Fowey part of preservation agreement

<iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/72920037" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/72920037">2013-HMS Fowey, Biscayne National Park</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user11872865">NPS Submerged Resources Center</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

The remains of a 250-year-old British ship that fought France and Spain and was later at the heart of a modern maritime salvage law case is now being preserved under an international agreement between the United States and England.

Last month, the two countries entered into a memorandum of understanding on the HMS Fowey, a fifth-rate frigate that sank near what is now Miami after crashing into a coral reef in 1748.

“This is the latest step in the continuing preservation effort for Fowey, and solidifies our relationship with the British people in protecting our shared heritage for the enjoyment and education of future generations,” said Brian Carlstrom, superintendent of Biscayne National Park, where the Fowey wreckage is located underwater.

According to National Park Service officials, the agreement recognizes British title to the wreck and the intention of the U.S. park service to continue to care for the site in accordance with the Sunken Military Craft Act of 2004 and the UNESCO convention on Underwater Cultural Heritage. The National Park Service and the British Navy will work together on caring for the site under the agreement.

Launched in 1744, HMS Fowey worked Europe around the English Channel and Gibraltar, battling French ships before it was reassigned to the Caribbean and waters off the New World's east coast. It captured the Spanish ship St. Juan y Tadicos in June 1748 and was escorting the vessel and British merchant ships to Virginia when one of the merchant ships collided with the reef. In coming to the ship's aid, the Fowey also got stuck on the reef.

The crew climbed aboard the surviving vessels and headed for Charleston, and the Spaniards were then sent to Havana.

And then nothing happened for some two centuries. Everyone forgot where the Fowey sank, the United States acquired Florida from Spain, and the state of Florida gave the area around the wreck to the federal government to turn it into a park.

Then in 1978, Gerald Klein found the what was left of the Fowey while diving with friends (it wasn't identified as the Fowey until years later). He applied for salvage title in Admiralty Court in 1979, but the U.S. government stepped in to challenge Klein's claim. The court sided with the government, finding that the wreckage was historically significant and embedded in the land, which was a national park.

"It is without question that Congress had the power to exercise dominion and control over the wreck, and the statutory evidence is overwhelming that it had the intent. It is clear that the United States was in constructive possession of the wreck at the time the plaintiff discovered it embedded in public land," the ruling states.

Today, the site is closed to the public. The ship does have a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/HMS-Fowey/228648567159511">Facebook </a>page, and the park has a <a href="http://www.nps.gov/bisc/index.htm">website </a>.

Above is a video tour of what's left of the Fowey, produced by the National Park Service's Submerged Resources Center.

Roman pitcher, gold returned to Afghanistan

The people of Afghanistan are getting ancient gold ornaments and an old Roman wine pitcher that had apparently been looted from the country and discovered in the United States as part of an investigation into antiquities trafficking.

Earlier this month, the items were officially returned to Afghan authorities during a ceremony at their embassy in Washington, D.C. According to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, border protection officers discovered the artifacts in a shipment at Newark Liberty International Airport in March 2011.

The investigation revealed the items were headed for a New York man to be passed on to another New Yorker suspected of "dealing in looted cultural property," ICE officials said.

Authorities described the artifacts as follows: The vase is a 12.75-inch Roman oinochoe,or wine pitcher, from the 5th to 8th century A.D. Also returned were three 4-by-3.25-inch5thcenturyB.C. gold foil appliques depictingantelopes and two antique coiled gold ornaments from approximately the 17thcentury, weighingapproximately one pound.

This marks the four repatriation of looted property to Afghanistan. Earlier returns include:

-- A late 19th century historic "jezail" rifle ammunition speed loader returned June 2013. The ammunition speed loader had disappeared from the Kabul National Museum in the years after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan.

-- Eight Bronze Age circa 2,000 B.C. artifacts returned in May 2008. The artifacts, likely looted from northern tombs, had been illegally removed from Afghanistan and sold in the United States.

-- Two rare coins returned in May 2005. They were estimated to be more than 2,000 years old and were looted during the unrest following the departure of Russian forces in 1988. The Indo-Greek coins of Agathokles, dated between 171 and 160 B.C., were looted from Kabul Taliban factions.

Disembodied hand holding foil appliques depicting antelopes that were returned to Afghanistan. Photo courtesy of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Surviving the dash

There comes a time in life when one just has to dive into the mud.

For me, that time came last month, just short of the finish line for the Warrior Dash 2013 obstacle race. Strands of barbed wire hung a foot above the mud pit in front of me, and at first I tried to wade across the thigh deep muck and duck the wires. But the first barbed line snagged the back of my shirt as I bent underneath, and I decided "what the heck, this is what it's all about." I belly flopped into the mud and started crawling.

The splash caught the left lens on my glasses as I settled into the brackish slime, and somewhere in the crowd a voice cheered on my decision.

I had expected the mud earlier. I spent the prior 50 minutes running, walking, panting, jumping, sweating, running, walking again and climbing cross three miles of hilly backwoods west of Des Moines. Never having run a race outside of gym class, I signed up for the obstacles, but it was the hills the did me in.

The first challenge was a series of walls. Up one side, down the other, with footholds. After that came tires, kind of like the football drill, but more. Instead of stepping in the middle of the wheel, I chose to walk on the sidewalls for a quicker pace. At the end of the tire field was a mountain of tires to climb and then a semi trailer to crawl under, I rolled under because it was faster and took less effort.

After more running, it was more walls. Climb over one and then crawl, or roll, under a waist-high fences.

Then more running, into the woods, down a hill and along a dry creek bed. I think the plan was to have a flowing creek. A teaser on the Warrior Dash Twitter feed boasted a babbling brook ready for runners. But it has been a hot, dry few weeks leading up to the race, and the parched atmosphere had sucked up any trace of moisture. Too bad. The creek would have been refreshing. The trees offered shade, but the rugged path threatened to twist ankles into shattered stumps.

At the top of the next hill was a challenge using ropes to climb a ramped wall. You'd walk on the wall and pull yourself along. As I watched to figure out a strategy, a woman on the obstacle lost her footing and went splat into the wall. She slowly slid down. I grabbed another rope and headed up and over. The other side, also an incline, had another rope. My rope was snipped about half way, so I went to the end and slid the rest of the way.

Down the field was a low chain cargo net to climb across. More running and then a line of trenches topped by barbed wire and pointy branches. They were too narrow to roll, so crawling on hands and knees was in order.

More running, down and up a ravine, then crawl about 15 to 20 feet under a low-hanging net. This is where I remembered that rolling for extended distance causes disorientation. At the end of the net were tank traps to crawl under.

From there, it was back into the woods. Emerging from the trees, I found an animal bone embedded in the dirt and kicked it loose. At least I'm pretty sure it came from an animal. Across the field were cargo nets hung vertically to transverse. Then came the tough obstacle --- a series of chest-deep pits separated by dirt mounds. Climb down one pit, climb out the other side climb up the mound, climb down the mound and into the next pit and so on for four or five pits. Climbing into the first pit, I was disappointed when I didn't find mud. They had promised mud. Another runner passed me, shaving off a few seconds by jumping over the pits. I decided against the maneuver, not wanting to risk a bad landing.

As I passed the next water station, I overheard some racers tell a staff member about a twisted ankle at the last challenge.

From there, it was down a hill, up what seemed to be the longest hill. I stopped at the top and leaned against the fence to catch my breath before moving on. At the bottom of the path was a set of balance beams high over a man-made pond. Part of me wanted to drop into the drink just to cool off, but instead I scooted across in a careful fencing stance, advancing with the right foot and following with the left.

Around the corner was the race's signature Warrior Roast, two lines of fire to jump. The fires were deceptive. They looked small, but the heat radiated up, making the jumps more intense. Adding to the danger is the fact that most runners were clad shirts and shorts made of synthetic material, which has a low flash point. Sure, it's good for running and wicks moisture, but it also fuels fire. One misstep and the flames will torch the fabric, searing the molten mess to flesh.

In case anyone ignited while jumping the roast, the mud crawl under the barbed wire came next. Once I embraced the mud, the rest was easy. Some ahead tried to stay upright, wading through and struggling to keep their footing. The mud was runny, mostly water, so crawling meant floating on top, reaching down to the bottom and pulling across with hands.

Crossing the finish line earned a medal (actually a bottle opener on a ribbon, which I promptly lost when I placed it on top of my car while changing into clean clothes). The shoe tracking chip was traded for a free beer, and after three miles, domestic light brew never tasted better.

Life sentences in pirate attack

Three pirates captured by Navy SEALs during a botched hijacking are headed to prison. Here's the Department of Justice synopsis of the case:

<blockquote><strong>Somali Pirates Sentenced to Multiple Life Sentences in Murders of Four Americans Aboard SV Quest</strong>

November 14, 2013

NORFOLK, VA—Three Somali pirates have been sentenced to life for their roles in the attack on the Quest in 2011.

Ahmed Muse Salad, a/k/a “Afmagalo,” 27, Abukar Osman Beyle, 33, and Shani Nurani Shiekh Abrar, 31, who were previously found guilty of piracy, murder, violence against maritime navigation, conspiracy to commit violence against maritime navigation resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, hostage taking resulting in death, conspiracy to commit hostage taking resulting in death, and multiple firearms offenses, were sentenced this week.

Salad, Beyle, and Abrar were all sentenced to 21 life sentences, 19 consecutive life sentences, two concurrent life sentences, and 30 years consecutive, for their roles in the Feb. 22, 2011, murders of four Americans aboard the sailing vessel Quest. The victims included: Scott Underwood Adam, Jean Savage Adam, Phyllis Patricia Macay and Robert Campbell Riggle.

Salad, Beyle, and Abrar, were indicted in a 26-count indictment on July 8, 2011, and were found guilty by a federal jury on all 26 counts on July 8, 2013. According to court records and evidence at trial, Salad, Beyle, and Abrar,along with co-conspirators, gained control of the Quest while armed with firearms and a rocket-propelled grenade and took the four Americans hostage on Feb. 18, 2011. Their plan was to take the hostages to Somalia, where they and their additional co-conspirators in Somalia could commence ransom negotiations. While they sailed toward Somalia, they took turns standing guard over the hostages; at the same time, United States Navy ships headed towards the Quest to aid the hostages.

On Feb. 22, 2011, without provocation and before the hostages could be rescued by members of the military, a co-conspirator fired an RPG in the general direction of the USS Sterett. Witnesses testified that sustained firing came from the Quest and that glass could be seen breaking on the starboard side of the Quest. Witnesses also testified that Salad, Beyle, and Abrar, were the shooters and responsible for the deaths of Scott Adam, Jean Adam, Phyllis Macay and Robert Riggle. After the gunfire died down, the Navy dispatched SEALS to the Quest. The pirates aboard the Quest began surrendering and some were seen throwing AK-47 rifles into the water.</blockquote>

Ivory crushed

Today, the government will smash tons of ivory that agents seized in trafficking operations over decades.

Dubbed "Ivory Crush," the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service operation is designed to send a message that the United States won't tolerate poaching and the illegal tusk trade.

Although the Philippines, Kenya and Gabon have destroyed contraband ivory in those countries, this will be the first time the United States has destroyed large quantities.

"As a matter of principle and policy, the Service does not sell confiscated wildlife derived from endangered and threatened species," Service officials said in a prepared release.

About 6 tons of tusks and carved ivory from African and Asian elephants that was seized since the 1980s is set for destruction. The service will keep some ivory for educational and training purposes.

The process involves crushing he confiscated ivory into pieces that are too small to be of commercial value.

Below is a video from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about Operation Crush.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C0ZET_7OS4&amp;w=420&amp;h=315]

Korean artifacts seized

Earlier this year, we wrote about looted currency plates that were returned to South Korea. Now Korea is in line to get more missing antiquities following a failed auction inquiry. Customs agents seized seals from the late 1800s and early 1900s that had been removed from the country at the height of the Korean War.

Below is the Immigration and Customs Enforcement summation of the case:

HSI seizes 9 ancient Korean artifacts in Southern California

SEOUL – U.S. Customs agents seized nine seals of the Korean Empire and Joseon Dynasty earlier this month in San Diego. The cultural artifacts were turned over to HSI special agents by the family of a deceased Marine lieutenant, who had served in the Korean War. The lieutenant had found the seals in 1950 in a ditch near the Deoksugung Palace, which had just been ransacked by Chinese and North Korean soldiers.

The seizure is part of a joint investigation by Homeland Security Invrstigations Seoul and San Diego with the assistance of South Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration and the Supreme Prosecutor's Office in Seoul.

The nine seals include three national seals of the Korean Empire, one royal seal of the Korean Empire and five signets of the Joseon Royal Court of the Joseon Dynasty. The Korean Empire (1897-1910) succeeded the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

"The nine Korean seals recovered by HSI special agents are worth millions in the antiquities business, but they are priceless to South Korea," said HSI Attaché Seoul Taekuk Cho.

"The nine Korean seals recovered by HSI are invaluable to South Korea as they represent Gojong, the first emperor of the Korean Empire," CHA Acting Administrator Young Dae Park said.

National seals and royal seals are the two main types of seals made by the Korean government. National seals were made for practical uses, mostly to stamp on the government's official documents. Royal seals were carved to commemorate royal rituals. Among the seals seized were Hwangjejibo (Seal of Emperor), the national seal made upon an establishment of the Korean Empire in 1897 and Sugangtaehwangjebo (Royal Seal of ex-Emperor Sugang), the royal seal carved to commemorate the 1907 royal ritual. Both Yuseojibo (Seal of Yuseo) and Junmyeongjibo (Seal of Junmyeong) were used by the government of the Korean Empire for official purposes such as appointing the government officials. Five other signets were used to stamp on the books or paintings in the Joseon Royal court.

In September, HSI Washington special agents received information from a D.C.-based antiquities expert that a man residing in Escondido, Calif., had contacted them in an effort to find out if the seals were valuable. HSI Washington forwarded photographs of the seals that were provided to the antiquities expert to HSI Attaché Seoul. HSI Attaché Seoul provided the photographs to the CHA, which determined that the seals appeared to be official seals of the Joseon Dynasty.

In October, the CHA and SPO International Cooperation Center (ICC) requested HSI Seoul's assistance in recovering the seals.

HSI Attaché Seoul provided the information to assist in locating and recovering the cultural property, which was illegally exported into the United States. Subsequently, the seals were seized pursuant to abandonment of property form and in violation of the Cultural Property Implementation Act.

According to the Korean National Property Act, the seals fall under the category of Korean national property, which is illegal to transfer or export.</blockquote>