There are lost treasures scattered all around the world, long ago hidden. These include lost mines, buried hoards of gold & silver, sunken ships, or other hidden wealth. Treasure hunters spend countless hours researching and relocating buried treasures, some that are worth millions of dollars!
For decades, items made of gold have been hyped by merchants for their desirability and are highly coveted by many as symbols of luxury, style and wealth. But this modern-day obsession with gold can actually be traced to ancient cultures around the world. Gold has been at the center of human history for thousands of […]
The ocean glimmers with each passing wave, winking at adventurers brave enough to explore its depths. Of the many adventures to be had in the water, treasure hunting amidst sunken ships just might be the most thrilling. It’s a siren song of ships that made an unfortunate watery detour, their riches untouched and stories untold. […]
Before we get to mining in Rome, it is important to state first of all that metalworking was not invented in the Roman Empire. These techniques were already very common in Italy as early as the Bronze Age, roughly around 53 BC. However, the expansion of the Roman Empire meant that demand for metal was […]
Sometimes reality sounds more bizarre than fiction. The tale of a large sailing vessel brimming with gold, pearls, and all kinds of riches submerged under the dry sands of the Salton Sea basin in California still mystifies people. A large ship stranded hundreds of miles inland from the Gulf of California and Pacific Sea can […]
From emperors to poor peasants, since the Copper Age to modern times, people have coveted gold. The Egyptians called it ‘the breath of God’ and for the Aztecs, the yellow metal was ‘the sweat of the sun’. Until the early 19th century, gold and silver were used as currency. This was followed by paper currency […]
When Columbus came to the New World, he was seeking a new route to India for access to silks and spices. Instead, he discovered the Americas. In what we now know as the Bahamas, he found indigenous people, who he enslaved to find gold and other riches. In the end, he did not find much, […]
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves is a classic tale popularized in 1937 by Walt Disney in which a motherless princess escapes the clutches of her evil stepmother to impart to viewers that beauty is more than skin deep. The seven dwarves delighted audiences with their comic hijinks and heroic deeds, but how many viewers […]
The history of the Florentine Diamond is one filled with mystery and danger. It might also have something to do with the history of World War I. If you are one of those treasure hunters then this might be your perfect research project for you. The Florentine Diamond is also known as the Tuscan, the […]
Jefferson Randolph, who was frequently known as “Soapy Smith,” was born on November 1860 into the family of educated and wealthy people. He was born in Georgia to an attorney, and his grandfather was a senator at that time. Hard luck struck the Smith family, and they lost their wealth to ruins at the end […]
Lake Tahoe is one of the most popular vacation destinations in northern California. So much natural beauty, the water is crystal clear and the granite peaks and stunning vistas are out of this world! Being that it is in Northern California, it’s not uncommon for folks to bring a gold pan along with them while […]
Those of us who take an interest in gems and mineral are often saddened to hear how many great specimens were destroyed by the early miners. At a time when most gold was only priced for its assay values, even large nuggets and crystalline gold specimens were often crushed and melted. Many of the largest […]
We write a lot about gold prospecting opportunities in the United States. Many people are surprised to learn that gold can be found in almost all 50 states. I’ve got some bad news for you Hawaii… this is one place where you aren’t likely to find any natural occurrences of gold. The geology simply isn’t […]
The 16th century witnessed the sinking of one of the world’s largest treasures due to a shipwreck in the Indian Ocean. Yes, we are talking about the lost treasure of Flor de la Mar which occurred on the stormy night of 20th November 1511. Let us look into the window of the past and know […]
John and Charles Ruggles were the sons of a well regarded family living in Tulare County, located in the south/central part of California. Charles, the younger of the two attended college, and his father had every reason to believe young Charles would do well in life. John was another matter, as he had been a […]
There is a surprising amount of legends and tales about buried treasure that can be found in Iowa. With stories that are related to hidden outlaw caches, ghost towns, mining folklore, and Native American hoards. Some of these legends have been written, discussed and documented for centuries. Here, we will be delving into only a […]
