As has been his custom for many years, 83-year-old Richard Dobbs was walking between the cliffs and the beach at Marlyn Nelson County Park several weeks ago when he came across what he believes is part of a cross to hold a Spanish flag from a 1790’s sailing ship commanded by Spanish-Peruvian explorer Manuel Quimper.

The piece does appear to be a horizontal arm of a cross with two square nails that attached a flag. The cliffs are composed of 2,200 feet of glacial till, Dobbs said, and have the tendency to crash down on the beach.

“You have to be extremely careful and have a way to get rescued,” Dobbs said of the ancient cliffs. Dobbs covered the relic with clear glue to protect it from finger oils.

His plans are to keep it at his Sequim home and keep walking the beach.

“There are more things to find out there, prizes to be had,” Dobbs said.