Deadeyes are generally made of lignum vitae. I have one I found as a kid on the beach in New Brunswick and it looks the same as it did when I picked it up. I haven't done anything to it.
Donating it to a museum is perfect. Leave it in the water for divers to enjoy, or donate it to a museum for everyone to enjoy. Don’t take things that aren’t rightfully yours for your own personal gain... they’re not even worth anything. You can make them with a woodworking kit.What about access...very few people (relatively) are able, willing, and equipped to dive, but most people can admire images or visit a museum or somebody's collection. Could a civilian taking an object from a wreck occasionally be the best thing for the public, by making it more available to them?
Thanks for the reasoned response. I'll fully admit I'm going into this biased as a bottle digger, and I'm interested to learn more about shipwreck and artifact ethics. I tried selling a native celt recently. I need the money but it gave me the willies, so I took the ad down.
... they’re not even worth anything...
exactly why you shouldn’t take them for yourself.Not worth anything? I have items that wouldn't sell for a dime, yet I wouldn't take a million dollars for them. Value, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder.