Andy White Anthropology
  • Home
  • Research Interests
    • Complexity Science
    • Prehistoric Social Networks
    • Eastern Woodlands Prehistory
    • Ancient Giants
  • Blog
  • Work in Progress
    • The Kirk Project >
      • Kirk 3D Models list
      • Kirk 3D Models embedded
      • Kirk 2D images >
        • Indiana
        • Kentucky
        • Michigan
        • Ontario
      • Kirk Project Datasets
    • Computational Modeling >
      • FN3D_V3
    • Radiocarbon Compilation
    • Fake Hercules Swords
    • Wild Carolina >
      • Plants >
        • Mosses
        • Ferns
        • Conifers
        • Flowering Plants >
          • Grasses
          • Trees
          • Other Flowering Plants
      • Animals >
        • Birds
        • Mammals
        • Crustaceans
        • Insects
        • Arachnids
        • Millipedes and Centipedes
        • Reptiles and Amphibians
      • Fungi
  • Annotated Publications
    • Journal Articles
    • Technical Reports
    • Doctoral Dissertation
  • Bibliography
  • Data

Not Only Is the Sword "Roman," It's "Magical," Too!

12/23/2015

13 Comments

 
PictureIllustration of a sword which I believe is just as Roman and just as magical as Pulitzer's sword. It is in a private collection in Brooklyn (see below).
If you thought the alleged Roman sword allegedly from an alleged Roman shipwreck in Nova Scotia was already incredible (in the sense of definition number two), you'll be interested to learn that it is even more special than you already thought. In a recebt blog post, J. Hutton Pulitzer reported that his "100 percent confirmed" Roman sword from Nova Scotia also has a "magical quality:"

"What is this special quality? The sword has an ancient ocean navigational device built into it which causes the sword to point true north. Such magnetic qualities are only found in authentic items of antiquity, not cast iron or manufactured stone replicas."

I'm not even sure what to say about that. Magnetic properties are something about the sword that is testable, I suppose, so that's another claim to add to the pile. Maybe Pulitzer's special TreasureForce XRF has a magic-detecto-meter in it. Right beside the decoder ring. Who knows. I'm just going to leave it alone.

I will note, however, that the association of the Hercules figure on the sword with magnetism is also discussed by the owner of the Florida sword.  Pulitzer calls the Florida sword "a perfect litmus test for the Oak Island Roman sword," saying it is one of four that have now been "verified." 

Pulitzer says a few other things about the sword that are of note, but doesn't add much to the narrative that we didn't already know. 

He repeats the assertion that up to ten of these swords were made, though still providing no information about where that assertion comes come (previously he has cited both "history" and "legend"). He seems to be saying that some emperor (he doesn't say which, but presumably he is referring to Commodus) made ten Hercules gladiator ceremonial swords to hand out as year-end bonuses at the Imperial office party. 

In addition to the Florida sword and the Nova Scotia sword, Pulitzer includes in his "authentic group" a "famous attraction in Naples that the museum commissioned a foundry cast iron replica to be made."  This lines up with my speculation that the "source" of the swords would be the Naples/Pompeii/Herculaneum region.

One of the expectations of my hypothesis that the brass/bronze swords are all of recent manufacture is that there is no authentic, original Roman sword of this design.  Pulitzer could attempt to prove me wrong by identifying his supposed "famous attraction" sword (it's so famous, apparently, that no-one has yet been able to find an image of it online or by inquiries made to the Naples Museum).  Can you provide an image? Can you give us a museum number? Can you point us to a brochure, book, or other publication? Can you provide any clue as to where we can learn something about this "famous" sword from some source other than your blog posts?

Pulitzer once again ducks the important issue of the California sword and the Italian Ebay sword, focusing on pointing out (again) that the Design Toscano swords are not "real."  We know that. Those swords (currently being produced) aren't really the problem for Pulitzer's thesis that the the brass/bronze swords are authentic. The California and Ebay swords are, however, because they appear to be examples of brass/bronze swords made from the mold as Pulitzer's "authentic" sword. As far as I know, he has never tried to explain the California or Ebay swords, preferring to try to confuse the issue by attacking the Design Toscano swords as a straw man. 

Nothing that Pulitzer said in his post changes my gut feeling that my hypothesis is essentially correct: these brass/bronze swords are recent creations with no ancient Roman "model." Pulitzer has asserted that the location of the "original" sword is Naples, but has not provided any evidence to back up that assertion.  He has asserted that the sword has been "verified," but he has provided no additional information that leads me to believe that any credible expert has looked at the sword firsthand and concluded that it is genuine. My guess is that he pointed his XRF at it (oh my! it's brass!) and solicited an opinion of "it looks it could be Roman to me" from someone somewhere. Is that all there is?  If not, then prove me wrong.

If that's all there is, that's an incredibly weak foundation for the argument that you're going to change history.

Note: The image of the sword used in this blog post is from this page. I think it's a good stand-in: it's just as much a functional sword as the Nova Scotia sword; it's just as Roman as the Nova Scotia sword; and it's just as magical as the Nova Scotia sword. Pulitzer insists that he owns the image of the "Roman magical sword" (although he has yet to provide me with any evidence to that effect) and has denied me permission to use it. If you can't beat 'em, sue 'em!

13 Comments
Peter Geuzen
12/23/2015 07:47:29 am

Scrolling through reddit comments I saw at least two people mention buying the exact sword as a souvenir in Pompeii, with one saying in 1994. These could just be bandwagon comments however.

As of last night, the white paper is put off to "late spring", his exact words, from commentary in his periscope stream. Gee, I wonder why.

Reply
Bob Jase
12/23/2015 10:33:45 am

I can't tell for certain but is that really Red Ryder's sword in the picture? That's even harder to find than his b b gun and it won't shoot your eye out.

Reply
Andy White
12/23/2015 10:43:36 am

This link identifies it as possibly Roy Rogers and Trigger. Based on the price, these may actually be more rare than the Hercules swords. Maybe the Emperor only made 8.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/360361713962?_mwBanner=1

Reply
Bob Jase
12/23/2015 12:07:20 pm

It is magic!!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960s-MAGIC-Tin-Litho-KNIFE-w-Spring-Loaded-Blade-Disappearing-SHORT-SWORD-MIP-/172036361774?hash=item280e2a8e2e:m:m7gXwisZkmDKu87XySOAn6g

Reply
Andy White
12/23/2015 10:47:33 am

This link says there's a Roman soldier fighting a lion on the handle. You can't tell me that's coincidence.
http://www.terapeak.com/worth/vintage-1950s-tin-magic-short-sword-n-mint-old-stock/200924857206/

Reply
Hecata Hexinkettle
12/23/2015 11:28:38 am

As an artist and former art director of a bronze foundry, I have experience in molding and replica making. Quality goes down as copy after copy is made, both as wear on the mold and as new molds are made from the replicas. Just like a Xerox of a Xerox. The California sword Is the most detailed. Therefore, it is close to the original and probably the the oldest of the reproductions so far. The measurements also decrease as each copy of a copy is made. The California sword is 5 inches longer .It would be nice to have exact measurements on all brass or bronze swords.Such fun! Love your website.

Reply
sword skeptic
12/23/2015 11:35:54 am

I agree. If the Emperor gave these as gifts, he got them at the Roman equivalent of the dollar store. Or gave them as gag gifts. The quality of casting just isn't there. An emperor would give much nicer gifts than those dodgy castings.

Reply
Bob Jase
12/23/2015 12:03:03 pm

So maybe the emperor gave them to the losers to cheer them up as they bled to death.

Mike Jones
12/23/2015 11:45:37 am

If they are made from non-ferrous metals and point due north, they must be magic! Or maybe majick!

Reply
jaap
12/23/2015 12:12:21 pm

Andy, first a compliment: you're the first serious anthropologist I've seen who really addresses pseudo-science, and who really tries to get to the bottom of things. And I can really see your interest, and the education to be had here. Up to a point it's a worthwhile concern, and definitely not a waste of time. Commendable! Wish there were more like you ...
But really! These last few weeks there's been nothing but giants and Roman swords, and I'm getting bored (oh, poor little boy me!). The little guy you're thrashing now is craving for attention, and it seems to me you're giving him too much.
Sorry I spoke, I don't quite know your agenda, of course. Seems to me that there are more interesting things - even in pseudo-science - than this Pullitzer guy. Three examples:
1) How real is this guy who wants to make a buck out of his Solutrean points? He seems to know his way around the beaches of the east-coast. If he's really real, you know ...
2) Bigfoot! Some people seem to have had real experiences with this boneless and excrementless creature. There should be something here for science to get a lens on. As it is the two worlds are completely out of touch.
3) Hoaxing! There have been people going out of their way for a life-time to hoax other people into believing things they were willing to believe. Is this just stuff for psychologists, or do anthroplogists have a claim here as well? As this is about narrative, I believe they do.
Meanwhile there is plenty of 'regular' stuff going: Red-dear-cave, more Denisovan, Tom Dillehay who still doesn't want to press his 30 kya (might be natural, you know: Thor's searching fire ...), and god knows what else that I can't understand, but you might ... (such as how naturally formed rocks are sharpened by water???), etc etc.
Some things, however, are bottomless. And here Pullitzer seems to qualify ...

Reply
Bob Jase
12/23/2015 12:24:40 pm

"The little guy you're thrashing now is craving for attention"

And getting it on television, the internet and the press without any questioning for the most part. And that's why there have to be some folks who provide the facts instead.

Reply
Justin Demetri link
12/27/2015 05:34:25 am

I mentioned this on the Jason Colavito blog, but have to say again. He claims this sword was pulled up while fishing. There is a quote in the original article where he is describing what I would call a scallop dredge, which is how sea scallops are harvested in the Western Atlantic. There is no way that sword, regardless of age, has spent time getting banged about on the sea floor in a scallop dredge. The big ones use a chain bag to hold the catch. The bag enters the water rusty and after being towed it comes up shiny. Not to mention all the rocks that come up in the dredge as well, even the small two man dredges my family used in the 90's. I have seen dozens of bronze items hauled up from fishing, all of them bigger and sturdier than that sword and all of them have some obvious damage -big scratches, bends and dents etc...

Then again, maybe the "magic" it now seems to have protects it from major dents and scratches.

Reply
nomuse
12/30/2015 12:21:25 pm

It points TRUE North? That's even more sophisticated than my Boy Scout compass, which requires the user to do the conversion from Magnetic North. Or maybe there's a star tracker buried in the pommel....

Reply



Leave a Reply.


    All views expressed in my blog posts are my own. The views of those that comment are their own. That's how it works.

    I reserve the right to take down comments that I deem to be defamatory or harassing. 

    Andy White

    Follow me on Twitter: @Andrew_A_White

    Email me: andy.white.zpm@gmail.com

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner


    Picture

    Sick of the woo?  Want to help keep honest and open dialogue about pseudo-archaeology on the internet? Please consider contributing to Woo War Two.
    Picture

    Follow updates on posts related to giants on the Modern Mythology of Giants page on Facebook.

    Archives

    January 2023
    January 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    March 2021
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All
    3D Models
    AAA
    Adena
    Afrocentrism
    Agent Based Modeling
    Agent-based Modeling
    Aircraft
    Alabama
    Aliens
    Ancient Artifact Preservation Society
    Androgynous Fish Gods
    ANTH 227
    ANTH 291
    ANTH 322
    Anthropology History
    Anunnaki
    Appalachia
    Archaeology
    Ardipithecus
    Art
    Atlantis
    Australia
    Australopithecines
    Aviation History
    Bigfoot
    Birds
    Boas
    Book Of Mormon
    Broad River Archaeological Field School
    Bronze Age
    Caribou
    Carolina Bays
    Ceramics
    China
    Clovis
    Complexity
    Copper Culture
    Cotton Mather
    COVID-19
    Creationism
    Croatia
    Crow
    Demography
    Denisovans
    Diffusionism
    DINAA
    Dinosaurs
    Dirt Dance Floor
    Double Rows Of Teeth
    Dragonflies
    Early Archaic
    Early Woodland
    Earthworks
    Eastern Woodlands
    Eastern Woodlands Household Archaeology Data Project
    Education
    Egypt
    Europe
    Evolution
    Ewhadp
    Fake Hercules Swords
    Fetal Head Molding
    Field School
    Film
    Florida
    Forbidden Archaeology
    Forbidden History
    Four Field Anthropology
    Four-field Anthropology
    France
    Genetics
    Genus Homo
    Geology
    Geometry
    Geophysics
    Georgia
    Giants
    Giants Of Olden Times
    Gigantism
    Gigantopithecus
    Graham Hancock
    Grand Valley State
    Great Lakes
    Hollow Earth
    Homo Erectus
    Hunter Gatherers
    Hunter-gatherers
    Illinois
    India
    Indiana
    Indonesia
    Iowa
    Iraq
    Israel
    Jim Vieira
    Jobs
    Kensington Rune Stone
    Kentucky
    Kirk Project
    Late Archaic
    Lemuria
    Lithic Raw Materials
    Lithics
    Lizard Man
    Lomekwi
    Lost Continents
    Mack
    Mammoths
    Mastodons
    Maya
    Megafauna
    Megaliths
    Mesolithic
    Michigan
    Middle Archaic
    Middle Pleistocene
    Middle Woodland
    Midwest
    Minnesota
    Mississippi
    Mississippian
    Missouri
    Modeling
    Morphometric
    Mound Builder Myth
    Mu
    Music
    Nazis
    Neandertals
    Near East
    Nephilim
    Nevada
    New Mexico
    Newspapers
    New York
    North Carolina
    Oahspe
    Oak Island
    Obstetrics
    Ohio
    Ohio Valley
    Oldowan
    Olmec
    Open Data
    Paleoindian
    Paleolithic
    Pilumgate
    Pleistocene
    Pliocene
    Pre Clovis
    Pre-Clovis
    Prehistoric Families
    Pseudo Science
    Pseudo-science
    Radiocarbon
    Reality Check
    Rome
    Russia
    SAA
    Sardinia
    SCIAA
    Science
    Scientific Racism
    Sculpture
    SEAC
    Search For The Lost Giants
    Sexual Dimorphism
    Sitchin
    Social Complexity
    Social Networks
    Solutrean Hypothesis
    South Africa
    South America
    South Carolina
    Southeast
    Stone Holes
    Subsistence
    Swordgate
    Teaching
    Technology
    Teeth
    Television
    Tennessee
    Texas
    Topper
    Travel
    Travel Diaries
    Vaccines
    Washington
    Whatzit
    White Supremacists
    Wisconsin
    Woo War Two
    World War I
    World War II
    Writing
    Younger Dryas

    RSS Feed

    Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly