Lost treasures that anyone can find. Oak Island Money Pit
Treasures worth billions of dollars are hidden underground and in the depths of the ocean. Where to look for them?
According to scientists, treasures worth $900 billion or more are hidden and forgotten on our planet. Treasures of ancient civilizations, jewelry from sunken ships, treasures of sea pirates, lost world masterpieces and religious relics - where to look for them and is the game worth the candle? We have collected seven of the greatest treasures that haunt treasure hunters around the world. Read with caution: gold fever is highly contagious!
Tomb of Genghis Khan
The burial place of the founder and first khan of the Mongol Empire has still not been found, despite the efforts of many people. Treasure hunters are convinced that in the grave, in addition to the body of the great conqueror, lies untold wealth: precious stones, gold coins, expensive dishes, exquisite weapons - a treasure worth several billion dollars. Unfortunately for them, Genghis Khan was buried secretly in a remote area and his grave was deliberately unmarked. Some scientists believe that the grave should be looked for in Russia: in the forests of Altai, in the area of the Ridder depression. Others believe the legend according to which Genghis Khan was buried in the same places where he was born: in the vicinity of Mount Burkhan Khaldun in Mongolia. This mountain, sacred to the Mongols, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July this year as the birthplace and possible burial place of Genghis Khan.
Treasures from the ship Flor de la Mar
Treasure hunters call the treasure from the ship Flor de la Mar (Flower of the Sea) the largest treasure in the world, and the ship itself the most valuable shipwreck ever. On it, the Portuguese carried a significant part of the trophies obtained during the capture of the Malacca Sultanate. However, the battered sailing ship never delivered any trophies to the king: it sank in 1511 and has been lying at the bottom of the Strait of Malacca in an unknown place for 300 years. Treasure hunters from all over the world are ready to rush to search for treasures in Indonesia at any moment. Thus, the American Robert Marks, who specializes in treasures from sunken ships, stated that he was ready to spend $20 million to find and raise the Flor de la Mar cargo to the surface. However, the Indonesian authorities reject all offers, hoping to find the treasure without the help of foreigners. In July of this year, an archaeological underwater expedition was announced off the coast of Sumatra. According to archaeologist Ali Akbar, finding the "Flower of the Sea" in the Strait of Malacca will not be easy, as it is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world - there may be about 400 ships that sank between 1500 and 1800: go find out where lies the same golden one...
Gold 11 Spanish galleons
300 years ago, in 1715, 11 ships of the Spanish fleet sank off the coast of Florida, carrying treasures from the New World, which were supposed to replenish the treasury of the Spanish King Philip V. On board were goods and jewelry worth up to 14 million pesos. On one ship alone, the Nuestra Senora de la Regla, there were 300 chests of coins and ingots, 23 chests of processed silver and 62 chests of gifts for the king and his retinue, not counting a chest of gold items, doubloons and pearls. On another ship - Santo Cristo de San Roman - according to the inventory, they carried 684 chests and bags of pesos, 53 chests of processed silver, 14 chests of Chinese porcelain and much more... On the same fleet, destroyed by a severe hurricane, there was a dowry and gifts for the newly-crowned queen of Portugal Isabella Farnese, the young wife of Philip V, never received her jewelry. After the galleons sank, the Spaniards searched for cargo under water for four years, attracting Indians to them: under threat of death, divers went into the water with heavy stones tied to their feet. Managed to raise 30% of the treasures. However, due to attacks by pirates, sharks and Indian uprisings, the search had to be stopped. They were continued only 250 years later, after builder Kip Wagner accidentally found a Spanish silver coin on the shore. The search is currently being carried out by Brent Brisbane's company and local treasure hunters. Six ships still remain undiscovered, and those that have been discovered are hidden under a layer of sand, making access to the untold riches difficult. But here and there divers manage to catch gold coins. More recently, an American family of treasure hunters.
Relics of the Jerusalem Temple
For centuries, treasure hunters, historians and archaeologists have been looking for the treasures of the Jerusalem Temple, which stood on the Temple Mount and was the center of the religious life of the Jewish people from the 10th to the 6th centuries BC. e. First of all, everyone is interested in the fate of the Ark of the Covenant - a Jewish shrine that symbolized the union of God with the people of Israel. In this box, received by Moses from God on Mount Sinai, according to beliefs, the tablets of the Covenant with the Ten Commandments, a vessel with manna and Aaron's staff are kept. There are detailed descriptions of it in the Old Testament, and, among other things, it is said that it is trimmed with pure gold. It is believed that the Ark of the Covenant was taken out during the destruction of the Temple by King Nebuchadnezzar, after which it was securely hidden, but where is a mystery. Hundreds of tons of gold, silver and other valuables from the temple storage also disappeared without a trace. A clue to their discovery, according to many scientists, may be the Copper Scroll, one of the legendary Qumran manuscripts, also known as the “Dead Sea Scrolls.” This ancient document, found in the Qumran cave in 1953, is an inventory of hidden treasures with locations to look for - albeit rather abstract ones. More than 60 caches are mentioned, in which a total of 65 tons of silver and 26 tons of gold are stored. The text from the fragile Copper Scroll, at risk to the artifact, was deciphered in 1955, and since then debate has raged about the reality of the existence of the wealth described. Many believe that there were no treasures, pointing out that the Essenes of the Qumran community, who compiled this text in 50-100 AD. e., could not possess such values, and strict views would not allow them to hide the treasures of the Jerusalem Temple.
The eighth wonder of the world
The famous Amber Room, given to Peter I by the Prussian king, was taken by the Germans from the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo during the Great Patriotic War. She was last seen in 1945 at Königsberg Castle three days before the storming of the city. Despite versions about the death of the Amber Room as a result of fire or decomposition, they continue to persistently search for it in different parts of the world: not only in Europe, but even in America. Two years ago, 90-year-old Wilhelm Kraft, a former Wehrmacht soldier, made a statement that the masterpiece was buried in the ground in the Danish village of Asaa. And this year, Russian historian Sergei Trifonov announced that he had practically found the Amber Room in Kaliningrad under the secret bunker of the last commandant of Koenigsberg, Otto von Lyasch. The bunker led to the now defunct Königsberg Castle and was found only recently. In February, Trifonov already made his first studies: with the help of a probe lowered into the dungeon, he saw a large metal box under the bunker and the entrances to the tunnels. Further work is planned for autumn 2015. The episode about the search for the Amber Room was included in the new documentary film of the My Planet TV channel about Kaliningrad-Konigsberg.
Baikal treasure and Kolchak's gold
In 1918, a significant part of the treasury of Imperial Russia was at the disposal of Admiral Kolchak, who was proclaimed the Supreme Ruler of Russia. These 490.5 kg of gold began to be called “Kolchak’s gold,” despite the fact that already in 1920 the admiral was shot, and the money went to the Bolsheviks. Kolchak managed to spend part of the reserve on strengthening his power and buying weapons, part was stolen, and another part disappeared without a trace. Many believe that the boxes containing the surviving gold fell into Lake Baikal during transportation and still lie at the bottom of the deepest lake in the world. One of the ardent supporters of this version, archaeologist Alexey Tivanenko, claims that he saw witnesses to the railway accident. “When I was still a young man, I lived on the shores of Lake Baikal and traveled a lot. Local residents showed exactly where the military train cars fell into the lake. About 40 boxes of gold went to the bottom,” says Alexey. In 2008-2010, a search for Kolchak’s treasures at the bottom of Lake Baikal took place using the Mir deep-sea submersibles. The expedition managed to find the wreckage of a railroad car and a box of ammunition from the Civil War. Tivanenko, who took part in the dives, claimed that four gold bars of 16 kg each were also discovered, but since they were sandwiched by stones, all attempts to grab them with a probe ended in nothing. Another participant and sponsor of the expedition, multimillionaire Mikhail Slipenchuk, recently admitted to Forbes that he revived the legend of Kolchak’s gold in Baikal specifically to attract attention to the scientific expedition, but in fact, part of the imperial treasury is a priori impossible to find in Baikal, since the sediment is thick and loose , formed in the lake, absorbs everything that falls to the bottom.
Pirate treasures
According to one American banker, together the pirates hid treasures worth several billion dollars, and no more than 7% of these treasures have been found to date. They are looked for by researchers and lone treasure hunters everywhere and anywhere where famous pirates hunted, not only on land, but also in water. So, this year, off the coast of Madagascar, archaeologists from the ship of the Scottish pirate William Kidd. The ingot was recovered from the frigate Adventure, which sank more than 300 years ago. A total of 13 sunken ships have been found off the coast of Madagascar, and we are sure to hear about more pirate treasures. Scientists search for buried treasures, guided, as a rule, by maps, drawings, and diaries of pirates and their comrades. “Those who hid treasures almost always left notes about it. The whole point is to understand in what form these records were left or how to decipher their contents,” says American researcher Richard Wilborn. This scientist managed to guess where the pirate Drake's treasure was hidden - 40 tons of silver. The diary of one of the team members, old Drake nautical charts kept in the Bancroft library, and drawings on one of them allowed him to decipher the “Drake code” and establish the exact location of the treasure: it is buried on Mount Livermore on Angel Island (Angel) at a depth of 6 feet , or 72 inches. True, it has not yet been possible to verify this guess: officials do not give permission to work on the island, which has the status of a federal nature reserve and is part of the California National Park.
While you are reading this material, treasure hunters are taking gold coins from the oceans, digging the ground in search of Napoleon's Moscow trophies and dreaming of discovering the library of Ivan the Terrible. But not all treasures are destined to be found: some are hidden too well, while others never existed, being just a legend disturbing the minds.
Incredible facts
With the amazing advancements in technology, one would think that all lost treasures are either rumors or something that has already been found. However, talk of huge amounts of gold and jewelry abounds in the 21st century.
For example, in 2007, the lost treasure of Captain William Kidd was found off the coast of Colombia. This suggests that there are similar “victories” in our century.
Incredibly, treasure hunters should be sure to take out insurance against various hazards, because in the past, treasure hunters could not only get seriously injured, but also end up in prison and even die.
Lost Treasures
10. Yamashita Treasures on the Philippine Island
There is an island in Palawan, Philippines - Bacuit Bay - which is a treasure in itself. The island is a small bay, and it is famous for the legendary story of the lost treasures of Tomoyuki Yamashita.
It is believed that Japanese General Tomoyuki hid the treasure in the island's caves around the 1940s. Yamashita obtained his treasure by stealing from neighboring countries during the 1930s, shortly before the outbreak of World War II.
Yamashita looted his goods in Malaysia, India, Thailand and Burma. All this was sent to the Philippines to be sent from there to the final destination, which was Japan. Unfortunately for Yamashita, Japan surrendered just as he was in the Philippines.
Before the general was captured and hanged, he managed to hide his treasures in 172 places on the island, because Yamashita and his team believed that they would definitely return and take their treasures.
According to some sources, the general's loot could be worth billions today. In the 1970s, Rogelio Roxas found some of the treasure that had been confiscated by President Ferdinand Marcos.
However, Roxas sued and received compensation of $22 billion. Although the Marcos and Rojos families continue to fight in court to this day, there are still many caves with undiscovered treasures on the island.
9. Pisco Church Treasure Chest
Four soldiers from the Peruvian army in the mid-1800s hatched a plan to outsmart the priests of the Pisco Church after learning what treasure they held.
Luke Barrett, Arthur Brown, Jack Killorain and Diego Alvarez gained the trust of the clergy of the Peruvian church, then killed them and sailed away with 14 tons of gold and other goods.
Unfamiliar with the geography of the area, the killers drew a map, abandoned their loot, and headed to Australia, hoping to return. However, things never came to a return, because two of them were killed and two more were arrested.
Only Killoraine was able to survive prison. Before his death, he told Charles Howe about the robbery of the Pisco Church, as well as where the treasure was hidden. When Howie found the treasure, he didn't have the necessary equipment to extract everything.
He left the treasure with the thought of returning. However, he was never able to raise the money to return, but revealed the secret to George Hamilton, who eventually went in search of the treasure, but did not find it because he could not decipher the map.
8. Lu's Treasure Map
The only legendary treasures that have a map directing you to 14 tons of gold are Lu.
As mysterious as the code to them, it has long been assumed that the only tool for deciphering the cards is a key and a clear understanding of Masonic symbolism.
Supposedly located on the territory of the United States, according to legend, the treasure of Lue is 14 tons of gold. Gold was brought to the United States by the Nazis in order to sabotage the American economy and prevent Americans from entering World War II.
Having learned about this, the USA issued the Gold Act, designed to circumvent the Nazi plan. The Nazis' failed attempt to keep the United States out of the war was not their only failure. Unable to decipher Lou's map because its Nazi creator had died, they eventually returned to Germany.
7. White city La Ciudad Blanca
The ghostly golden city fascinated many people at one time. Herman Cortes came across it in 1526, and Cristobol de Pedraza in 1544.
Archaeologist William Strong discovered "archaeological mounds" in 1933 near Rio Patuca and Rio Conquirre, further adding fuel to the legend of the city's existence. "The nobles ate from golden plates."
In February 2013, archaeologists and other researchers from the National Science Foundation and the University of Houston used advanced light-imaging technology and laser rangefinders to map and study ancient ruins.
The final verdict has not yet been made, but it will soon be known whether there is gold at the site being explored or not.
Treasures of Genghis Khan
6. Treasures of Genghis Khan in Issyk-Kul
There are various legends surrounding Lake Issyk-Kul. From the hidden treasures of the Knights Templar to the mysterious jewels of the golden path, this place is rife with stories of this kind.
One of the most famous legends tells of the commander Genghis Khan, who was supposedly buried with his treasures. According to some legends, the treasures are located in the lake itself, while others say their location is uncertain.
According to reports, his soldiers killed everyone who knew about the location of the tomb, and when they returned from the burial place, they were also killed.
Genghis Khan amassed his fortune by conquering much of Central Asia and China in the 13th century, and the spoils from conquering these countries were simply incalculable.
The excavations, which began in the 1920s, could not be completed due to the unstable political situation. Since then, many attempts have been made by Japanese and American researchers who believed that they had found the tomb of Genghis Khan, however, to this day, no treasure has been discovered.
Lost treasures
5. Santissima Concepcion
Florida's hurricane season has resulted in many shipwrecks throughout history. One of the most notable victims of the rampant disaster was the wreck of Santissima Concepcion or El Grande.
According to some sources, there were 500 people on board; according to various sources of information, from 4 to 190 people survived, who were able to describe what they experienced. In addition to the number of people, the documents also recorded the goods present on board: 77 chests of pearls and 49 chests of emeralds.
After the shipwreck, numerous attempts were made to find the treasure, but all of them remained fruitless. Sir William Phipp is believed to have recovered about 25 percent of the sunken treasure during his 1687 expedition.
4. Icelander Gold SS
Ironically, the SS Icelander, a ship that sank in 1901, was salvaged in 2012, but without any gold. Why is it on this list? The Mars Expedition Company believes that the gold may be located at some distance from the ship due to the ship's movement.
On the raised ship, experts found gold dust and pieces of gold, but that was all. Experts from the expedition company say that the ship should have had gold worth $250 million.
Thus, another expedition is planned. Part of the ship can be seen on the shores of Admiral Island, while the remainder is located in Seattle.
3. Lost Treasures of Antilla
Those searching for the lost treasure of Antilla, the wreck of a German fighter ship, will need to explore the northern Caribbean Sea surrounding the island of Aruba.
It is said that Antilla was moored off the northern shore of the island when the ship was "asked" to surrender. While the skipper was on shore, negotiating, the ship's outboard valve was open, this was a fatal mistake for the life of the ship.
Instead of "giving up and losing its treasure," the ship exploded and sank. This ghost ship, as the locals call it, remains to this day as a tribute to German soldiers during World War II.
2. Treasures of the Apache Indians
In addition to various stories of ghostly treasures, there are also real lost riches. One of these stories includes treasures of the Apache Indians. There are rumors that the Indians, having plundered a huge amount of gold and silver coins, hid them in the rock.
The Lost Treasure is located in Winchester, Arizona. Despite the fact that the place in the rocky area where the wealth is hidden is considered cursed, this does not stop hunters for precious metals.
1. Treasures from Adams' Lost Excavations
To find the canyon that "cries tears of gold," you'll need to head to Adams' Lost Dig in western New Mexico. Adams made his first trip to this region in the early 1860s.
Adams and a team of miners moved along the White River towards the White Mountains and discovered gold nuggets hidden in the "corn-cereal" pool.
On the second night, Adams left the gold mine while the miners remained digging until they were killed by Apache Indians. It is said that Adams was never able to find his golden canyon again.
The mysterious island of Sicily has absorbed a lot of inexplicable things, a huge amount of antiquity and exciting stories. Although the island is geographically part of Italy, it is still a separate universe that has been formed over a thousand years and absorbed the best from every people that has ever inhabited the island.
The largest city on the island of Sicily is the city of Palermo. Here, like nowhere else, you can see the decline of one culture and the arrival of another; at every turn, on every centimeter of the city, many ancient cultures come into contact and form the current everyday life. You should start your sightseeing of the city from Quattro Canti. Near this intersection is the incredibly beautiful Pretoria Fountain near Piazza Preoria. And you can look at the oldest mosaics in Palermo in the church of La Martorana. And after a few streets towards the south you can get to the very first church of the city, the Church of Jesus. Romantics and lovers will definitely take a little longer to walk around Palermo due to the narrow streets and ancient houses. Well, the western part of the city is full of antiquity, because in those days this part of the city was considered the center. Here you can see the cathedral and Palazzo Normanni.
The most charming place in Sicily is undoubtedly the inconspicuous town of Erice. It is simply shrouded in ancient legends. According to one of them, the city received its name in honor of the son of Venus, Eryx, who founded this town. According to another, Daedalus landed on the top of the mountain that bears the name of the city, who then surrounded the city with walls. Legends also say that Hercules stopped in Erice on his way home to Greece.
A small piece of Greece can be seen on the southern coast of Sicily. Here, in the non-existent city of Selinunte, are the ruins of eight temples. The view of these ruins is simply stunning, because they are all overgrown with flowers, various herbs and are located on the seashore. Such scenery was created by nature with the assistance of man. Well, you can enjoy the majestic and monumental temples in the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento.
Beach holidays and more can be enjoyed at the famous resort on the Ionian Sea - Taormina. Many famous writers, rulers and aristocrats rested here. In addition to beaches, sea and beautiful landscapes, you can also see the sights here. Ancient streets, churches, temples and, of course, a magnificent amphitheater built into the wall.
Next are the Aeolian Islands. Here on the islands of the gods you can spend a heavenly holiday. Eighteen small islands are spread across the Tyrrhenian Sea. Each of them is unique in its nature and delights with its views. Of course, the most popular among them are the island of Stromboli and the island of Vulcano; such popularity among tourists appeared due to volcanic activity on these two islands. Nature lovers go to the largest island of Lipari, divers prefer Filicudi, beach lovers choose Panarea, and “loners”, lovers of silence, go to the island of Alicudi.
The most powerful city in Sicily is the city of Syracuse. The former glory of the city has been preserved to this day, although not in such colors as we would like. The city of Syracuse acquired its greatness due to its advantageous location. All kinds of fortification walls were practically inaccessible to enemies, and the soil perfectly supported life within the city walls. And the nearby island of Ortigia was recently put in order. Streets and buildings were restored. The Archaeological Park north of Syracuse also requires special attention.
The powerful celestial column of Etna will amaze everyone with its mood and make you a little worried. But curious extreme sports enthusiasts should definitely go to the smoking mountain.
Sicily is unlike anything else in the world, it is like a delicacy that leaves behind an incredible aftertaste.
There are many mysterious secrets about treasures, especially those lost at sea during shipwrecks. Many people dream of finding treasure, whether they believe in it or not. Most of the legendary treasures are associated with pirates whose ships were wrecked during battles or strong storms. How many sunken ships are there that contain enormous wealth? The imagination paints endless pictures of incredible treasures, and many enthusiasts actually spend a lot of time searching for them. Some claim that these are just fairy tales and legends, but others truly believe that there are chests of gold waiting in the wings at the bottom of the ocean. Luckily, there are plenty of people willing to help unearth the biggest mysteries on the planet. This collection contains a list of 10 legendary ocean treasures that have not yet been discovered.
Blackbeard's Treasures
In 1966, off the coast of North Carolina, archaeologists discovered the remains of a shipwreck, linking it with the ship of the famous pirate nicknamed Blackbeard. But the catch is that not a single ounce of treasure was found anywhere around the ship. Blackbeard is the most notorious of all pirates, amassing vast amounts of gold and other riches. Many speculate that the treasure still lies somewhere off the coast of the Carolinas, but it is very difficult to determine its location. Even Beard himself once said that “only me and the devil know” where it is. According to rough estimates, the value of gold could be about $2.5 million.
Fortune by Jean Lafitte
French pirate Jean Lafitte made his fortune by attacking merchant ships in the Gulf of Mexico and then selling the stolen goods in one of the many ports he owned. Lafitte's accomplice was his brother Pierre. These two were so good at theft and robbery that they accumulated a lot of wealth and jewelry. As a result, the brothers had to hide their treasures somewhere, which gave rise to many secrets and legends. They had over 50 ships under their command, suggesting just how large the fortune was. After Lafitte's death in 1830, legends about his treasures began to spread throughout the world. It was said that part of his treasure was buried in “Lake Bourne,” on the coast of New Orleans. Another was said to be a possible site about three miles east of the “Old Spanish Trail,” on the Sabine River. To date, no one has discovered the wealth, estimated at approximately $2 million.
Captain Kidd's Wealth
Late 17th century pirate William "Captain" Kyd is the origin of many myths about lost treasure. Kyd began plundering in 1698, attacking ships and amassing great wealth. But when he himself began to be hunted, Kidd decided to protect his treasures and began hiding them on various North American islands. Captain Kidd was eventually captured and hanged, with his treasure still buried in an unknown location. To add some reality to this myth, in the 1920s, four treasure maps hidden by “Captain” Kidd were found in pieces of furniture believed to have belonged to him.
Oak Island Money Pit
The Money Pit, located in Nova Scotia, Canada, has spawned one of the longest running treasure hunts in the world. For hundreds of years, hunters have come to Nova Scotia to try to find the treasure, only to return empty-handed. In 1795, teenager Daniel McGinnis found a strange place on Oak Island where all the trees had been uprooted. Interested, he began excavation work in secret from the rest of the treasure seekers. He managed to find a message with an encrypted message that two million pounds were buried in this place, at a depth of 40 feet. Unfortunately, due to many obstacles and strong water flows, no treasure was found. There are several popular theories that are associated with the “Money Pit”: The pit contains pirate treasures, or the missing priceless jewels of Marie Antoinette. There is also a theory that English professor Francis Bacon used the pit to hide documents proving that he was the author of Shakespeare's plays.
Treasures of Lima
During the Peruvian revolt against Spain in 1820, the captain of a large British ship was tasked with delivering treasure that belonged to the city of Lima. The cargo was estimated to be worth $60 million and included two life-size statues of the Holy Virgin, made in solid gold, and 273 bejeweled swords and candlesticks. Captain Thomas was quite greedy and killed all the passengers, after which he sailed to Cocos Island and hid the treasure in a cave, hoping to keep it all for himself. On his deathbed, he spoke a little about the location of his treasure, which had never been found.
Treasures of John the Landless
In 1216 King John the Landless, also known as “The Bad,” was heading to Lynn in Norfolk. Along the way he contracted dysentery and decided that he must return to his Newark Castle. He decided to follow the route around Walsh, with its dangerous mud traps and swamps. King John and his soldiers were making their way through the marshes with carts full of his royal regalia when they fell into a deadly swamp. Carts full of an estimated $70 million worth of treasure, including jewelry, gold cups, swords and coins, were lost and never found.
Nuestra Señora de Atocha
In 1622, the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha was returning to Spain, full of gold, precious stones and rare silver, when it was overtaken by a hurricane. The impact of the storm was so severe that the galleon was thrown onto a coral reef and it instantly sank under the weight of the treasure. An immediate attempt was made to salvage the treasure, which included 17 tons of silver bars, 27 kilograms of emeralds, 35 boxes of gold and 128,000 coins. Other ships were sent to the place where Nuestra Señora de Atocha sank. Unfortunately, a second hurricane struck and ruined any attempts to salvage the treasure. The crash site was never found again, until recently. In 1985, treasure hunter Mel Fisher found part of the $500 million treasure less than 100 miles off the coast of Key West. However, experts believe that approximately $200 million worth of treasure still lies somewhere at the bottom.
Legend of the Golden Man
There has long been a myth surrounding Lake Guatavita in the Colombian Andes. It spoke of Inca gold hidden at the bottom. The most popular theory is that the Golden Man, known as “El Dorado,” once dove into a sacred lake and his followers brought gold and jewelry there as a show of devotion. As a result, many visited the area in attempts to discover the treasure. Since the arrival of the Spaniards in 1536, 100 kilograms of gold artifacts have been mined from the muddy bottom of Lake Guatavita. In 1968, a gold bar was discovered in a cave, once again resurrecting the legend of El Dorado, or the “Golden Man.”
Treasures of San Miguel
In 1715, Spain assembled a fleet of ships filled to the brim with pearls, silver, gold and jewelry worth an estimated $2 billion. The ships were sent from Cuba just before hurricane season to prevent attempted hijacking by pirates. This turned out to be a bad idea, as the entire fleet of 11 ships was sunk just six days after setting sail. As a result, $2 billion is still buried at the bottom of the sea. After this catastrophic event, 7 of the ships were discovered, but only a small amount of valuable treasure was recovered. It is believed that the Treasure of San Miguel may be near the eastern shores of Florida.
Gold Flor de Mar
A 400-ton Portuguese ship called Flor De Mar (Flower of the Sea) was caught by surprise in a violent storm in 1511. She was shipwrecked on the reefs of Sumatra, split in two, and all the treasure was lost at sea. The story goes that Flor De Mar was carrying around 60 tons of gold, which is the largest treasure ever collected in the history of the Portuguese navy. It's no surprise that Flor De Mar has become one of the most wanted treasures in history.
"Treasure Islands"
If you believe the legends, the Seychelles are literally crammed with pirate treasures. In 1975, the Seychelles postal department even issued a stamp depicting pirates burying a forged chest of jewelry in the ground...
The history and exploits of pirates of the Caribbean and Atlantic are described quite fully. The pirates of the Indian Ocean were much less fortunate. Meanwhile, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles and other smaller islands of the western Indian Ocean for many years served as a haven for sea robbers - and not at all legendary, but very real. The 19th century Mauritian historian Elise Lienard wrote about them: “...they robbed ships, intercepting livestock and provisions that were supplied from Madagascar to Mauritius and Reunion. They landed on these two islands, burned the settlements there, killing their inhabitants. The Dutch, who then owned Mauritius, were driven to extremes, deprived of food, and perhaps it was the frequent invasions of these bandits that caused them to leave Mauritius forever in 1712.”
Pirates also visited Rodrigues, Farquhar, Agalega, Aldabra, and the Amirante Islands, which were later developed by Europeans than others. But for the longest time and most actively they used the Seychelles as their base. This archipelago essentially became the last “pirate paradise” on earth. Isolation, small population, many convenient bays where you can hide from a storm or pursuit, a healthy climate, sources of fresh water, abundance of food and wood for repairing ships - all this attracted many sea robbers to the Seychelles.
In the bay of the main city and port of Seychelles - Victoria, lies the tiny island of Odul. Its name recalls that at the very end of the 18th century, the Seychelles became the base of the famous pirate Jean-François Odoul. Here, in Victoria Harbor, Odul brought his small, fast ship for repairs. Until the beginning of the 19th century, his Apollo was a threat to all but French ships in a vast area from the coast of Africa to Java. He plowed the entire western part of the Indian Ocean, and many places in this area now bear his name. Even on the deserted Aldabra Atoll there is a cape called Odul Point.
They say that Odul was something of a sea Robin Hood and once even returned captured treasures to an Englishman, whom he became friends with after taking him prisoner. In between, Odul was also involved in the slave trade. He seemed to the Seychelles colonists to be a fairly respectable and respected figure, and they elected him as a justice of the peace. The famous pirate spent the rest of his years in this post and died in the rank of judge. Who could have predicted such a fate for him in those turbulent times when he terrorized English ships on his ships Apollo and Olivette!
In the old Victoria Cemetery, among the family crypts of the early colonists, is the grave of this famous French corsair. The gravestone depicts Odul's ship with the inscription:
And a note:
"He was fair."
The descendants of Jean-François Odoul still live in the Seychelles.
Odul and other French pirates plundered a lot of valuables from British merchant ships plying the Indian Ocean. Between 1793 and 1797, 2,266 British merchant ships were captured by corsairs, and the value of the looted goods was £3 million. They say that Odul literally took part of his loot with him to the grave, bequeathing to bury the gold along with his mortal body. But the islanders do not want to disturb the bones of the old pirate for any treasure.
More than once Odul almost ended up in the hands of the British, but each time he escaped reprisal. He was incredibly lucky. So, on May 16, 1794, four British ships under the command of Captain Henry Newcome entered Port Royal, as Victoria was then called. Odul's brig "Olivette" was in the harbor at that moment. The pirate had practically no chance of salvation, but he still managed to escape...
It is not surprising that in the Seychelles there are many legends about buried pirate treasure. All local legends about pirates and treasures are associated with traces of pirates on the islands. These traces were discovered by settlers who arrived on the archipelago in the mid-18th century. And there is no island or cove that does not have its own legend. Anse Furban (Pirate Bay), on the southern coast of the island of Mahe, Cote d'Or (Gold Coast) in the northeast of the island of Pralen, was not accidentally named so by the first European colonists...
Frigate Island is especially rich in legends. Here the pirates once settled, apparently for a long time: they even set up an observation post from where they monitored the appearance of warships on the horizon. This is what Elise Lienard wrote after visiting the Frigate in August 1838: “I was shown a hole dug shortly before my arrival - in it was a huge chest filled with dishes from various countries, Dutch lances, knives, battle axes, sabers, Spanish piastres - everything it’s almost completely rusted from time.” On the Frigate, Lienar also saw the remains of fortifications built by pirates, covered with earth and overgrown with vines. In this place, according to Lienard, in 1812 a saber belt and a gold epaulette were found. In good weather, half a mile from the shore one could see the skeleton of a large ship lying on the bottom. And on the rock facing the bay, the settlers found some mysterious images in which they recognized encrypted inscriptions, but could not decipher their meaning...
Near Grand Anse Bay, the first colonists who settled here in the second half of the 18th century discovered the remains of dwellings, and in another place - a wooden mast and platform: some kind of observation post or command bridge. There, on the seashore, among the coral sand, three graves were discovered, in which they found sword handles trimmed with leather and many human bones. Elise Lienard concluded that the pirates lived here for several years. Fearing that they would be caught at sea, they buried part of their treasure on the island. “But still, a little later, finding themselves in the hands of justice, they suffered a well-deserved punishment for their crimes - all except one, who was pardoned due to his young age. It was from him that they learned about the treasures: while dying, he gave one of his friends a note containing descriptions of the places where the treasures were hidden, writes Lienard. And he adds: “I saw this note and have no doubt about its authenticity.”
On the island of Moyen, which lies off the outer roadstead of Victoria, according to local legends lies a treasure worth 30 million pounds sterling. Why has no one raised it if everyone knows about it? The treasure is enchanted, local residents believe.
Another island in the Seychelles group - Silhouette - also maintains a strong reputation as a treasure island. The only fact that remains is that copra was removed from it, but copra is not as romantic as gold, which could well have been buried here when pirates careened, cleaned and pitched their ships in these shallow waters. One old African, a former slave, lived until the 1920s. He claimed to know where exactly the pirate stash was located on Silhouette. However, he was a stubborn and capricious old man. After the first unsuccessful attempt to negotiate with him, he refused to lead anyone to the treasured place. They say that one rich landowner managed to seduce a former slave and he led him to the hiding place. They rounded the inaccessible rocky part of the island in a boat and were about to land on the shore, when suddenly the African noticed that they were being watched. He got scared, returned to his boat and from then on didn’t trust anyone anymore.
A great expert on the Seychelles, Julian Mockford, spent a lot of time checking the legends about treasures buried on the archipelago. He was shown gold rings found near the city of Victoria (Mahe Island), as well as several ancient coins discovered in the sand. Residents of the island talk with deep conviction about gold doubloons and jewelry hidden in the sand. But they are convinced that the lucky ones who find treasures never talk about it and sell their finds carefully, slowly, with the help of Indian and Arab sailors who know how to keep a secret.
There are still rumors on Mahe that the fortunes of at least two local families came from the discovery of jars filled with gold coins, one on Teresa Island and the other near the convent of St. Elizabeth in Victoria. But there are very few finds that would become public. The only officially recorded treasure found was the discovery in 1911 on Astov Island of 107 silver coins, several forks and spoons, two shoe buckles and a boatswain's whistle.
So far, targeted searches for treasures in the Seychelles have not yielded results, but this does not mean anything. William Loring Esperance Becherel has been searching for pirate treasure for more than ten years. His father began the search for treasures. But unlike his father, who worked by hand, Becherel hired ten men with jackhammers, dynamite, powerful pumps, diesel and electric motors. He spent £450 a month on the search, and, as he admitted to one journalist, the further his case progressed, the more money it required. In order to somehow cover his exorbitant expenses, Becherel began to take on everyone who wanted to share his share. And they were - however, this is not at all surprising: he promised 1000 percent of the profit.
In 1973, in a giant pit he dug, 45 meters wide and 15 meters deep, Becherel found the remains of stone structures, apparently actually built by pirates. However, Becherel believed that these were not ruins, but a map made of stones indicating the true location where the treasures were hidden. During the excavations, a skeleton was found, according to Becherel, of a Malgash slave who helped bury the treasure and was then killed because he was an unnecessary witness. Becherel had to interrupt his search not because he lost faith in success, but, as is usually the case, for purely financial reasons. However, he was sure that his descendants, having become rich, would continue the family business...
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