Legendary treasures and treasures not yet found. The largest hoards found in recent times

Probably, in childhood, each of us dreamed of being Indiana Jones. It would be great to go in search of adventure and lost treasures, wouldn't it? Unfortunately, it should be noted right away that archeology is not such an exciting activity. Moreover, most likely, there are practically no lost treasures left, especially today, when most of the world has already been explored and inhabited. But what if there are treasures out there somewhere, just waiting to be discovered? Below is a list of ten long-lost treasures that could still be found today, as their fate is still unknown.

10 Alamo Treasures

The Alamo is known for many things, most notably for its famous war cry shouted by Texans during the Battle of the Alamo: "Remember the Alamo!" The old Franciscan mission in San Antonio was the scene of one of the most famous battles in American history, when 188 men, including Jim Bowie and Davey Crockett, tried to fight back against the powerful Mexican army of Santa Ana ( Santa Ana). However, few people know the legend of a massive hoard of silver and gold, which, according to stories, was buried somewhere in the Alamo region.

Many people, such as historian-explorer and fortune hunter Frank Buschbacher, believe that in an attempt to start a revolution against Mexico and declare Texas independent, people like Bowie and Crockett actually brought wealth worth millions to the Alamo. US dollars. The money was intended to form an army and to finance the upcoming war. The treasure was called San Saba and was lost when all 188 Americans died in that famous battle. Those who believe that this treasure exists believe that the fighters buried it under the Alamo complex. Bushbacher personally dug up the land around the Alamo, but never found a trace of silver or gold.

9. Treasures of the Dutch Schultz (Dutch Schultz)


Dutch Schultz is one of the most famous gangsters in American history. He was a Prohibition era gangster who moved in the same circles as Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. According to legend, he made a fortune for himself with his dark deeds. His condition vanished without a trace after he felt federal prosecution loomed over him. It is believed that he decided to hide his treasure somewhere in the Catskill mountain range. When Schultz was shot in 1935, the location of his vast fortune perished with him.

There are many different versions about what happened to his treasure and how much money he actually hid. Most believe that his fortune fluctuates between five and ten million dollars, which he hid in an iron box somewhere in a village surrounded by dense forests called Phoenicia, New York. Some believe that his treasure was hidden closer to the Esopus Creek River, which explains the fact that it has not yet been found. In the decades since Schultz hid his treasure, the area has been flooded many times, which in all likelihood should have washed away his treasure. Still, it's nice to think that a leisurely stroll through Catskill could make you a millionaire.

8. Treasures of Mount Victorio

Mount Victorio is part of the southern part of the Rocky Mountains, which are located in the state of New Mexico. For many years, this place has been widely used by the US government: for example, the White Sands Missile Range is located nearby, where the government once tested nuclear weapons. Before the place was closed by the government, it was open to the general public - just when Doc and Babe Noss showed up here.

According to legend, they were hunting deer with their friends when Doc discovered an old mine, located in one of the slopes of Mount Victorio. He and Babe later returned to explore the cave and found skeletons, gold, jewelry, and historical artifacts. In 1938, the Nosses obtained ownership of the find and after that, rumors began to circulate that Doc had found either the Casa del Cueva de Oro or the Don Juan de Onate treasure. ), the man who founded New Mexico as a Spanish colony. In 1939, Doc tried to widen the passage into the mine, and was advised to use dynamite, which, as usual in such cases, went sideways for him: the mine completely collapsed. Noss was never able to gain access to the mine. He was killed in 1949 by his fiancee after he divorced Babe. The Noss family is still trying to excavate the entrance to the mine, but so far no gold has been found there. Rumor has it that the government expanded the missile range to include Mount Victorio and moved the gold to Fort Knox, but no documentation has been found to support this theory.

7. Treasures of Montezuma (Montezuma)


Apparently, if you want to find lost treasures in the US, then you should probably look for them in the Rocky Mountains or the US Southwest. The treasures of Montezuma are said to be buried somewhere in the city of Kanab, Utah. Montezuma, the legendary leader of the Aztecs, was a man who had an incredible fortune at his disposal. It was captured after he was killed during a battle with the Spanish led by Cortes. Gold and jewelry worth several million dollars were seized from Montezuma's treasury by his own people in order to hide them from Cortes.

6The Lufthansa Robbery


Anyone who has watched the movie Goodfellas (1990) is familiar with the Lufthansa robbery, which is considered the biggest money theft in US history. The theft took place on December 11, 1978 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where approximately $5 million in cash was stolen, as well as jewelry totaling $875,000. If converted to today's exchange rate, it would be more than twenty million US dollars. . The theft was carried out by gangsters, including Henry Hill, later played by Ray Liotta. So far, no money or jewelry has been found.

One of the reasons why this money was never found is the many violent and sad deaths of many guys who took part in the theft. These deaths were ordered by Jimmy Burke, who planned the crime and realized that such a theft would trigger a massive federal investigation. As part of the cleanup plan, he ordered the killing of almost every member of his team so that they could not spill the beans. It is believed that some of the money from the theft was used for drug deals, but much of it has never been found.

5. Amber room


When you hear about the Amber Room for the first time, you might think that this is the name of a high-class men's club. But in fact, this is one of the most sought after treasures in history. The room, which is a small space made entirely of amber panels, gold sheets and mirrors, was built in the 18th century for the first king of Prussia, Frederick the First. Subsequently, it was presented to Peter the Great and remained in the ownership of Russia until the Second World War. People who managed to see the Amber Room said that this room is the Eighth Wonder of the World.

And then she disappeared. It turns out that the curators who were responsible for guarding the Amber Room during the war had covered it with wallpaper in an attempt to hide it and protect it, as it was very fragile. However, this did not stop the Nazis from plundering this priceless treasure. Then it was moved to Konigsberg Castle in Germany, but in 1944 the Allied forces destroyed the city and left the castle in ruins. The Amber Room was lost forever. Until now, no one can say with certainty what happened to the room, although complete destruction seems to be the most likely explanation. However, the Amber Room has become the object of folk myths. It is also believed that the Amber Room is cursed, as several people who owned or hunted for this room died prematurely under very strange circumstances.

4. Flower of the Sea (Flor do Mar)


In 1502, a Portuguese ship called Flor do Mar (Flower of the Sea) was built. The ship was part of the Portuguese expedition to India launched in 1505. It was under the control of Vasco da Gama's brother (Vasco de Gamma) - Estavo (Estavao). In the next six years, the ship participated in several naval battles, until in 1511 she was lost in a storm.

Even the very idea of ​​a warship with such a history already makes the search for its lost treasures quite intriguing, but that's certainly not the whole story. Most important is the fact that Flor do Mar was carrying a full load of trophies after a recent victory. According to legend, the treasures that were on this ship were innumerable, which makes the "Flor do Mar" the most sought after shipwreck in history. According to legend, the ship was carrying the treasures of the kingdom of Malacca (Melaka), located in modern Malaysia, which, according to various sources, consisted of more than sixty tons of gold.

3. Gold Leon Trabuco (Leon Trabuco)


In the early 1930s, a Mexican millionaire named Leon Trabuco organized several secret and mysterious flights into the New Mexico desert. At this time, the United States was going through a period of great depression and the value of the dollar was about to fall, but the value of gold was to increase many times over. So Trabuco and a few of his business associates bought up as much gold as they could and smuggled it into the US in the expectation that gold prices would skyrocket so they could sell it for an unbelievably large sum.

It is believed that in total they collected more than sixteen tons of gold and hid it in the New Mexico desert. Instead of taking advantage and selling their gold, Trabuco and his partners held on to it, expecting prices to continue to rise. However, they seriously miscalculated, as the Gold Law was introduced, according to which the private ownership of gold was illegal. Therefore, Trambuco and company found themselves in an unenviable position with their gold. Like many other treasures, according to legend, Trabuco's gold carries a curse. Three of Trabuco's five partners died within five years, and when Trabuco died, the location of the gold disappeared with him.

2. Treasures of Blackbeard

In 1996, archaeologists discovered a shipwreck off the coast of North Carolina, less than two kilometers from the coast and just 7.6 meters below sea level. Finding a shipwreck is not unheard of, but it is arguably one of the largest and most astounding finds in the history of treasure hunting. This is because many believe that this ship was a ship called the Queen Anne's Revenge, also known as the flagship of the infamous pirate Blackbeard. In 1718, the Queen Anne's Revenge blocked the port of Charleston and ran aground on the spit shortly thereafter.

So what's the deal? What's wrong with that? Well, to begin with, Blackbeard was a wildly successful and wealthy pirate, and the location of his largest and most valuable ship indicates that his fortune must be nearby - somewhere on the coast of North Carolina. Since this ship was discovered, not a single gram of gold has yet been found on the shore near it, and it is worth noting that rumors that this is exactly Blackbeard's ship have not yet been confirmed. Before his death, he was asked where the gold was, to which he replied: "Only I and the devil know that."

1. Treasures of the Knights Templar


In recent years, the Knights Templar and its treasures have become a popular topic in Hollywood movies, books, and even games. This is one of the most famous and mysterious treasures in history. The Order of the Knights Templar was founded in 1114 AD, and over the years it amassed incredible wealth that has never been found.

At the beginning of the 14th century, the Templars were arrested, and those who escaped arrest and torture collected the remaining treasures and loaded them onto ships and sent them to an unknown destination. According to rumors, they sent the treasure to Scotland, and from there they subsequently ended up in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. There are still rumors about a huge cellar full of money located on Oak Island in this Canadian province, where the Templars are said to have hidden their money among traps. Searches on Oak Island continued for years, and it was initially believed that the cellar with money belonged to the infamous Captain Kidd (Captain Kidd). However, based on the fact that most of Kidd's treasures were found, it is now believed that the treasures of the Knights Templar are stored in this cellar.

Probably every second inhabitant of the planet dreams of finding a treasure. And some, I must say, succeed. In our article, we will tell you which treasures found have the highest value and how they were discovered. You will also learn what mysterious artifacts have been searched for centuries by treasure hunters and archaeologists, who still have not achieved success.

Finds that brought their owners millions

Sunken ships with treasures on board, hidden fortunes of noble families and buried pirate treasures exist in real life. We have compiled a list of the five most valuable finds discovered in recent times. The treasures found in each case were worth tens and even hundreds of millions of dollars.

Gold "Atocha"

The Spanish galleon "Atocha", loaded to the brim with gold, sank off the coast of Florida in 1622, never reaching the shores of the metropolis. Attempts to find and raise the ship from the seabed were made repeatedly, but luck smiled only at Mel Fisher, who spent 15 years searching and eventually discovered the place of the ship's flood in 1985 and raised its cargo to the surface.

Since the Spanish government initiated this campaign, all the treasures found, valued at $450 million, went to the state treasury. However, Fischer, most likely, did not remain in the loser. Experts believe that there was twice as much gold on board the galleon. Where the rest of the jewels went, one can only guess.

lend-lease gold

At the beginning of this century, off the coast of Guyana (South America), a ship was found at the bottom of the ocean with holds filled with gold, platinum and precious stones, the cost of which was estimated at three billion dollars. Most likely, it was a British ship, the valuable cargo of which was supposed to be payment for ammunition and weapons received by the USSR from the allies in World War II.

Lend-lease (from the English "lend" - "to lend" and "lease" - "to rent, hire") - a state program under which the United States of America supplied its allies in World War II with ammunition, equipment, food , medical equipment and medicines (supplies of medicines to the USSR since 1942 accounted for 50 to 80% of the needs of the Red Army), strategic raw materials, including petroleum products. Wikipedia

The ship was torpedoed in 1942 and never arrived at the port of destination. Who eventually became the owner of a valuable find, the press did not report.

Treasures of Somerset

Englishman Dave Kript, who liked to roam with a mine detector, looking for items that could be of historical value, suddenly became the owner of a treasure worth five million dollars. While exploring a farmer's field in Somerset, Krypt came across old coins buried in the ground dating back to the 3rd century. How the treasure hunter disposed of his find, the media kept silent.

Wealth Ubilla

At the beginning of the 18th century, on one of the islands on the coast of Chile, the Spanish navigator Juan Ubill buried countless treasures, the search for which until the beginning of this century did not give any results. For example, the American Bernard Kaiser even sold his business, which made him a millionaire, to find this treasure, but failed.

The lucky ones who were lucky enough to dig up 600 barrels full of gold and jewelry were employees of the private Chilean company Wagner. They were testing a robot capable of performing molecular analysis of soil at depths of up to 50 meters, and unexpectedly stumbled upon a treasure. The found treasures, estimated at 10 billion dollars, were divided equally between the company and the state.

Jewels of Sri Padmanambhaswami Temple

The largest treasure in the world today is considered to be the treasure found in the crypts of the Indian temple of Sri Padmanambhaswami. When India was under the yoke of Great Britain, the local population took their money and jewelry to this temple, donating them to Vishnu.

The vaults were not opened for a long time, and only in our century the state won the court and opened several rooms. The treasures found, among which was a 1.2-meter-high statue of the god Vishnu cast in pure gold, were estimated by experts at $22 billion. .

However, millions of their owners bring not only gold and diamonds raised from the bottom and dug into the ground. Ordinary, randomly discovered items can also be valuable finds. Watch about it in the video:

Treasures that all archaeologists dream of

There are treasures and artifacts in the world that have kept the secret of their location for centuries. Every archaeologist and treasure hunter dreams of finding them, but so far no one has succeeded.

Ark of the Covenant

Made of wood and inlaid with gold, the Ark of the Revelation before 607 BC. e. kept in Jerusalem. When the city was captured by the Babylonians, the locals could not take the shrine out of the temple. After 70 years, when Jerusalem was liberated, the Ark of the Covenant was gone.

Treasures of the Templars

The knightly order, which participated in the crusades as the right hand of the church, collected a huge amount of treasures and shrines. When the church declared the Templars enemies of the faith and brutally cracked down on the order, the knight's treasury was empty.

Tomb of Genghis Khan

Having captured almost all of Asia and part of Europe and taking tribute from the enslaved peoples, Genghis Khan was one of the richest rulers of his time. Dying, he bequeathed to bury all the treasures with him, kill all the soldiers who participated in the burial, and let the river flow back over his grave.

the Amber Room

There are many legends about this masterpiece of the 18th century. Some scientists believe that the man-made miracle of amber was hidden on the orders of Stalin. Another version says: the room was bombed in Koenigsberg and was destroyed. Some researchers admit that the Germans hid the masterpiece, and it can still be found.

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Entertaining physics in our presentation will tell you why in nature there cannot be two identical snowflakes and why the driver of an electric locomotive backs up before starting off, where the largest reserves of water are located and what invention of Pythagoras helps fight alcoholism.

There are many mysterious secrets about treasures, especially those lost at sea during shipwrecks. Many people dream of finding a treasure, whether they believe in it or not. Most of the legendary treasures are associated with pirates whose ships were wrecked during battles or severe storms. How many sunken ships that store huge wealth are actually? Imagination draws boundless pictures of incredible treasures, and many enthusiasts actually spend a lot of time looking for them. Some claim that these are just fairy tales and legends, but others do believe that there are chests of gold waiting in the ocean floor. Luckily, there are enough volunteers who want to help unearth the biggest mysteries on the planet. In this compilation, a list of 10 legendary ocean treasures that have not yet been discovered.

Treasures of Blackbeard

In 1966, off the coast of North Carolina, archaeologists discovered the remains of a shipwreck, linking it to 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 infamous of all pirates, having amassed vast amounts of gold and other riches. Many assume that the treasure still rests somewhere off the coast of the Carolinas, but it is very difficult to determine its location. Even Beard himself once said that “only I and the devil know” where it is. According to rough estimates, the value of gold could be about $2.5 million.

Fortune 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 stealing and robbery that they amassed 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 big the fortune was. After Lafitte's death in 1830, legends about his treasures began to spread around the world. It was said that part of his treasure was buried in "Lake Bourne", on the coast of New Orleans. Others said the possible site was about three miles east of the "Old Spanish Way", on the Sabine River. To date, no one has discovered the wealth, valued at around $2 million.

Wealth of Captain Kidd

Late 17th century pirate William "Captain" Kidd is the cause of many lost treasure myths. The Kid 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 to hide them on various North American islands. Captain Kid was eventually captured and hanged, and his treasure is still buried in an unknown location. To add some realism to this myth, in the 1920s, four treasure maps hidden by "Captain" Kid were found in pieces of furniture believed to be his.

Money Pit Oak Island

The Money Pit, located in Nova Scotia, Canada, has spawned one of the longest treasure hunts in the world. For hundreds of years, hunters have come to Nova Scotia to try and find treasure, but come back empty-handed. In 1795, teenager Daniel McGinnis found a strange place on Oak Island where all the trees had been uprooted. Intrigued, he began earthworks in secret from the rest of the treasure seekers. He managed to find a message with a cipher message that two million pounds were buried in this place, at a depth of 40 feet. Unfortunately, due to many obstacles and strong water currents, no treasure could be found. There are several popular theories that are associated with the "Money Pit": The pit contains the treasures of pirates, or the missing priceless jewels of Marie Antoinette. There is also a version that the 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 revolt of Peru against Spain in 1820, the captain of a large British ship had to deliver treasures that belonged to the city of Lima. The shipment was estimated to be worth $60 million and included two life-size statues of the Holy Virgin executed in solid gold and 273 jeweled 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 has still not been found.

Treasures of John the Landless

In 1216 King John the Landless, also known as "The Bad One", was on his way to Lynn in Norfolk. Along the way, he fell ill with dysentery and decided he must return to his Newark Castle. He decided to make his way along the route around Walsh, with its dangerous mud traps and swamps. King John and his soldiers were making their way through the swamps with carts full of his royal regalia when they got into a deadly swamp. Carts full of treasure worth an estimated $70 million, including jewels, gold goblets, 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 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 destroyed any attempt to save the treasure. The crash site was never found again, until recently. In 1985, treasure hunter Mel Fisher found a $500 million piece of treasure less than 100 miles off the coast of Key West. However, experts believe that approximately $200 million worth of treasure is still at the bottom somewhere.

Legend of the Golden Man

There has long been a myth surrounding Lake Guatavita in the Colombian Andes. He talked about Inca gold hidden at the bottom. The most popular theory is that the Golden Man, known as "Eldorado", once dived into the sacred lake and his followers brought gold and jewels here as a show of devotion. As a result, many have visited the area in an attempt to discover the treasure. Since the arrival of the Spanish 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 brimming with pearls, silver, gold and jewelry worth about $2 billion. The ships were sent out of Cuba just before the hurricane season to prevent a pirate takeover attempt. This turned out to be a bad idea, as the entire fleet of 11 ships was sunk just six days after leaving. As a result, $2 billion worth of treasures still lie 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 Treasures of San Miguel may be close to the eastern shores of Florida.

Gold Flor de Mar

A 400-ton Portuguese ship called Flor De Mar (Flower of the Sea) was caught off guard in a violent storm in 1511. It was shipwrecked on the reefs of Sumatra, split in two, and all the treasure was lost at sea. The story goes that the Flor De Mar was carrying around 60 tons of gold, the largest treasure ever collected in the history of the Portuguese Navy. No wonder the Flor De Mar has become one of the most wanted treasures in history.

People have never left the desire to find ancient treasures. While many have devoted their entire lives to searching for gold without finding it, others have stumbled upon ancient treasures quite by accident. Many of these stories have happy endings, with priceless gold treasures now in museums, while others speak of people desecrating and looting graves in the black market for antiquities. Here we take a look at ten of the most spectacular gold treasures from the ancient world.

"Nuestra Señora de Atocha", treasures at the bottom of the sea. Florida, USA

A flotilla of twenty ships left the port of Havana on the island of Cuba on its way to Spain on September 4, 1622. These ships carried the wealth of the empire, and on board were soldiers, passengers, and slaves. The next day, when the ships entered the Strait of Florida, a hurricane began. Eight ships sank.

The galleon "Nuestra Señora de Atocha" ("Our Lady of Atocha") was among them. Treasures from Colombia, Peru and other regions of South America were transported on it: 24 tons of silver in 1038 bars, 18,000 silver coins, 82 copper bars, 125 gold bars, 525 bales of tobacco, 20 bronze cannons and more. Spanish archaeologists have been looking for "Nuestra Señora de Atocha" for 60 years, but never found it.

The ship was discovered in July 1985 by the treasure hunter, diver Mel Fisher, who spent 16 years searching for the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, starting in 1969. Treasures and artifacts worth about half a billion dollars have been brought to the surface, this is the largest find ever made. Artifacts from the Atocha are now part of the collection of the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society Museum in Florida.

Bronze Age treasure from the Bush Barrow burial site near Stonehenge, England

In 1808, William Cunnington, one of Britain's first professional archaeologists, discovered what became known as the crown jewels of the "King of Stonehenge". They were found in a large mound, located at a distance of only 800 m from Stonehenge, in the town of Bush Barrow. In the 4,000-year-old burial mound, Cunnington found jewelry, a diamond-shaped gold clasp, and an intricately decorated dagger.

The handle of the dagger is adorned with approximately 140,000 tiny gold pins, only a third of a millimeter wide, made from extremely fine gold wire, slightly thicker than a human hair. The end of the wire was flattened and cut off to make a hairpin. This delicate procedure was repeated tens of thousands of times. Tiny holes were made in the handle of the dagger to secure the studs with wood resin. It is believed that the entire process of creating the handle of the dagger took about 2500 hours.

Treasures of Malagan in Colombia: gold and greed

In 1992, a sugarcane farm worker was working on a tractor in Hacienda Malagana, in the Cauca Valley. Suddenly, the ground collapsed, and he, along with the tractor, fell into the resulting hole. The worker noticed shiny gold objects in the mud. Upon closer examination, he realized that he had found a huge treasure. He spoke about the treasures found, including golden masks, armbands, jewelry and other precious relics. He was soon joined by other workers and locals upon learning of the treasures buried in the fields, and a frenzy of looting began. Between October 1992 and December, approximately 5,000 people are said to have come in search of treasure, which has been described as the Malagan Gold Rush.

Nearly four tons of pre-Columbian artifacts have been stolen, melted down or sold to collectors. Hundreds of graves were destroyed and looted. The Museo del Oro in Bogota reportedly purchased some of the stolen gold artifacts in late 1992. About 150 gold pieces were eventually bought by the museum from looters for 500 million pesos ($300,000) in an attempt to preserve the artifacts. Unfortunately, looting in Hacienda Malagana continues, with several cases reported in 2012.

Eberswalde Hoard: Bronze Age Golden Treasury, Germany

The treasures of Eberswalde were found in 1913 during excavations in an area located northeast of Berlin. This treasure is one of the country's most priceless treasures; it is Germany's largest prehistoric collection of gold items. The hoard consists of 81 items, including 60 gold spiral bracelets, eight gold bowls and a gold ingot. The total weight of these artifacts is 2.6 kg. They are dated X-XI centuries.

The purpose of the burial of the Eberswalde treasure is unknown, although one scholar has suggested that they are sacred objects, as vases were the most common type of sacred offering during the Bronze Age. All artifacts are believed to be Villena style jewelry due to their similarity to the Villena treasure in the Iberian Peninsula. The treasure is currently in Russia and Germany is trying to return it.

Treasures of Priam: the gold of the legendary Troy, Turkey

In the 19th century, the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann began searching for the legendary city of Troy to prove that it really existed. His research was marked by success and the hills of Khizarlik in Turkey, where Schliemann excavated, are today recognized as the place where ancient Troy was located. Among his finds were treasures that, according to Schliemann, belonged to the Trojan king Priam.

On May 31, 1873, Schliemann found the precious treasure that he had been looking for for a long time. According to him, he accidentally stumbled upon the Treasure of Priam - while digging a trench on the southwestern side of the site, something flashed in the soil.
The remarkable find included weapons, a copper cauldron, a bronze saucepan, a bronze teapot, and many gold and silver items, including a gold headdress, necklaces, earrings, and gold armbands. Currently, the treasures of Priam are in Russia.

After finding the location of the legendary Troy, Schliemann discovered the final resting place of Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, who led the Greek army during the Trojan War. Schliemann made an impressive find - the golden mask of Agamemnon.

In 1876, Schliemann began excavations at Mycenae under the auspices of the Greek Archaeological Society. Schliemann's workers unearthed a stele marking a burial site 27.5 meters across, which included 5 Bronze Age graves. Excavations have shown that they contained the remains of several Mycenaean chiefs, five of whom had golden masks. In a telegram to the King of Greece, Georg, Schliemann proudly declared: “It is with great joy that I announce to Your Majesty that I have discovered the tombs in which, in accordance with the description of Pausanias, Agamemnon, Cassandra, Eurymedon and their comrades, who were killed at the feast of Clytemnestra and her lover, are buried. Aegisthus."

Schliemann claimed that one of the remains belonged to Agamemnon, hence the golden mask was called the "Mask of Agamemnon". It was a death mask made of gold leaf using the embossing method. Of the five golden masks, this was the only one depicting a bearded man, so Schliemann concluded that it belonged to Agamemnon. However, scientists are still arguing about this.

Staffordshire Anglo-Saxon Gold Hoard, England

On July 5, 2009, amateur treasure hunter Terry Herbert was using a metal detector to explore farmland in the village of Hammerwich in Staffordshire when his metal detector indicated that he had found a metal object. Herbert began to dig and found gold. In five days, Herbert filled 244 sacks with gold objects dug out of the soil. He realized that the site could be of great historical importance and contacted the local authorities. Soon, archaeologists from Birmingham Archeology began excavating the site and found more than 3,500 items, including 5 kg of gold and 1.3 kg of silver. This is the largest known hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold.

Some of the items from the hoard were exhibited at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Their value is £3.3 million (approximately $5.4 million). Most researchers agree that all artifacts belong to the 17th century, although it is not yet known when they were actually buried and for what purpose.

A man from Varna, a rich grave from the 5th millennium BC, Bulgaria

In 1970, archaeologists in Bulgaria unearthed a huge Eneolithic necropolis containing gold artifacts first found near present-day Varna. Only after excavating burial No. 43, they realized the real significance of the find. Inside the burial were the remains of a man of high social status and unfathomable wealth - there was more gold than was found in the rest of the world at that time.

The Varna culture originated on the Black Sea coast about 7,000 years ago, on the territory of present-day Bulgaria. It was an advanced civilization and the first known culture to create gold artifacts.

The first evidence of the ancient civilization of Varna were tools, vessels, utensils and figurines made of stone, flint, bone and clay. The incredible and accidental discovery was reported in newspapers around the world. In October 1972, excavator Raicho Marinov stumbled upon a huge Eneolithic necropolis containing countless gold treasures. More than 300 graves were found in the necropolis, 22,000 exquisite artifacts, including 3,000 pieces of gold with a total weight of 6 kilograms, as well as stone tools, jewelry, Mediterranean mollusk shells, ceramics, knives and beads.

Secret storeroom in the Scythian burial mound. The use of drugs in rituals. Russia

In 2013, gold artifacts with traces of cannabis and opium were discovered in a secret room hidden in an ancient Scythian mound near Stavropol. Called the discovery of the century, the golden artifacts and drugs point to ancient rituals described by the Greek historian Herodotus.

The Scythian burial mound was discovered during the construction of a power line in the Caucasus Mountains, in southern Russia. It was determined that the mound had been looted, however, archaeologists discovered a hidden chamber built approximately 2,400 years ago containing gold objects weighing more than three kilograms. Among them are two vessels, rings, necklaces, bracelets and three golden goblets. The vessels are richly decorated with embossing depicting highly detailed dramatic battle scenes, animals and people.

Criminologists have analyzed the black residue found on the walls of the golden vessels. The results confirmed that it was opium and hashish, so the researchers concluded that the Scythians performed rituals using drugs, as reported by Herodotus.

Treasures from the tomb of a warrior priest in Sipan, Peru

In 1987, a huge complex of tombs was discovered during archaeological excavations in Huaca Rajada, near the village of Sipan on the northern coast of Peru. The most famous of the graves belonged to El Señor de Sipan, a Moche warrior priest who was buried among dazzling treasures unlike any other tombs in the region.

In the center of the tomb with an area of ​​5 by 5 meters was a wooden sarcophagus - the first of its kind found in North and South America. It contained the remains of a man dressed in rich royal robes, surrounded by many gifts that were supposed to accompany him to the afterlife. Analysis of the iconographic images found in the tomb suggests that this man was a warrior-priest and prominent ruler of the Lambayeque Valley.

The coffin contained jewelry made of gold, silver and copper, including a headdress with a huge crescent moon and a plume of feathers, masks, glass beads, necklaces, rings, earrings, a golden scepter, plates of gilded metal sewn to cotton fabric, and also trapezoidal sheets of wrought gold that the warriors attached to the back of their suits. Necklaces were made of gold and silver in the shape of peanuts, an important food item for the Moche people.

Ten golden peanut kernels of gold, representing masculinity and the sun god, were on the right side, and ten silver kernels on the left side, representing femininity and the moon god. In addition, the grave contained many ceremonial items such as tropical sea shells, silver and gold rattles, knives, a golden death mask, golden bells, and three other beaded headdresses. In total, the tomb contained more than 450 gold, silver, copper and other items.

Incredible Facts

With amazing advances in technology, one would think that all lost treasures are either rumors or something that has already been found. However, talk of vast quantities of gold and jewels abounds in the 21st century.

For example, in 2007, off the coast of Colombia, the lost treasures of Captain William Kidd were found. This suggests that in our century there are similar "victories".

Incredibly, treasure hunters must insure themselves against various dangers, because in the past, treasure hunters could not only get seriously injured, but also go to jail and even die.

Lost Treasures

10. Treasures of Yamashita in the Philippine Island

In Palawan, Philippines, there is an island - Bacuit Bay - which is already 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.

The Japanese General Tomoyuki is believed to have hidden the treasure in the island's caves around the 1940s. Yamashita obtained his treasures by robbing neighboring countries during the 1930s, shortly before the outbreak of World War II.

Yamashita plundered his wealth in Malaysia, India, Thailand and Burma. All this was sent to the Philippines, from there to the final destination, which was Japan. Unfortunately for Yamashita, Japan capitulated 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 today could be worth billions. In the 1970s, Rogelio Roxas found some of the treasures that had been confiscated by President Ferdinand Marcos.

However, Rojas sued and received a $22 billion settlement. Despite the fact that to this day the families of Marcos and Rojos continue to fight in court, there are still many caves with undiscovered treasures on the island.

9. Pisco Church Treasure Chest

Four soldiers from the Peruvian army devised a plan in the mid-1800s to outsmart the priests of the Pisco church by learning what treasures they held.

Luke Barrett, Arthur Brown, Jack Killorain and Diego Alvarez won 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 assassins drew a map, left their loot behind, and headed for Australia, hoping to return. However, the matter did not come to a return, because two of them were killed and two more were arrested.

Only Killoraine survived the prison. Before he died, 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 retrieve everything.

He left the treasure with the thought of returning. However, he never managed to raise 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 Treasure Map

The only legendary treasures that have a map directing you to 14 tons of gold are Lou.

As cryptic as the code to them, it has long been assumed that the only tool for deciphering the card is the key and a clear understanding of the Masonic symbolism.

Supposedly located on the territory of the United States, according to legend, the Lue treasure is 14 tons of gold. Gold was brought to the US by the Nazis in order to sabotage the US economy and prevent Americans from entering World War II.

Upon learning of this, the US issues the Gold Act, designed to circumvent the Nazi plan. The failed Nazi attempt to keep the US 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 at one time fascinated many. Herman Cortes stumbled upon 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 existence of a city in which "nobles ate from golden plates."

In February 2013, archaeologists and other researchers from the US National Science Foundation and the University of Houston used advanced detection 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 in the investigated place 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 gems of the Golden Path, this place is replete with stories of this kind.

One of the most famous legends tells of the commander Genghis Khan, who was supposedly buried along with his treasures. According to some legends, the treasures are located in the lake itself, according to others, 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 most of Central Asia and China in the 13th century, and the booty from conquering these countries was simply incalculable.

The excavations, begun in the 1920s, could not be completed due to the unstable political situation. Since then, many attempts have been made by Japanese and American explorers who believe they have found the tomb of Genghis Khan, however, to this day, no treasure has been discovered.

Lost treasures

5. Santissima Concepción

The Florida hurricane season has resulted in many shipwrecks throughout history. One of the most notable victims of the rampant elements was the collapse of Santissima Concepcion or El Grande.

According to some reports, 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 goodness 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 found about 25 percent of the sunken treasure during his expedition in 1687.

4. Icelander Gold SS

Ironically, the SS Icelander, a ship that sank in 1901, was raised from the bottom in 2012, but without the gold. Why is he on this list? The expedition company Mars believes that the gold may be some distance from the ship due to the movement of the ship.

On the raised ship, experts found gold dust and pieces of gold, and that's it. The specialists of the forwarding company say that the ship should have been present $250 million worth of gold.

Thus, another expedition is planned. Part of the ship can be seen on the shore of Admiral Island, while the rest is in Seattle.

3 Lost Treasures Of Antilles

Those looking for the lost treasure of Antilla, the wreckage of a German fighter ship, will need to explore the northern Caribbean Sea surrounding the island of Aruba.

Antilla is said to have been moored off the north coast of the island when the ship was "asked" to surrender. While the skipper was ashore negotiating, the ship's outboard valve was open, this was a fatal mistake for the life of the ship.

Instead of "surrendering and losing your treasure", the ship exploded and sank. This ghost ship, as the locals call it, remains to this day 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 treasures. One of these stories is Treasures of the Apache Indians. Rumor has it 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 area of ​​​​the rocks where the riches are hidden is considered cursed, this does not stop the hunters for precious metals.

1. Treasures of the Lost Excavations of Adams

To find the canyon that "weeps tears of gold" you need to make your way to the lost Adams excavations 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 Belaya River towards the White Mountains and discovered gold nuggets hidden in the "corn and cereal" pool.

On the second night, Adams left the gold mine while the miners remained digging until they were killed by the Apache Indians. It is said that Adams was never able to find his golden canyon again.