A large number of historical treasures have vanished due to theft or war. Other known treasures have yet to be uncovered and their location remains a mystery. Here are eight treasures that historians and adventurers alike are still looking for today.
1. Blackbeard’s Treasure
Archeologists have been uncovering clues from Blackbeard’s ship, The Queen Anne’s Revenge, since the early 90s. The ship was discovered off the coast of Beaufort, North Carolina some 300 years after it met the bottom of the ocean after foundering on a sandbar. Surprisingly though, archeologists found little treasure, besides some gold dust. While archeologists have found incredible discoveries like turtle bones, guns, pewter syringes, and an intact piece of glass window, none of these artifacts can identify the ship. Could Blackbeard’s treasure still be out there somewhere?
2. The Treasure of Lima
The Treasure of Lima is one of the most valuable treasures in the world, estimated to be worth about $208 million. The treasure was reportedly removed from Peru in 1820 and has not been recovered since. Spain had controlled Lima since the 16th century when it defeated the Incas. But, in the early 19th century wars of independence in South America challenged Spanish rule, The Viceroy of Lima transported The Treasure of Lima it Mexico for safekeeping since Lima was on the brink of revolt. Captain William Thompson, commander of the Mary Dear, was put in charge of transporting the riches to Mexico. Of course, he and his crew couldn’t resist the temptation of the treasure and stole it. The crew buried the treasure on Cocos Island off of Costa Rica for safekeeping. Unfortunately, the now pirates were apprehended, but the treasure wasn’t recovered. Many treasure hunters have scoured the island to no avail.
3. The Secret Treasure
Do you remember the treasure that was promised by The Secret? The book The Secret by Byron Preiss published in 1982 includes a set of 12 paintings and 12 poems that can be used to find the casques. Only 3 of 12 casques have been found in parks across America. These casques were found in Chicago, Boston, and Cleveland. After Preiss died in 2005, his estate became responsible for honoring the terms of the treasure hunt. No exact locations were ever written down, so the remaining boxes may never be recovered.
4. The Amber Room
The Amber Room was constructed in the 18th century in St. Catherine’s Palace in Tsarskoe Selo, near St. Petersburg. The room was known for its gold-gilded mosaics, mirrors, carvings, and wall panels made out of about 1,000 pounds of amber. Its value is priceless. In 1941, Tsarskoe Selo was captured by Germany during WWII. The room was said to be disassembled and taken to Germany, but have not since been seen. Many speculate that the Amber Room panels were hidden before the German occupation. Today, the whereabouts of the Amber Room are still a mystery.
5. The Ark of The Covenant
One of the holiest religious artifacts, known to hold the tablets of the Ten Commandments, The Ark of The Covenant is one of history’s greatest mysteries. We know that The Ark of the Covenant was lost after the Jerusalem Temple was destroyed in 586 BCE. But, what happened to it after that is unclear. Some claim that it was stolen and others claim to have it, but its actual whereabouts are unsubstantiated.
6. The San Jose
The famous shipwreck known as The San Jose met its demise in a 1708 battle. The Spanish ship was estimated to be carrying $20 billion of gold, silver, and emeralds. The holy grail of shipwrecks was found in the Caribbean Sea in 2014, but plans to excavate it were not drawn up by the Columbian government until March 2024. Its contents are still unknown.
7. The James Gang Loot
In their 17 years of bank and train robberies, the James-Younger Gang, led by Jesse James, stole over a quarter of a million dollars. The robbing of a mule train in Oklahoma is even storied to have contained $2 million in gold. Most of their spoils have yet to be found and are said to be buried across the United States from Ohio to Utah. Only a few claims have been made of finding the loot over the years, but none have been traced back to the gang of outlaws.
8. The Crown Jewels of Ireland
The Irish Crown Jewels consist of a star, a diamond badge, and five gold jewel-encrusted collars. On July 6, 1907, the jewels were discovered missing, despite being monitored 24/7. Their disappearance occurred shortly before the visit of King Edward VII. During this visit, the jewels would have been used for the swearing-in of Lord Castletown as a new knight of the Order of St Patrick. Many theories have been established over the years, but none have led to the recovery of the jewels. One theory even hypothesized that the British monarchy had a role in the disappearance, and the jewels form part of a badge Queen Elizabeth II wore. Of course, these claims have been denied by Buckingham Palace.
Hidden Treasures
If you are an amateur treasure hunter, pull out your maps and metal detectors because there is so much treasure out there to be found. We have only scraped the surface of uncovering the world’s most valuable treasures. These treasures while significant in monetary value also give us invaluable clues into our past. So what is your favorite story of buried treasure?