Florida Family Uncovers Buried Treasure: 300-Year-Old Ancient Religious Artifact Found

A Florida family scavenging for buried treasures following a shipwreck was not expecting to find the missing piece of a 300-year-old gold necklace that belonged to sacred Spanish priests from the 16th century.

"It's priceless, unique, one of a kind," said Brent Brisben, operations manager for Queens Jewels, which owns rights to the wreckage, located in 15-foot (4.5-meter) deep Atlantic Ocean waters, according to Reuters. 

Spanish historians realized the rarity of this unique piece of treasure when they fit it together with another artifact that was discovered around 25 years ago. Together, the jewelry pieces formed an accessory known as a pyx that was worn on a chain and hung around the neck of a high priest who carried the communion host or the symbolic representation of Jesus' body in some Christian traditions.

"It was our follow-up to our big find," said Lisa Schmitt, whose family owns the company Booty Salvage and hunts for sunken artifacts on Flroida's Treasure Coast, via the Orlando Sentinel. "It's been there 300 years, and it's still intact. It's just amazing."

Professional salvager Eric Schmitt was with his parents when he came upon the square-shaped piece of jewelry that sunk off central Florida's east coast in 1715.

The Maritime Execute notes that Schmitt discovered close to $300,000 worth of gold coins and chains from a ship wreckage just last year. He and his family have been professionally scavenging for the past decade. 

For now, the treasure will be placed in the custody of the U.S. District Court in South Florida. The Schmitt's can expect to take in around 20 percent of its estimated cost.