According to various web sources, a ship used in the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean was stolen when it made a visit to Greenock, Scotland. I have searched around and the most credible seeming news article, listed on news.scotsman.com, leaves much information to be desired. This incident apparently occured September 14, 2009 and they are looking for two teenagers who were seen near it prior to the theft. Other sources I have found seem to be re-prints of this article with no major newspapers having stories about it. Additionally, no information is available as to whether it was ever recovered.

So here is the question – in this day and age, how do you steal a large sailing ship without anybody noticing? This seems to be an elaborate publicity hoax or maybe the cursed pirates have returned to get the Black Pearl back! Heh.

David Booth, a chief game warden at Blair Drummond Safari Park, made the discovery of a lifetime five days after receiving his first metal detector. The 35-year-old Stirlingshire, Scotland native practiced using his new detector for a few hours in the kitchen and garden before heading out to a location where he had secured the land-owner’s permission.

Walking to the rear of his Jeep, Mr. Booth began swinging his detector on his way towards a field. The sound of a target rang out and what he unearthed is being heralded as one of Scotland’s most significant discoveries of Iron Age metalwork. Four gold neckbands, also referred to as torcs, came from the hole he dug and are thought to date between 300BC and 100BC.

Scotland law requires treasures to be reported to the Treasure Trove Unit at the National Museum of Scotland. The crown can claim any archaeological objects discovered and the finder retains no ownership rights. However, it is expected that Mr. Booth may still receive a reward for the discovery.

Moral of the story: You don’t have to be a professional treasure hunter with years of experience to find the good stuff. It’s possible to make the discovery of a lifetime within only seven steps of field experience.