Media coverage and other articles

[renovator]

Never would happen, and I don't even work in construction.

I do. The story is demonstrably false to the point where I really can't understand why anyone still believes it. Here's a better version:
"I was working the pit, and had just finished for the day. As I was packing up, I notice a glint in the late afternoon sun, and bent down to investigate. That's when I found the pieces which I left in a box in the construction trailer. The rest is history."
Yeah, I made that up too.

[Choice]

It was obvious even then that the story was made up. But not necessarily fraudulent so no need to obsess about it. They heard a "solve" and they tried to fix the facts around it to give the story a closure. It was going to be a TV reality show after all. Need to have a script with a story and happy ending.
Substitute 'earth mover' for 'excavator': viewtopic.php?f=32&t=774&start=2958

[UnprovenFact]

If the Boston find was a hoax, what might that mean? Is there still a treasure buried in Boston? Or has the Boston treasure been found… just not how and where it was reported to be?

And is it believed the remaining family members, artists, contributors and others who participated in the episode were all duped? Or were they aware of its illegitimacy and chose to play along? If so, to what end?

I see the potential benefits for the perpetrator of a hoax. However, what would be the rationale for others joining in the celebration knowing it was all fake? Besides Money.

[Choice]

Boston find was not a hoax or conspiracy. The cask was found legitimately by a construction worker.
The ONLY thing questionable is the actual spot of the found cask's burial. The same can be said about Chicago cask.
Was the Boston cask buried under the homeplate? How about by the side of the plate where foot in the painting is pointing to? How about the intersection of the verdigris light tower and the base line which is about 5 steps away from the homeplate?

[renovator]

The cask was found legitimately by a construction worker.

Using a backhoe...

[UnprovenFact]

So, the only thing in question was where exactly it was buried in the park? If it was found by the construction worker on site, how did he hear the crunch of the plastic box or ceramic casque over the sound of the machinery? Unless they were using a Tesla excavator. Those Teslavators are super quiet… I hear.

Ok, let’s say the worker is just out there moving some dirt and he actually hears something crunch. He gets down off the dozer, walks over to the hole, looks inside and sees the remnants of the casque. What would cause him to shut down a job site to investigate further? Does he know what it is? If so, why not turn it in and collect the reward himself? Or maybe he hears the crunch, gets off the dozer, checks it out, does not really know what it is but remembers some guy poking around earlier saying, “If you find anything, call me.”

Or maybe somebody has been trying to get access to dig this spot for a while, sees an opportunity, creeps into a construction site after dark, locates some pieces, realizes he's not supposed to be there, and then makes up a story to cover up the trespass issue. He might have a hard time explaining how he found it there, so he pays off a construction worker or two to say this is totally legit. I don’t know, though. That would make them complicit. Not worth the risk.

Maybe, as has been discussed previously, the treasure was located elsewhere but that location would have been off limits as well. So, he needs another cover story. As we know, many lines in the verses could point to almost anywhere. Why not a park that just happens to be undergoing renovations? But then you would still have the issue of him having to convince construction workers to go along with it.

Maybe it happened exactly as reported. I mean, those closest to The Secret authenticated everything and vouched for him. Perhaps the Boston find is legit after all?

[renovator]

I mean, those closest to The Secret authenticated everything and vouched for him.

With regard to Boston, very little has been vetted, and nothing has ever been independently authenticated to the best of my knowledge. "Take my word for it", no matter who says it, does not count.

[Choice]

Using a backhoe...

Yeah, similar attempt was done in Houston.
@UnprovenFact, all of that has been discussed already at length and frankly none of it really matter. The cask was found and authenticated.
The only thing that matters, at least to me is the exact location of the burial and that is lost since no one in BP's orbit claims to know where the cask was buried.

[four21thrasher]

It was obvious even then that the story was made up. But not necessarily fraudulent so no need to obsess about it.

???

If the Boston find was a hoax, what might that mean?

Good question!

The ONLY thing questionable is the actual spot of the found cask's burial.

Why is the only thing questionable the spot when you just acknowledged that the story was made up?

So, the only thing in question was where exactly it was buried in the park?

Ummm.... no. Even iQuitGeorge was forced to answer this question honestly.

@UnprovenFact, all of that has been discussed already at length and frankly none of it really matter. It was obvious even then that the story was made up. But not necessarily fraudulent so no need to obsess about it.

i.e., @UPF These are not the droids you are looking for.

[UnprovenFact]

To clarify previous attempts at clarification…

…those closest to The Secret authenticated everything and vouched for him.

Reworded: Those involved in the ceremony appeared to be willing participants. No one seemed to challenge the claim.

Boston find was not a hoax or conspiracy.. The ONLY thing questionable is the actual spot of the found cask's burial.

So, the whole thing was legit… except where it was buried?

…The same can be said about Chicago cask.

Wait. What?

… all of that has been discussed already at length and frankly none of it really matter.

It seems as though it does.

It was obvious even then that the story was made up. But not necessarily fraudulent…

Fraud·u·lent – obtained by or involving deception; unjustifiably claiming or being credited with particular accomplishments. From the Latin: braccas igni.
Since it cannot be both ‘made up’ and ‘legitimate’, I am guessing you mean the tv show did not accurately portray the events surrounding the find. That much was clear when it aired.

no need to obsess about it.

I’m not too worried about it. Either it was legitimate and no longer in play, or it wasn’t and is.

Has any non-production video been uploaded anywhere? Are there any other video accounts of how the treasure was found? If I unearthed one of these things, backhoe or not, I would have my own video.

[renovator]

Wading in, because why not?

Reworded: Those involved in the ceremony appeared to be willing participants. No one seemed to challenge the claim.

Why would they? With the possible exception of JJP (who was there), and JoEllen Trilling (who was conspicuous by her absence), no one there had a reason to doubt the authenticity of the find at the time. And some, like Jason Krupat and Josh Gates, had financial incentives to go along with it, even if they knew for a fact that it was a fraud. I would like to have an honest conversation with some of those participants today, and see if three years on, they still feel the whole thing as presented was legitimate. It will most likely never happen, but for the good of the puzzle and in BP's honor, it should.

[four21thrasher]

NEW GATES ANNOUNCMENT FROM OCT 15th!
https://twitter.com/joshuagates/status/1184294975598727169
https://archive.ph/SYwsU

[four21thrasher]

NEW GATES ANNOUNCMENT FROM OCT 15th!
https://twitter.com/joshuagates/status/1184294975598727169
https://archive.ph/SYwsU

July 1: I'll be in PA for my speaking events on Oct 18-23 at various locations I've been booking a year in advance:
https://issuu.com/shippensburg-university/docs/lpac.brochure.2019-2020_issuu/6

Oct 15th: See you all in PA soon for my scheduled speaking events:
https://twitter.com/joshuagates/status/1184294975598727169

Oct 16th: Breaking news! I'm literally walking away from my expedition on another continent, completely unplanned:
https://www.facebook.com/Discovery/videos/expedition-unknown-breaking-news/587730245304412/

Oct 17th: Can't believe I'm back in town, totally unexpectedly, and just down the road from where I need to be!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIiQMsDQ0Uo

Just trying to figure out how questioning public information is stalking while begging people to knock on the authors' doors after super secret detective work aint. Although, as George's middle man, I'm sure you, Mr. Choice, have an explanation.

[Choice]

Although, as George's middle man, I'm sure you, Mr. Choice, have an explanation.

Too bad, you Shirley isolated yourself to the troll corner of the room playing with a potted plant (boobie!).
. o O (Isn't Maine The Pine Tree State?)

[four21thrasher]

I have no idea what you mean. But, I do know that what I posted means Gates absolutely lied about coming back to the US only for the Boston "solve." He had planned on being back here for at least a year.

I wonder how long Gates had planned on being back in the US to participate in a Boston "solve?" August maybe? February, March? Time will tell.
I wonder how long it took Gates to get everyone together with a flight and hotel to NYC.
I wonder how long it took to book a lawyer's schedule.
I wonder how long it took to book Sandy and his daughters.
I wonder how long it took to have the pins made for the participants.
I wonder how long it took to have Gates' plaque made.
I wonder how long it took to get his film crew together.
I wonder how long it took to shut the WES site down.
I wonder how long it took to get filming permits from the city.
I wonder how long it took to... etc.

Oh wait, no, Gates finalized this on the 15th and had everyone in Boston and NYC on the 17th and 19th, right?