Kevin Kinard most likely had no intention of making his fortune when he went on a day trip to an Arkansas state park with friends. He got a lot more than he bargained for when he noticed something glistening on the ground. He had no idea he was about to make a life-changing discovery while stooping to pick up what he thought was a piece of glass.
Bank Manager Realizes He Hit Jackpot With The Broken Glass That He Found
A Trip To A State Park
A trip to a state park is, for most people, simply an opportunity to enjoy nature – and perhaps snap some good Instagram photos while you’re at it. Visitors to this location near Murfreesboro, however, frequently leave with much more. Kinard would join their illustrious ranks on September 7, 2020.
A Trip To A State Park
One Fateful Day
Kinard had been visiting the park with friends for years, hoping to be one of the lucky visitors who discovered the park’s hidden treasure. But he’d been going home empty-handed since second grade. Then, on a bright Labor Day, his luck changed – and he made a startling discovery.
One Fateful Day
A Rare Find
Kinard initially mistook a glinting piece of glass for a piece of glass glinting on the surface of the freshly plowed soil. However, when he presented it to park employees several hours later, he received the shock of his life. Because what the Arkansas man discovered wasn’t an ordinary object – it was a rare find likely worth tens of thousands of dollars.
A Rare Find
Far From The First
Kinard wasn’t the first person to discover a valuable treasure in the American wilderness. In June 2020, for example, it was revealed that an unknown man had made a remarkable discovery somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. Yes, he’d unearthed a bronze chest brimming with priceless gems, jewelry, and gold.
Far From The First
Fenn Treasure
Had the man stumbled upon a cache of valuables stashed away by outlaws during the Wild West’s heyday? Or how about something a little more historic? The chest, it turned out, had been buried much more recently. In fact, it was the infamous Fenn Treasure, which an eccentric art dealer stashed in a secret location in 2010.
Fenn Treasure
A Lot Have Searched For It
A community of treasure hunters had been searching for the chest for a decade, following cryptic clues woven into a collection of short stories published by Fenn. In a gruesome turn of events, a number of people had even died while searching for the loot in vain. However, the jewels were eventually discovered in an undisclosed location by a lone man from somewhere in the eastern United States.
A Lot Have Searched For It
How Common Treasures Are
But how common is it to stumble across treasure while hiking through the American wilderness? It’s possible that it’s a lot more than you think. For example, while hiking with his brother in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, businessman John Hornewer came across an abandoned mine. They discovered gold – and a lot more – inside.
How Common Treasures Are
A New Kind Of Gemstone
Hornewer and his brother realized they had discovered an entirely new type of gemstone after polishing a piece of ore from the mine. Sonoranite was first introduced to the market in 2018 and is expected to sell for around $35 per carat. And now, sourcing and finishing the rock has turned into a family business – not bad for a simple hike.
A New Kind Of Gemstone
A Strange Footprint
However, not all of the treasures discovered in America’s forests and parks are as glamorous as they appear. In 2009, a hiker near Moab, Utah, was out exploring when he came across a strange footprint embedded in the ground. Experts determined that these were dinosaur tracks from 125 million years ago, left behind by creatures.
A Strange Footprint
A Similar Find
In 2011, another civilian discovered a similar find in Arkansas, the same state where Kinard would make his own discovery two years later. It was a collection of dinosaur footprints this time, spanning hundreds of feet across the landscape. But the region known as the Natural State is home to more than just prehistoric treasures.
A Similar Find
What Did He Find?
So, what could Kinard have discovered in the Arkansas wilderness? Those who enjoy exploring will find plenty of opportunities to reconnect with nature in the region. There are 52 state parks in Arkansas, with everything from rocky mountains to scenic Lakeland vistas.
What Did He Find?
How Big The Place Is
In total, Arkansas State Parks cover over 54,000 acres and attract over eight million visitors each year. They mostly stick to the more popular spots, such as Devil’s Den State Park in the Ozark Mountains, which is located in a valley. Alternatively, they could spend their time at Lake Catherine State Park, boating and swimming in the crystal-clear waters.
How Big The Place Is
Not As Memorable As Kinard’s
However, none of these visitors are likely to have a visit as memorable as Kinard’s. Because his fateful journey didn’t take place in one of Arkansas’ most well-known parks. In fact, the bank manager made his discovery while visiting a small attraction in the state’s southwest corner.
Not As Memorable As Kinard’s
Crater Of Diamonds State Park
Crater of Diamonds State Park is a tiny patch of land compared to some of Arkansas’ larger parks, covering less than 1,000 acres. Despite its size, Kinard has been interested in the Pike County site since he was in second grade. A field trip that year sparked an obsession that would last more than 20 years.
Crater Of Diamonds State Park
He Returned Every Year
Kinard returned to Crater of Diamonds State Park at least once a year, if not more, after visiting with his school. Despite world events keeping many people at home, he had already made one visit in May of 2020. However, by September, he was ready to embark on a second journey.
He Returned Every Year
Going Back For A Stamp
Arkansas State Parks had launched a passport system three months before allowing visitors to document their travels around the state. Kinard planned a trip back to his favorite park, Crater of Diamonds, to add a stamp to his collection. The 33-year-old from Maumelle, Arkansas, arrived with a group of friends on Labor Day.
Going Back For A Stamp
How It All Started
Crater of Diamonds State Park, which was purchased by the state of Arkansas in 1972 and has been welcoming visitors like Kinard since the 1950s. So, what is it about this forested patch of land and the bare, 37.5-acre field at its center that appeals to you? It all seems to have started about 95 million years ago when a volcano erupted and spewed magma across the landscape.
How It All Started
The Only Place Known For This
Diamonds that had formed deep beneath the continent were dredged up to the surface as a result of this upheaval. They’re still there to this day, much to the delight of tourists. In fact, Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only place in the world where the general public can visit a site known for producing the prized gem.
The Only Place Known For This
He Went There For Fun
It’s no surprise, then, that Kinard was eager to return year after year. However, it appears that these excursions were more for fun than for serious treasure hunting. Because the bank manager had never found a diamond on any of his previous visits, and there was no reason to believe that this trip would be any different.
He Went There For Fun
Taking A Different Approach
Kinard and his friends, not to be deterred, brought along the necessary equipment to sift for diamonds during their visit. However, after only ten minutes, he decided to change his strategy. He decided to walk between the rows of plowed earth, keeping his eyes peeled, rather than digging through the soil in search of something shiny.
Taking A Different Approach
Anything That Looked Like A Crystal
In a September 2020 news release from Arkansas State Parks, Kinard explained, “Anything that looked like a crystal, I picked it up and put it in my bag.” And something caught his eye as he approached the southeast corner of the field. A small, round object with a dimpled exterior was glinting on the ground.
Anything That Looked Like A Crystal
What He Found
So, what did Kinard discover? In the statement, he explained that the object’s appearance had caused him to pause and take notice. However, it would be hours before he realized what he’d discovered. He said, “It kind of looked interesting and shiny, so I put it in my bag and kept searching. I just thought it might’ve been glass.”
What He Found
Having An Expert Look At What They Found
Kinard and his friends finished their diamond hunting a few hours later and went to the park’s Discovery Center to have an expert examine their finds. Except for the rounded piece of glass, the bank manager still didn’t think he’d found anything at that point. As a result, he was on the verge of skipping his haul inspection altogether, a decision that would have been disastrous.
Having An Expert Look At What They Found
The Strange Round Object
Kinard, on the other hand, decided that he might as well have an employee look over his findings. And he did an excellent job in deciding that he should. The Park worker set the strange, rounded object aside after successfully identifying the majority of the haul as non-precious minerals and rocks.
The Strange Round Object
A Massive Diamond
The employee took the glass-like find into the office at first for a closer look. Kinard was invited to meet the park managers in person after a few tense moments. What they told him would astound him: he had discovered a massive diamond weighing over nine carats.
A Massive Diamond
A Powerful Moment
It was a powerful moment for Caleb Howell, the superintendent at Crater of Diamonds State Park. “I always love to see the reactions and excitement of our visitors when they find large diamonds. When I met Mr. Kinard, it was immediately evident that he was shocked and speechless.” He explained in the release.
A Powerful Moment
He Teared Up
Later, Kinard agreed. “I honestly teared up when they told me,” He admitted. “I was in complete shock.” And he had every right to be. Because his diamond, after the 16.37-carat Amarillo Starlight discovered in 1975, turned out to be the second-largest ever discovered at the park. So, how much could such a magnificent gem be worth?
He Teared Up
How Much It’s Worth
The Amarillo Starlight is estimated to be worth around $175,000, though the value of Kinard’s find has yet to be revealed. As a result, this gem, which weighs about half as much as the Amarillo, could fetch a six-figure sum. It took the lucky treasure hunter a few weeks to come to terms with his potential fortune, which is understandable.
How Much It’s Worth
Talking About The Diamond
Kinard returned to Crater of Diamonds State Park near the end of September to talk about his discovery. When it came to the diamond, he said, “It weighs 9.07, and I found it on 9/7 [September 7]. I thought that was so unique.” And, as is customary, he decided to name the gem after the friends who had accompanied him on that fateful day.
Talking About The Diamond
Kinard Friendship Diamond
Kinard had only decided to check his finds because his companion was doing so. And if she hadn’t done so, the 9-carat gem might have gotten lost in the shuffle. As a result, he named his find the Kinard Friendship Diamond. He said, “We love to travel together and had such a great time out here,” Kinard said. “It was a very humbling experience.”
Kinard Friendship Diamond
Urging Others To Do The Same
Kinard also advised other park visitors to have their finds checked out, even if they don’t think they’ve found anything noteworthy. He explained, “Have the park staff check everything because you never know. I would have never in a million years dreamed that I had found anything. Always have them check it.”
Urging Others To Do The Same
Where He Kept The Diamond
Kinard, on the other hand, didn’t have to ponder where he should keep his priceless find for long. When he returned to Maumelle, he simply locked the diamond away in the bank where he works. He stated in a September 2020 interview with the news site Good Morning America that he would not be affected by the potential windfall.
Where He Kept The Diamond
Not Quitting Work
“I’m not sure what it’s worth, but I can’t do anything with a 9-carat diamond,” Kinard explained. “My boss said, ‘You may be a millionaire. Are you going to quit?’ I said, ‘Absolutely not.’ I’m too young for that. I’d still work. I’m just a regular guy.” But how did this ordinary Arkansas man come into possession of such a valuable item?
Not Quitting Work
Perfect Condition
Several factors, according to Dru Edmonds, the park’s assistant superintendent, were at play. In a press release, he stated, “Conditions in the diamond search area were perfect for Mr. Kinard. Park staff plowed the search area on August 20, just a few days before Tropical Storm Laura. The sun was out when Mr. Kinard visited, and he walked just the right path to notice the sunlight reflecting off his diamond.”
Perfect Condition
Finders Keepers Policy
Many people may find it strange that Arkansas State Parks allowed Kinard to keep his priceless find. But believe it or not, Crater of Diamonds has a “finders keepers” policy when it comes to its valuable gems. In other words, visitors have the right to keep any treasures they find during their visit. God bless America!
Finders Keepers Policy
Not Profitable For The Mineral Industry
According to records, the first diamonds were discovered in 1906 on the land where the park now stands. Prospectors discovered a record-breaking 40.23-carat gemstone on the same site in 1924, which was later dubbed Uncle Sam. Despite these promising discoveries, the location proved to be unprofitable for the mineral industry.
Not Profitable For The Mineral Industry
When It Became A Tourist Attraction
The land eventually became a tourist attraction in the 1950s, with paying visitors able to go gemstone hunting for themselves. A lucky visitor discovered the Star of Arkansas, a 15.33-carat diamond, in the same decade. Even though the park was taken over by the state in 1972, eager treasure hunters continued to flock to the area.
When It Became A Tourist Attraction
The Last Time Diamonds Were Found
Since then, visitors to the park have discovered more than 30,000 diamonds, an average of two per day. The second-largest gem before Kinard’s discovery was an 8.82-carat specimen discovered in 1981. The most recent major find occurred in 2019 when a woman discovered a yellow diamond weighing 3.72 carats.
The Last Time Diamonds Were Found
Letting It Sink In
Kinard is enjoying the thrill of his discovery for the time being. However, as word of his good fortune spreads, more people are likely to flock to Crater of Diamonds State Park in the hopes of making their own fortune. Will they return empty-handed, or will they find another gem similar to the one Kinard found?
Letting It Sink In
Treasures In Another Part Of The World
Don’t worry if you’re not planning on visiting the park anytime soon. There’s always the possibility that you’ll make a million-dollar discovery by accident in another – perhaps more unexpected – part of the world. At least, that’s what happened to Eric Lawes of England. On his friend’s farm, the metal detectorist never expected to find a life-changing haul of Roman treasure. But, fortunately for him, that is exactly what occurred.
Treasures In Another Part Of The World
His Metal Detector Went Wild
Lawes is trudging around British farmland in search of a missing hammer in November 1992. Then, out of nowhere, his metal detector goes haywire. But it isn’t the lost tool that Lawes discovers as he begins digging in the ground. The metal detectorist, on the other hand, has just unearthed a massive haul of Roman artifacts. And his life will be forever changed as a result of his discovery.
His Metal Detector Went Wild
A Man Named Eric Lawes
Eric Lawes was born in Hoxne, Suffolk, England, on May 1, 1923. His mother, Florence, and father, Joseph, raised him and his two siblings. Although his father worked as a gamekeeper, Lawes appears to have had a humble upbringing. Indeed, he is said to have grown up in poverty and received little formal education.
A Man Named Eric Lawes
His Formative Years
Lawes’ formative years were sandwiched between World Wars I and II. And the interwar period was difficult for nearly everyone in Britain, including those who lived in rural areas, which one might expect to be less affected by conflict. Indeed, many children in villages like the one where Lawes grew up did not attend school and were instead educated outside of the classroom.
His Formative Years
Place Filled With Ancient History
Lawes grew up in Hoxne, a small village located approximately 100 miles northeast of London. With a population of less than 1,000 people, Hoxne may appear to be a charming but unremarkable town at first glance. It is, however, steeped in ancient history – something Lawes was unaware of as a child.
Place Filled With Ancient History
Played A Role In Uncovering History
Even though Lawes’ early life appeared to be as ordinary as the village in which he grew up, he later played a role in the discovery of Hoxne’s history. Lawes, you see, discovered a treasure trove in the area. Not only did Lawes become a minor celebrity as a result of the discovery, but he also made a small fortune as a result of it.
Played A Role In Uncovering History
His Work When He Was Younger
When Lawes was younger, however, all of this seemed far from the case. Because his formal education came to an end when he was 14 years old, he worked on a farm for a while. Later, he worked as a bread delivery driver for a local bakery, but he quit when the store’s manager discovered that the takings were only a halfpenny short.
His Work When He Was Younger
Serving In The War
After that, the young Lawes found work as a gardener. The Royal Marines, on the other hand, summoned him to serve in WWII in 1942. He went back to farm work for a while after returning home safely before landing a job with a regional electricity board.
Serving In The War
Retiring After 30 Years
For the next 30 years, Lawes worked for the Eastern Electricity Board. His coworkers asked him what he wanted as a reward for his service when he retired. He was, however, uninterested in what you might consider a more traditional gift. Lawes, on the other hand, had requested something far more unusual.
Retiring After 30 Years
He Asked For A Metal Detector
In an interview with the Hoxne Heritage Group, Lawes explained, “[The electricity board] asked me what I’d like [for my retirement]. Would I like a watch? And I said to them, ‘No, I’d like a metal detector.’ Why, I don’t know.” Whatever compelled Lawes to request such a device, it would eventually bring him unanticipated good fortune.
He Asked For A Metal Detector
Asking For His Help
Yes, a friend of Lawes enlisted the help of the metal detectorist in November 1992. The man in question was a farmer who had misplaced a hammer on his property. As a result, the farmer approached Lawes for assistance in locating his missing tool. Lawes’ metal detector suddenly picked up a clear signal while scouring the fields.
Asking For His Help
An Unexpected Find
So, when Lawes’ metal detector indicated that he might have discovered something, he started digging. But what he discovered wasn’t the hammer that his friend had misplaced. No, the find turned out to be far more valuable – so valuable that Lawes felt compelled to seek additional assistance.
An Unexpected Find
Discovering Old Relics
So, what had the metal detectorist discovered? The first thing Lawes discovered were some coins. But he soon discovered other artifacts, including several silver spoons. He realized he had uncovered something significant when his haul consisted of two plastic bags filled with artifacts. As a result, he informed the landowner of his discovery before contacting the cops and a local archaeological group.
Discovering Old Relics
Excavation
It was clear right away that Lawes had acted with the utmost care. Indeed, Lawes’ timely notification of authorities allowed the Suffolk Archaeological Unit to conduct a thorough excavation. As a result, the group was able to gain a better understanding of what had been discovered.
Excavation
What They Learned
Archaeologist Jude Plouvier and his team, for example, carefully removed a chunk of soil from the site. The slab was then transported to a laboratory, where its contents were examined in a safe environment. The archaeologists were able to determine the age of the artifacts and how to handle them this way. And what the team discovered was astounding.
What They Learned
From The Late-Roman Era
Lawes turned out to have discovered thousands of late-Roman gold, silver, and bronze coins, as well as silver cutlery and gold jewelry. The find was so significant that it was recorded as the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom. And the amount of money it was worth was incredible.
From The Late Roman Era
The Hoxne Hoard
The Hoxne Hoard is the name given to the treasure trove. And much has been learned about the treasure’s origins since its discovery more than 25 years ago. In fact, the hoard dates from a period of great unrest in Britain’s long history, when the Roman Empire still controlled a large portion of the island.
The Hoxne Hoard
Leaving A Mark In This World
Of course, the Romans left their imprint on the world. Indeed, they ruled vast swaths of what is now Europe, the Mediterranean, West Asia, and North Africa in the early centuries of the Christian era. The Empire, however, had lost control of Britain by the beginning of the fifth century.
Leaving A Mark In This World
An Incorrect Idea
Between 43 A.D. and 410 A.D., the Roman Empire ruled over the southern part of the United Kingdom. However, while it was once widely assumed that the province’s economy was in decline around the turn of the fifth century, subsequent archaeological evidence has tended to refute this idea.
An Incorrect Idea
Germanic Migration
In any case, the Roman presence on British soil began to decline. Without the Empire’s support, Britain was vulnerable to raids from other countries. Battles would be fought from Scotland and Ireland, which were not under Roman rule at the time. However, the Empire was unable to withstand Germanic migration, and Roman troops were redeployed from Britain to defend the Empire’s mainland European territories.
Germanic Migration
A Period Of Hoarding
This climate of uncertainty led to what is thought to have been a period of hoarding among those living in Britain at the time. That’s right: it appears that Romano-British people buried valuables in the ground to keep them safe from invading Angles, Picts, and Saxons.
A Period Of Hoarding
Referencing This Time
In fact, the time is mentioned in an excerpt from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a 9th-century text. “The Romans collected all the treasures which were in Britain and hid some in the earth so that no one afterward could find them,” the script reads. “And some they took with them into Gaul.”
Referencing This Time
Why They Hoarded
The idea behind hoarding was that the owners would return to collect their valuables at some point in the future. However, the fact that hoards have been discovered in recent years may indicate that whoever they belonged to never returned. However, accurately dating the artifacts is difficult, making telling their story less than straightforward.
Why They Hoarded
Lack Of Organic Materials
Furthermore, due to a lack of organic materials in the Hoxne Hoard, precise dating techniques could not be used. Because the method relies on the presence of plant or animal matter, radiocarbon dating could not be used on the coins. Instead, the team had to rely on more basic methods.
Lack Of Organic Materials
Studying The Inscriptions
As a result, the archaeologists looked at the inscriptions on the coins, which helped them figure out how old the hoard was. And the evidence points to a date of around 410 A.D. for the treasure. Furthermore, archaeologist Peter Guest, who specializes in the Roman era, agrees with this viewpoint.
Studying The Inscriptions
Another Theory
In January 2018, Guest told Smithsonian magazine about his experiences. “[Based on the age of the coins] the date after which Hoxne must’ve been buried is 408 or 409. And the traditional model would suggest it was buried around about that point in time.” But the archaeologist’s experience also led him to another theory.
Another Theory
Misdating The Artifacts
Guest revealed, “My perspective is that, actually, we’ve been misdating these hoards.” He continued, “If you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” And the archaeologist had discovered an anomaly with the coins that could back up his theory.
Misdating The Artifacts
Clipping
According to Guest, the coins could have been in circulation for many years after the Romans left Britain. The archaeologist had discovered evidence of a method of coin alteration known as “clipping.” And it appears that this procedure was used on up to 98 percent of the 15,000 coins discovered in the Hoxne Hoard.
Clipping
How Clipping Is Done
Clipping entails removing the edges of coins and shrinking them by up to a third in size. Guest and other scientists used chemical analyses to determine that the clipped metal was used to create identical coins. And these coins could have been used after the Roman occupation of Britain ended.
How Clipping Is Done
What Made Lawes’ Haul More Valuable
“The Roman Emperor wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins,” Guest stated. “In light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of precious metals by making the existing supplies go further. But there were other discoveries that set Lawes’ haul apart from the rest.
What Made Lawes’ Haul More Valuable