of these socal beaches. Gold coins and other relics have been recovered,the Chumash Indian decendents may have a lot more imfo.Follow the water inland and you might get lucky.

 

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[Treasure finder]

There was at least one Chinese Stone Ring Anchor found off the Palos Verdes Peninsula
in Southern Los Angeles County also.
Rich

 

[tapoutking]

My hunting grounds. i need to do some research.

 

[Treasure finder]

On the stone rings I got some info years ago from the Whale watching site on the Palos
Verdes Peninsula near the lighthouse. I can't remember if they had a picture only or an
actual anchor ring, but I do remember seeing at least a picture. Might check with them.
Rich

 

[gollum]

Actually, there's a beach a little further North than that, where several Spanish Coins have been found along side an small reef about 150ft off the beach. Columbian Emeralds have been found washed up on this beach. Conventional wisdom says that there is a Manilla Galleon somewhere close to land there.

I'll be spending a couple of weeks in Pacific Palisades next month. I may just take a little trip up there.

Best-Mike

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Since when does reales found on a beach necessarily mean that they are coming from a downed ship (manilla galleon or whatever)? I've found several Spanish Reales on beaches near Monterey, CA (a mission era town). All told, from 6 or 7, between other hunters and I, have been recovered, in addition to some mission era Phoenix buttons on this same beach section. But no, they are just like seateds, barbers, or mercs: simple fumble fingers losses.

I mean, don't you think that someone back in the time of reales could have lost a coin on the beach? I mean, when you find mercs or whatever after beach storm erosion, you don't think to yourself "oh wow, this must conclusively mean that a ship sunk here in the 1940s!" No, of course not. You assume "beach-goer losses".

The Mel Fisher "treasure beach" stuff in Florida is unlike our west coast shipping and history. I dunno about "north of Zuma", but if it's like up here in central CA, the seashore drops off relatively fast/deep, NOT AT ALL like the Florida beaches where the off-shore shallows extend much further, inviting near-shore, or in-shallows shipwrecks? Also the history of shipping is much different in the gulf of Mexico, where for 100s of years, ships expressly left south america laden with silver and gold, going expressly past these dangerous shallow beaches on their way out. On the west coast though, they were not carrying cargos like that. Certainly nothing was leaving CA on it's way back to Mexico with anything of value! (no gold and silver here, known at the time). And the Manilla galleons, if they carried gold and silver with them, it was on the way TO the Phillipines, to pay for the goods they were going to be buying. Their route was straight across the Pacific. Only on the RETURN voyage did they skirt the west coast of what is now Alta CA. And on that return trip they did not have gold and silver. They had the things they bought/traded for: china, silk, spice, or whatever. For example: A beached galleon site was found decades ago on a desolate stretch of Baja CA beach. Try as anyone may, all that was and is ever found, is reams of useless china. No gold and silver.

Anywhere in CA that there was mission era European influenced population, there can be reales found. Not only on land (at mission, pueblo, presidio, and rancho sites), but also on the beach. It doesn't mean that shipwrecks are the source of the coins.

 

[stefen]

Just to add to the conversation, there are Spanish gold and silver coins to be found on a California beach that is so remote from civilization that the possibility of them being pocket-losses is negliable. In fact, the only access to the beach is by hiking 25 miles or so.

The coins date from 1804 to 1806...

Therefore, a ship wreck is a greater possibility as opposed (and very doubtful) to a recreational swimmer loosing pocket change...

And what are the chances that a swimmer or beach visitor would have a pocket full of gold and silver coins?

So if precious stones and coins are being found...its a remote chance of them being lost by other than a ship wreck.

 

[ghostdog]

I agree with the different points of view posted this thread. The shores along the beaches close to Zuma drop sharpley about 50 to 75ft from the shore line,makeing great anchoring loations. The beaches are long wide and expansive, rowing in would be a breeze. One beach the Spanish landed and explored inland for sure is Topanga,quite a few miles South of Zuma..More than a few Gold Reals,and other relics have been found inland following Mailbu creek off Topanga road on the West side. Private houses front the road. The creek runs from backside of Pacific Coast hwy. to within a few miles of the Ventura fwy 101 Ventura fwy. The Spanish camped, and finding their campground would be a plus, maybe ? Tapia Park, in Malibu cyn. One old map I saw showed plenty of ship wrecks off the Socal coast dateing back to the 1400"s.
Catalina Island is another old shipwreck site ,1500"s and Spanish stomping ground. Seems their is some treasure waiting to be found everywhere.

 

[stefen]

There are numerous wrecks along the coast...and its said that Spain (Philippine) has a record of all ships lost along the Pacific coast line of North and South America...

Apparently there are known galleon wreck sites that cannot be identified or connected to the Spanish records...which isn't all that unusual.

I wasn't aware of a wreck near Catalina, but there are several within the channel island chain.

 

[ghostdog]

There are several ship wrecks off the rocky shore sections of Catalina, I have been over at least 1 site, the water is clear to about 60 ft, the wrecks date to early 1500"s. I have seen 1 map showing wreck sites. Relics and coins have been reovered from the sea and off the land.

 

[stefen]

FYI

A few years back an Treasure Hunter found some bottle of gold dust left hidden by some early miner...not sure if it was in upper Avalon in the hills or in the back country, but it was in or near a residence as I recall.

Hitting Avalon Beach would be a good bet too.

Maybe hitting the landside near the wrecks might be fruitful...

 

[ghostdog]

Hey Stefen, here is a link to some historical imformation
http://webbwebs.com/polarmist/polarmist_web/area_info/anacapa.html
I sure wish I could return there for more searches,my friend had a 45Ft cabin cruiser boat moored at Redondo beach harbor loaded down with scuba and fishing gear.At certain areas around Catalina the water is a clear blue/green with eye vision to about 60+ft. The rocky sides show rougher water and this is probably where a lot of older ships went down during storms. The choral level is fairly high in some places,this is where we located some encrusted ship relics,in sand gullys.Of course the fishing is great, flying fish,marlin,sharks,sting ray,etc. Doesn"t look like I will return anytime soon.
For now,gd

 

[FireCkrEd]

There was at least one Chinese Stone Ring Anchor found off the Palos Verdes Peninsula
in Southern Los Angeles County also.
Rich

The anchors were found in a cove at Torrance beach by the owners of the Dive & Surf shop in Redondo Bill and Bob Meistrell in the 70's. I have dove the area and I would guess there are more there. Lots of rocks like ballast stones on the bottom and lots of lobsters too !

Ed

 

[gollum]

Hey Ed,

Remember which cove it was? Not too many: Malaga Cove, Bluff Cove, Lunada Bay, Resort Point Cove, Christmas Tree Cove?

Best-Mike

 

[ghostdog]

Recall reading about a tunnel going up inside a hillside to a house on top of the hill overlooking the beach dureing the probition era somewhere off Torrance beach. There may have been or still is a cove inlet leading to the tunnel. The house was used as a casino etc.
Another place I have been to in Pacific Palasades area is Dead Mans Cove,where it is rumored pirate activity took place. If you were to fly a plane or take a boat along the coast form P.P. to Torrance you will see lots of interesting areas to explore.

 

[goldinmypan]

Alas! The only wreck I found while diving SoCal was a bardge in about 90' off Point Loma. No artifacts.

 

[pegleglooker]

bump

 

[boogeyman]

I agree with the different points of view posted this thread. The shores along the beaches close to Zuma drop sharpley about 50 to 75ft from the shore line,makeing great anchoring loations. The beaches are long wide and expansive, rowing in would be a breeze. One beach the Spanish landed and explored inland for sure is Topanga,quite a few miles South of Zuma..More than a few Gold Reals,and other relics have been found inland following Mailbu creek off Topanga road on the West side. Private houses front the road. The creek runs from backside of Pacific Coast hwy. to within a few miles of the Ventura fwy 101 Ventura fwy. The Spanish camped, and finding their campground would be a plus, maybe ? Tapia Park, in Malibu cyn. One old map I saw showed plenty of ship wrecks off the Socal coast dateing back to the 1400"s.
Catalina Island is another old shipwreck site ,1500"s and Spanish stomping ground. Seems their is some treasure waiting to be found everywhere.

The Museum at Cabrillo had some stuff from a wreck quite a few years back. Not sure if they'd have the stuff displayed anymore. Can't recall any details.

Stefan, there was several rumors making the rounds of a Spanish wreck going down near Catalina. If I remember correctly they were looking around by Cat Harbor. The only problem with that one is the steep drop off, probably be way beyond most of average Thunters capabilities & pocketbook. Also, believe it or not there was actually a gold mine on the island. A guy told me back in the 60s it was a dry hole.

 

[stefen]

Quite familar with the gold mine operations on Catalina, in fact as previously stated, a few years back a guy found several bottles full of dust and nuggets hidden by a miner.

Earlier in my career I was involved in 2 Catalina Island coastal rock mining operations and shipping Rip-Rap boulders to the mainland for groin construction to prevent beach erosion...

On returning to the mainland (Long Beach) after a field meeting, I was on a seaplane that lost both engines and landed deadstick under the St. Thomas bridge...and the same day, the Cheif Engineer / Geologist crashed his copter into a cliff wall and died...ended that project...

 

[boogeyman]

Flew in with a buddy that used to fly a tourist ride heilo. He had a knack for hauling buns right up to the bridge & haul back on the stick loop it over to the left & out and plunk it right on the dock landing pad. I think it was more fun to sit with my coffee & waffle from Ports O Call Village & watch the tourists wobble up the ramp, obviously trying to hold their bladders

Were you doing the groins at Long Beach or the ones between HB & Newport?