What do you think about when you hear the words, “treasure hunter”? Maybe it’s a guy panning gold in the gold rush. Or maybe it’s someone like Indiana Jones tromping around the Amazon.
Well, there’s a treasure hunter in New York City that pretty much breaks all of those stereotypes. Instead of a rock hammer, he’s equipped with a small portable vacuum, a bucket and not much else.
What type of treasure is he after by scraping muck out of New York City sidewalks?
Well, you might be surprised. This treasure hunter is after gold, diamonds, jewelry and any other precious stones that have been lost or discarded by the numerous jewelry dealers, repair shops, craftsmen and pedestrians that line the streets during the day.
This video has become quite popular since it was released, and it’s easy to see why. It showcases the exciting potential of urban prospecting. And honestly, that’s something I never had really considered. But it makes sense. People lose things all the time. And where does most of it end up? In sidewalk cracks.
The process he uses is both simple and ingenious. He heads out in the early morning hours while the streets are essentially empty, scrapes out the sidewalk gunk, ships it to his home in Colorado where he pans it and recovers all the goodies.
It’s a story of patience, skill, and a bit of luck.
