The radio story on it, the other day, said there was a bunch of other stuff (cargo, wine jugs, etc) found with it in the same location. It was found at a fairly shallow depth.
I would guess someone could guess how long it has actually been down there, by the growth on it.
I'm with this. It was in 15 feet of warm salt water. I've seen what happens to bigger pieces of iron and steel in cooler ocean water than that in just a few decades. It would surprise me for a piece of iron or steel of the dimensions of the thing the guy is holding to be anything like as big or even recognizable in 90 years. The idea that there would be anything left of it at all in 900 years would require learning to occur for me to believe it.
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Not another dime.
I am similarly skeptical. There was something said when the story first broke that the sword was preserved by being buried in sand. Seems to me that the sand is still wet with salt water. Also, how does it become encrusted with barnacles if it is buried? But hey, I'm no expert. I don't know how long it will take to clean all the stuff off the sword. It will be interesting to hear what the experts have to say in several months after they have a chance to examine it.
"Rich," the Old Man said dreamily, "is a little whiskey to drink and some food to eat and a roof over your head and a fish pole and a boat and a gun and a dollar for a box of shells." Robert Ruark