LEGENDS
Which Will Be Yours?
BOOK OF TREASURES
Contents Page
Categories Of Treasures
There are hundreds if not thousands of legends around the world. Over the years I have personally learned of 100’s of these legends. I made this website to share these legends with you. New legends are posted regularly so make sure to check back if you can’t find what you’re looking for or, make a request using the contact form at the bottom of the page.
Use the stamps below to find what legends have been posted so far in each category. Or use the all-inclusive map below to browse all of the legends posted to Areas Grey so far.
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Interactive Treasure Map
Using the interactive map below you can see all of the treasure legends currently posted to the site.
Latest Posts
Treasure Quest: Deadman’s Tale
06/04/2023
After two years of careful planning and designing, it’s finally here!
The time has come to put your treasure hunting skills to the test with the Deadman’s Tale Treasure Quest!
CodeBar Live Show 39 – The Scarlet Envelope.
24/11/2023
On this show I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Anna and Lisa, creators of The Scarlet Envelope series of puzzle games. The Scarlet Envelope games are a mixture of…
What Was The San Pedro Mountain Mummy?
19/11/2023
Little People of Native American Lore and Legend exist all across the United States and the San Pedro Mountain Mummy may be the most legitimate proof that they were, or still are, real! And guess what… it’s gone missing!…
Trier: The World’s Worst Witch Hunts?
17/11/2023
One of the most characterising events of the Early Modern period in Europe were the hunts against people perceived to be witches. It is estimated that anywhere up to 100,000…
CodeBar Live Show 38 – Tales From the Adventurers Journal, Japan Edition
17/11/2023
It’s time for another Tales from the Adventurers Journal. This time we are talking about Rob Frey’s adventures looking for hidden and forgotten Shinto Shrines in Japan, and…
CodeBar Live Show 37 – Talking puzzles with Rita Orlov of PostCurious
27/10/2023
On this show I have the amazingly talented puzzle creator Rita Orlov of PostCurious creator of puzzle games like Adrift, The Light in the Mist, The Emerald Flame, and most…
I Have An Announcement For My Channel… And More
18/10/2023
This is all a bit of an explanation and me wanting to be very transparent with you all. As we all know from Tobey’s Spider-Man 2 it’s a free Country but not a rent free country
I’d love to be able to do this full time and go above and beyond what I…
You’re Being Lied To About The FORREST FENN Treasure Hunt
15/10/2023
5 men died during this hunt and there’s been 350,000 people on this search. Jack obviously doesn’t know what he’s talking about and Forrest Fenn has some questionable motives throughout this hunt’s duration. You may believe everything ended…
CodeBar Live Show 36 – We got a Scoop, The Oracle with Peter Wilder!
13/10/2023
I have a real scoop for you on this new show, the very first interview with Peter Wilder, creator of the armchair treasure hunt; The Oracle, Lost in Time. The Oracle has…
CodeBar Live Show 35 Magic, Escape & Puzzles with Nate Javier
29/09/2023
On this new show we have an amazing Magician, Mentalist, Escape Room Designer, Puzzle Box Creator and overall amazing person joining us Nate Javier. Nate has been…
The Beast Of Bladenboro: A SUPERNATURAL PREDATOR
24/09/2023
The Beast of Bladenboro is an extremely horrifying account of animals being attacked and killed in the middle of the night. Witnesses state that the creature was around 5ft long with a long black tail and would often crush the…
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Armchair Treasure Hunts
Armchair Treasure Hunts relate to any treasure that can be found by solving a series of clues often in the form of complex puzzles that have been purposefully constructed for decryption in order to find the treasure.
An example of an Armchair Treasure Hunt was the Forrest Fenn’s Rocky Mountain Treasure – in 2010 a former arts dealer hid a treasure chest containing over 1 million dollars of gold and other valuables in the rocky mountains. He wrote a book ‘The Thrill Of The Chase: A Memoir’ within which was a poem which when decrypted would lead the treasure hunter to the treasure. In this hunt the treasure could be located from the comfort of your own home, only needing to leave once you knew where to go.
On the 6th June 2020 Forrest Fenn’s treasure was found by Jack Stuef a medical student from Michigan. Although, the location where the treasure was found remains a mystery.
Latest Posts
The Clock Without A Face – An Armchair Treasure Hunt
04/05/2023
What do a cursed clock, twelve jeweled numbers hidden across the United States, and a puzzle book all have in common? They are all actually a part of the…
THE BOSSALL TREASURE – An Armchair Treasure Hunt
15/09/2022
In 2014 Douglas G Pearson published ‘The Bossall Treasure’. The treasure hunt book was centred around the family’s connection to a real life treasure of the Knights Templar!
THE LOST SKULL – An Armchair Treasure Hunt
25/05/2022
In 2019, a SciFi armchair treasure hunt was launched called The Lost Skull. 10 cryptic puzzles would reveal coordinates of the prize, a skull crafted from marble!
THE HARE ON THE MOON
28/10/2021
The first person to submit the correct answer will win ‘Three Hares on a Golden Moon’ – a one-of-a-kind painting by Joanna May, which in January 2020 was estimated to be worth £15,000.
The Golden Treasure Of The Entente Cordiale
08/04/2021
The Golden Treasure of the Entente Cordiale® created by Michel Becker (co-creator of the legendary ‘On The Trail Of The Golden Owl’) began April 8th 2021.
Guardians Of Legends
02/04/2021
In 2019 the board game ‘Guardians of Legends’ was released containing clues to finding a treasure worth €210,000 in the form of an ornate golden egg.
The Secret: A Treasure Hunt
23/09/2020
The Secret was started by Byron Preiss in 1982. Twelve treasure boxes were buried across the United States & Canada. As of August 2020 only three of the twelve have been found.
The Thrill Of The Chase
17/09/2020
The Fenn Treasure was a cache of gold & jewels that Forrest Fenn, an art dealer and author hid in the Rocky Mountains of the United States.
On the Trail of the Golden Owl
15/09/2020
On The Trail Of The Golden Owl/Sur la trace de la chouette d’or is a French armchair treasure hunt book with 11 clues which when solved lead to a golden owl worth over €250,000.
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Mesoamerican Treasures
This category relates to any treasure that can be traced back to Mesoamericans.
An example of a Mesoamerican Treasure would be Atahualpa’s Inca Gold – a hoard of treasure said to be worth an estimated 5 Billion dollars which was intended to pay a ransom to free the Incan king but was hidden when the Incans found out the Spaniards had killed the king.
In the 1850’s Richard Spruce while on an expedition to South America found a guide and map detailing how to find a vast treasure of the Inca King Antahualpa supposedly hidden in a cave, deep within the Llanganates mountain range of Ecuador.
Latest Posts
PAITITI – Lost City Of Gold
13/10/2022
Incan legends tell of a lost city hidden in the remote rainforests of South America believed by the Spanish to be a city of unimaginable riches.
La Noche Triste – The Night of Sorrows
24/09/2021
In 1520 Hernán Cortés led an army into Tenochtitlan. With Aztecs attacking they tried escaping taking as much gold as they could but many drowned, the treasure lost.
Atahualpa’s Inca Gold
29/08/2020
In the 1850’s Richard Spruce while on an expedition to South America found a guide and map detailing how to find a vast treasure of the Inca King Antahualpa.
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Pirate Treasure
Pirate Treasure relates to to any treasure that can be traced back to any pirate or privateer.
An example of a Pirate Treasure would be that of Olivier Levasseur also known as ‘La Buse (The Buzzard)’ or ‘La Bouche (The Mouth)’ who upon his hanging on July 7, 1730 in Saint Denis, on Bourbon Island (today Reunion Island) is rumored to have thrown a necklace containing a cryptogram into the crowd, exclaiming: “My treasure, whoever can take it!” The treasure is estimated to be worth over 1 Billion dollars.
While the treasure remains hidden and the cryptogram only partially solved a man named John Cruise-Wilkins has dedicated his life to finishing this treasure hunt that his father started before him.
Latest Posts
Henry Every – King Of Pirates
06/07/2023
UPDATED: In 1695 Every joined forces with other infamous pirate crews, attacked the Ganj-i-Sawai seizing loot worth around £600,000 (over £52 million today).
AMARO PARGO’S – Missing Treasure Chest
18/08/2022
One of the most renowned corsairs in Spain from 1701 to 1727, Amaro Pargo wrote in his will that a chest of treasure was left in his cabin. It has never been found.
Ann Bonny’s Mysterious Disappearance
08/03/2022
Anne Bonny, one of the few recorded female pirates performed a puzzling disappearing act around 1721 after her capture, or, did she? New records may reveal the truth.
Treasure Of Lima – Legend of Will Thompson
25/06/2021
In 1820 Captain Thompson and his crew turned pirate tempted by an immense treasure which they hid on Isla Del Coco near Costa Rica
Captain Kidd’s Treasure
30/04/2021
Captain Kidd was a pirate who captured a ship loaded with valuable treasures. A vast treasure of his was found by on Gardiners Island. But, was this all of it?
Sir Francis Drake’s Hidden Fortunes
04/11/2020
The Flower of the Sea was a 400 ton Portuguese carrack which sank off the coast of Sumatra in 1511 carrying a large cargo of treasure which has never been found.
The Buzzard’s Hidden Treasure
29/08/2020
Olivier Levasseur was a French pirate A.KA. La Buse is known for hiding over £1 billion in pirate treasure and leaving a cryptogram to its whereabouts…
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Treasures Of War
This category relates to any treasures which were hidden or lost as a direct result of war.
An example of a treasure of war would be the legend of the Kruger Millions
A hoard of gold bars, coins, and diamonds worth over $500,000,000 in todays terms hidden somewhere in South Africa by President Paul Kruger between 1899 and 1902 to prevent the treasure falling into the hands of the invading British forces during the Second Boer War.
Latest Posts
AMBER ROOM
02/02/2023
Imagine an entire room decorated in amber and gold leaf with mirrors as high as the ceiling. This would be the magnificent Amber Room which vanished in 1944 during WW2.
Basing House – Lost Treasures of the Marquess
23/02/2022
It is said that a fortune in gold was hidden at Basing House During the time of the British Civil War, is the treasure still hidden or is the missing gold just a myth.
OTTO HILLIG’S NAZI TREASURE
24/11/2021
During the WW2 Otto Hillig killed two German soldiers who had hijacked his plane. He hid their loot and created a treasure hunt so that one worthy finder could claim the loot.
The Treasure Of Loch Arkaig
28/05/2021
6 caskets of gold intended to finance the Jacobite uprising in Scotland 1745 are believed to have been hidden at a secret location somewhere at Loch Arkaig.
Kruger Millions
18/03/2021
A hoard of gold estimated to be worth over $5M was hidden by President Paul Kruger somewhere in South Africa during the Second Boer War (1899 – 1902).
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Lost Cities
This category relates to any legends of lost cities.
There are legends of lost cities all over the world, the most famous is of course Atlantis first mentioned by the Greek philosopher Plato. Another lost city would be that of Ubar or Iram of the Pillars.
The legend says that somewhere in the southern deserts of the Arabian Peninsula lies a lost city which held great treasures. That was until the wicked people who occupied it attracted the wrath of God who destroyed it. It was referred to as the Atlantis of the sands by T.E. Lawrence.
Latest Posts
PAITITI – Lost City Of Gold
13/10/2022
Incan legends tell of a lost city hidden in the remote rainforests of South America believed by the Spanish to be a city of unimaginable riches.
UBAR – Atlantis Of The Sands
19/01/2022
Somewhere in the southern deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, legend tells of a lost city which held great treasures.
The Atlantis of the sands as coined by T.E. Lawrence.
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Shipwreck Treasures
This category relates to any legendary shipwrecks.
There are countless shipwrecks around the world littering the sea floor all of which are rich with history and treasure. Some of these shipwrecks have legends surrounding them which have sent treasure hunters far and wide and spending millions in hopes of finding these elusive wrecks.
One such wreck is that of the Flor de la Mar – The Flower of the Sea, a 400 ton Portuguese carrack which sank off the coast of Sumatra in November 1511 carrying a large cargo of treasure for the Portuguese king after successfully participating for over nine years in decisive events in the Indian Ocean. To this day the Flor de la Mar shipwreck has never been found and its hoard of treasure is still waiting to be recovered from the bottom of the sea.
Latest Posts
THE ROYAL MERCHANT – The True Story
05/01/2023
The El Dorado of the seas. The real story of the Royal Merchant is perhaps even more incredible than that told by the hit Netflix show Outerbanks.
FLOR DE LA MAR – The Flower Of The Sea
11/07/2022
The Flower of the Sea was a 400 ton Portuguese carrack which sank off the coast of Sumatra in 1511 carrying a large cargo of treasure which to this day has never been found.
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Medieval Treasures
This category relates to any legendary medieval treasures.
There have been hundreds of medieval treasures unearthed around Europe especially since the invention of metal detectors. Yet, there are some legends of medieval treasures which evade even the most seasoned treasure hunters with the best equipment money can buy.
One such treasure belonged to arguably one of the most well-known kings that England has ever had, King John who lost his baggage train containing the English crown jewels in what is known as the Wash in October 1216 shortly before his death at Newark Castle, Nottinghamshire.
Latest Posts
KING JOHN’S – Lost Crown Jewels
23/06/2022
King John of England is known to treasure hunters for the loss of the Crown Jewels in The Wash in 1216 shortly before his death at Newark Castle.
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Treasures of the Middle East and North Africa
This category relates to any legendary treasure from the Middle East and North Africa.
The Middle East and North Africa is steeped in history and legends of hidden cities, tombs of pharaohs, lost treasures dating back thousands of years. One legend that you may have heard of is the treasures of the Copper Scroll.
Found in a cave near Khirbet Qumran, the copper scroll; an inventory of 64 locations; 63 of which hold treasures of gold and silver, which have been estimated in the tons. Just one of these locations described on the scroll describes 900 talents of buried gold!
Latest Posts
UBAR – Atlantis Of The Sands
19/01/2022
Somewhere in the southern deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, legend tells of a lost city which held great treasures.
The Atlantis of the sands as coined by T.E. Lawrence.
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Treasures of South East Asia
This category relates to any legendary treasure from South East Asia.
One example of a Treasure of Southeast Asia would be that of Yamashita’s Gold. A surmountable amount of “loot” stolen by Imperial Japanese forces during World War II.
The treasure hoard named after the Japanese general Tomoyuki Yamashita, also known as “The Tiger of Malaya “, consisted of many different types of valuables looted from banks, depositories, museums, religious buildings is believed to have been hidden in caves, tunnels and underground complexes around the Philippines.
Latest Posts
Yamashita’s Gold – The Malayan Tiger’s Treasure
01/06/2023
During World War II Imperial Japanese forces led by general Tomoyuki Yamashita are believed to have looted approximately 6,000 tonnes of gold and hidden it in caves…
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Treasures of East Asia
This category relates to any legendary treasures from East Asia.
An example of an East Asia Treasure would be the legend of the Tokugawa Shogunate Reserve from 1868 around the time of the end of what is known as the Endo period and when the new Meji government took over.
Before the shogunate was shut down by the Meji government it is said that they ordered six large chests of gold to be buried in the mountains of the Gunma Prefecture. All those who helped transport and dig the hole for the gold were killed and buried with it.
Latest Posts
Tokugawa Treasure – Shogun Reserves
26/08/2021
Legend says when Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan ended in 1869 six large chests of gold were buried at Mount Akagi, Gunma Prefecture.
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Outlaw Treasures
This category relates to any legendary Outlaw treasures.
When people think about outlaws, we often think of train robberies, horse thievery, cattle rustling, shootouts, and prospecting gold diggers wearing wide brimmed hats. There are many tales of hidden loot of the famous and not so famous outlaws.
One such legend tells of a stash of loot hidden by Jesse James in the hills of Southwest Oklahoma after robbing a mule train of its valuables. The treasure is said to have been large enough for them to go to the trouble of hiding it and making markers so that nobody else would find it.
Latest Posts
THE BEALE PAPERS – Hoax or Legend?
03/08/2023
A hidden treasure of gold, silver and jewels worth over 43 million dollars is said to be hidden in
Bedford County, Virginia according to three cipher texts which first appeared in a pamphlet…
JESSE JAMES’ HIDDEN LOOT
09/03/2023
Everyone’s heard of the legendary outlaw Jesse James but did you know that there are a number of tales of hidden treasures associated with James and his gang?
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Shipwreck Treasures
This category relates to any legendary shipwrecks.
There are countless shipwrecks around the world littering the sea floor all of which are rich with history and treasure. Some of these shipwrecks have legends surrounding them which have sent treasure hunters far and wide and spending millions in hopes of finding these elusive wrecks.
One such wreck is that of the Flor de la Mar – The Flower of the Sea, a 400 ton Portuguese carrack which sank off the coast of Sumatra in November 1511 carrying a large cargo of treasure for the Portuguese king after successfully participating for over nine years in decisive events in the Indian Ocean. To this day the Flor de la Mar shipwreck has never been found and its hoard of treasure is still waiting to be recovered from the bottom of the sea.
Latest Posts
THE ROYAL MERCHANT – The True Story
05/01/2023
The El Dorado of the seas. The real story of the Royal Merchant is perhaps even more incredible than that told by the hit Netflix show Outerbanks.
FLOR DE LA MAR – The Flower Of The Sea
11/07/2022
The Flower of the Sea was a 400 ton Portuguese carrack which sank off the coast of Sumatra in 1511 carrying a large cargo of treasure which to this day has never been found.
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LET’S CONNECT AND FIND SOME TREASURE!
It’s always a pleasure to hear from a fellow treasure hunter, get in touch using the form below.
Whether you’re looking for someone to help with a treasure hunt, if you’ve got a story to tell, some vital information to share, feedback for Areas Grey, or if you just want to say “hi”, all emails are welcome!
GET IN TOUCH
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I am a free prince, and I have as much authority to make war on the whole world, as he who has a hundred sail of ships at sea and an army of 100,000 men in the field; and this my conscience tells me; but here is no arguing with such sniveling puppies who allow superiors to kick them about deck at pleasure; and pin their faith upon a pimp of a parson; a squab, who neither practices nor believes what he puts upon the chuckle-headed fools he preaches to.
– ‘Black Sam’ Bellamy, 1716