PAITITI – Lost City Of Gold

13/10/202218/08/2023
by Grey

The Treasure Of Loch Arkaig

28/05/202118/08/2023
by Grey

The Secret: A Treasure Hunt

23/09/202018/08/2023
by Grey

Inspired by the hit armchair treasure hunt book Masquerade which took the world by storm in 1979, Byron Preiss decided to create his own armchair treasure hunt with not one, but 12 prizes hidden across the United States and Canada.

The Secret: An Armchair Treasure Hunt was launched in 1982 complete with a story of fairies, goblins, and other strange creatures travelling to the New World with their treasures. These treasures were in the form of rare stones and gems which could be collected by the lucky person to solve any of the 12 puzzles and find a hidden key and casque.

The puzzles consist of 12 images and 12 poems. Each poem must be paired with the correct image to correctly solve the puzzle. In 1983 a group of friends in Chicago found the first of the treasures, an emerald worth more than $1,000.

Years went by before another casque was found in 2004 in Cleveland. Another key had been exchanged for a precious gem. In 2005 Byron Preiss died in an accident leaving the responsibility of the game and its prizes to his family. Another casque was then found in 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Verse 1:

Fortress north
Cold as glass
Friendship south
Take your task
To the number
Nine eight two
Through the wood
No lion fears
In the sky the water veers
Small of scale
Step across
Perspective should not be lost
In the center of four alike
Small, split,
Three winged and slight
What we take to be
Our strongest tower delight
Falls gently
In December night
Looking back from treasure ground
There’s the spout!
A whistle sounds.
Verse 2:

At the place where jewels abound
Fifteen rows down to the ground
In the middle of twenty-one
From end to end
Only three stand watch
As the sound of friends
Fills the afternoon hours
Here is a sovereign people
Who build palaces to shelter
Their heads for a night!
Gnomes admire
Fays delight
The namesakes meeting
Near this site.
Verse 3:

If Thucydides is
North of Xenophon
Take five steps
In the area of his direction
A green tower of lights
In the middles section
Near those
Who pass the coliseum
With metal walls
Face the water
Your back to the stairs
Feel at home
All the letters
Are here to see
Eighteenth day
Twelfth hour
Let by lamplight
In truth, be free.
Verse 4:

Beneath two countries
As the road curves
In a rectangular plot
Beneath the tenth stone
From right to left
Beneath the ninth row from the top
Of the wall including small bricks
Seven steps up you can hop
From the bottom level
Socrates, Pindar, Apelles
Free speech, couplet, birch
To find casque’s destination
Seek the columns
For the search.
Verse 5:

Lane
Two twenty two
You’ll see an arc of lights
Weight and roots extended
Together saved the site
Of granite walls
Wind swept halls
Citadel in the night
A wingless bird ascended
Born of ancient dreams of flight
Beneath the only standing member
Of a forest
To the south
White stone closest
At twelve paces
From the west side
Get permission
To dig out.
Verse 6:

Of all the romance retold
Men of tales and tunes
Cruel and bold
Seen here
By eyes of old
Stand and listed to the birds
Hear the cool, clear song of water
Harken to the words:
Freedom at the birth of a century
Or May 1913
Edwin and Edwina named after him
Or on the eighth a scene
Where law defended
Between two arms extended
Below the bar that binds
Beside the long palm’s shadow
Embedded in the sand
Waits the Fair remuneration
White house close at hand.
Verse 7:

At stone wall’s door
The air smells sweet
Not far away
High posts are three
Education and Justice
For all to see
Sounds from the sky
Near ace is high
Running north, but first across
In jewel’s direction
Is an object
Of Twain’s attention
Giant pole
Giant step
To the place
The casque is kept.
Verse 8:

View the three stories of Mitchell
As you walk the beating of the world
At a distance in time
From three who lived there
At a distance in space
From woman, with harpsichord
Silently playing
Step on nature
Cast in copper
Ascend the 92 steps
After climbing the grand 200
Pass the compass and reach
The foot of the culvert
Below the bridge
Walk 100 paces
Southeast over rock and soil
To the first young birch
Pass three, staying west
You’ll see a letter from the country
Of wonderstone’s hearth
On a proud, tall fifth
At its southern foot
The treasure waits.
Verse 9:

The first chapter
Written in water
Near men
With wind rose
Behind bending branches
And a green picket fence
At the base of a tall tree
You can still hear the honking
Shell, limestone, silver, salt
Stars move by day
Sails pass by night
Even in darkness
Like moonlight in teardrops
Over the tall grass
Years pass, rain falls.
Verse 10:

In the shadow
Of the grey giant
Find the arm that
Extends over the slender path
In summer
You’ll often hear a whirring sound
Cars abound
Although the sign
Nearby
Speaks of Indies native
The natives still speak
Of him of Hard word in 3 Vols.
Take twice as many east steps as the hour
Or more
From the middle of one branch
Of the v
Look down
And see simple roots
In rhapsodic man’s soil
Or gaze north
Toward the isle of B.
Verse 11:

Pass two friends of octave
In December
Ride the man of oz
To the land near the window
There’s a road that leads to
Dark forest
Where white is in color
With two maps
After circle and square
In July and August
A path beckons
To mica and driftwood
Under that
Which may be last touched
Or first seen standing
Look north at the wing
And dig
To achieve
By dauntless and inconquerable
Determination
Your goal.
Verse 12:

Where M and B are set in stone
And to Congress, R is known
L sits and left
Beyond his shoulder
Is the Fair Folks’
Treasure holder
The end of ten by thirteen
Is your clue
Fence and fixture
Central too
For finding jewel casque
Seek the sounds
Of rumble
Brush and music
Hush.

Verse 1:

Fortress north
Cold as glass
Friendship south
Take your task
To the number
Nine eight two
Through the wood
No lion fears
In the sky the water veers
Small of scale
Step across
Perspective should not be lost
In the center of four alike
Small, split,
Three winged and slight
What we take to be
Our strongest tower delight
Falls gently
In December night
Looking back from treasure ground
There’s the spout!
A whistle sounds.
Verse 2:

At the place where jewels abound
Fifteen rows down to the ground
In the middle of twenty-one
From end to end
Only three stand watch
As the sound of friends
Fills the afternoon hours
Here is a sovereign people
Who build palaces to shelter
Their heads for a night!
Gnomes admire
Fays delight
The namesakes meeting
Near this site.
Verse 3:

If Thucydides is
North of Xenophon
Take five steps
In the area of his direction
A green tower of lights
In the middles section
Near those
Who pass the coliseum
With metal walls
Face the water
Your back to the stairs
Feel at home
All the letters
Are here to see
Eighteenth day
Twelfth hour
Let by lamplight
In truth, be free.
Verse 4:

Beneath two countries
As the road curves
In a rectangular plot
Beneath the tenth stone
From right to left
Beneath the ninth row from the top
Of the wall including small bricks
Seven steps up you can hop
From the bottom level
Socrates, Pindar, Apelles
Free speech, couplet, birch
To find casque’s destination
Seek the columns
For the search.
Verse 5:

Lane
Two twenty two
You’ll see an arc of lights
Weight and roots extended
Together saved the site
Of granite walls
Wind swept halls
Citadel in the night
A wingless bird ascended
Born of ancient dreams of flight
Beneath the only standing member
Of a forest
To the south
White stone closest
At twelve paces
From the west side
Get permission
To dig out.
Verse 6:

Of all the romance retold
Men of tales and tunes
Cruel and bold
Seen here
By eyes of old
Stand and listed to the birds
Hear the cool, clear song of water
Harken to the words:
Freedom at the birth of a century
Or May 1913
Edwin and Edwina named after him
Or on the eighth a scene
Where law defended
Between two arms extended
Below the bar that binds
Beside the long palm’s shadow
Embedded in the sand
Waits the Fair remuneration
White house close at hand.
Verse 7:

At stone wall’s door
The air smells sweet
Not far away
High posts are three
Education and Justice
For all to see
Sounds from the sky
Near ace is high
Running north, but first across
In jewel’s direction
Is an object
Of Twain’s attention
Giant pole
Giant step
To the place
The casque is kept.
Verse 8:

View the three stories of Mitchell
As you walk the beating of the world
At a distance in time
From three who lived there
At a distance in space
From woman, with harpsichord
Silently playing
Step on nature
Cast in copper
Ascend the 92 steps
After climbing the grand 200
Pass the compass and reach
The foot of the culvert
Below the bridge
Walk 100 paces
Southeast over rock and soil
To the first young birch
Pass three, staying west
You’ll see a letter from the country
Of wonderstone’s hearth
On a proud, tall fifth
At its southern foot
The treasure waits.
Verse 9:

The first chapter
Written in water
Near men
With wind rose
Behind bending branches
And a green picket fence
At the base of a tall tree
You can still hear the honking
Shell, limestone, silver, salt
Stars move by day
Sails pass by night
Even in darkness
Like moonlight in teardrops
Over the tall grass
Years pass, rain falls.
Verse 10:

In the shadow
Of the grey giant
Find the arm that
Extends over the slender path
In summer
You’ll often hear a whirring sound
Cars abound
Although the sign
Nearby
Speaks of Indies native
The natives still speak
Of him of Hard word in 3 Vols.
Take twice as many east steps as the hour
Or more
From the middle of one branch
Of the v
Look down
And see simple roots
In rhapsodic man’s soil
Or gaze north
Toward the isle of B.
Verse 11:

Pass two friends of octave
In December
Ride the man of oz
To the land near the window
There’s a road that leads to
Dark forest
Where white is in color
With two maps
After circle and square
In July and August
A path beckons
To mica and driftwood
Under that
Which may be last touched
Or first seen standing
Look north at the wing
And dig
To achieve
By dauntless and inconquerable
Determination
Your goal.
Verse 12:

Where M and B are set in stone
And to Congress, R is known
L sits and left
Beyond his shoulder
Is the Fair Folks’
Treasure holder
The end of ten by thirteen
Is your clue
Fence and fixture
Central too
For finding jewel casque
Seek the sounds
Of rumble
Brush and music
Hush.

Chicago Treasure Found

Cleveland Treasure Found

Boston Treasure Found

Where Are The Rest Of The Treasures Hidden?

Image No.^[5]	Verse No.^[5]	Verse opening	Status	Location (solved, or likely)	Ref.
1	7	*At stone wall’s door*	Unsolved	San Francisco, California	^[6]^[7]
2	6	*Of all the romance retold*	Unsolved	Charleston, South Carolina	^[8]
3	11	*Pass two friends of octave*	Unsolved	Roanoke Island, North Carolina	^[9]
4	4	*Beneath two countries*	Solved (2004)	Cleveland, Ohio	^[10]^[11]
5	12	*Where M and B are set in stone*	Solved (1983)	Chicago, Illinois	^[12]^[13]
6	9	*The first chapter Written in water*	Unsolved	St. Augustine, Florida	^[14]^[15]
7	2	*At the place where jewels abound*	Unsolved	New Orleans, Louisiana	^[16]^[17]
8	1	*Fortress north Cold as glass*	Unsolved	Houston, Texas	^[18]^[19]
9	5	*Lane Two twenty two*	Unsolved	Montreal, Canada	^[20]
10	8	*View the three stories of Mitchell*	Unsolved	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	^[21]^[22]
11	3	*If Thucydides is North of Xenophon*	Solved (2019)	Boston, Massachusetts	^[2]^[23]
12	10	*In the shadow Of the grey giant*	Unsolved	New York, New York	^[24]

Sources & References

Adam is an avid treasure hunter, seeker of adventure and the creator of Areas Grey. After travelling for almost half his life and cataloguing over 100 treasure legends along the way. He decided this was simply far too much treasure for one person to chase! As a result he created Areas Grey so he could share his stories, connect with other treasure hunters and put a little more adventure in the lives of the treasure hunting community.

Adam is a Private Investigator and former Wilderness Guide with a passion for history and archaeology. With the skills, knowledge and gear, Adam is always eager to go on the next fortune seeking adventure and connect with fellow treasure hunters along the way.

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	USA: Amazon.com
	UK: Amazon.co.uk
	France: Amazon.fr
	Germany: Amazon.de
	Spain: Amazon.es
	Italy: Amazon.it

PAITITI

The Lost City Of Gold

Overview

Incan legends tell of a lost city hidden in the remote rainforests of southeast Peru, northern Bolivia, or northwest Brazil where the hero Inkarri, after founding Q,ero and Cusco lived out the rest of his days in refuge.

For the invading Spanish it was a lost city of unimaginable wealth and riches which the spent years searching for, but has it ever been found?

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The Legend

Some say that Inkarri was killed by the Spaniards, his body parts buried in several places around the Inca kingdom: His head in the Presidential Palace in Lima, his arms under the Waqaypata (Square of Tears) in Cuzco, and his legs in Ayacucho.

A more popular version of the myth tells of Inkarri’s retreat to Paititi where he sought refuge to live out the rest of his days.

When the invading Spanish conquistadors heard of this secret refuge they believed it to be full of gold, jewels, and other riches in unimaginable quantities, placing the legend of Paititi alongside other cities of gold such as the well-known city of El Dorado.

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The Clues

Though Lopez’s account was largely third-hand information it was widely publicized inspiring many to go in search of this lost city of gold and riches.

Various other documents began appearing after this between the 16th and 18th centuries which would refer to Paititi and it’s possible locations. Often these documents were regarding expeditions taken in search of the lost city.

Perhaps the most informative of these reports were those of Juan Álvarez Maldonado in 1570, Gregorio Bolivar in 1676, Juan Recio de León between 1623 – 1627, Juan de Ojeda in 1676, and Diego de Eguiluz in 1696.

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Previous Expeditions

Over the last 100 years alone there have been many expeditions attempted to located the lost city of Paititi.

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Conclusion

2003 – 2007 Vera Tyuleneva suggested that “Paititi” was not a name of Peruvian origin and has taken expeditions with detailed written reports of her findings in northern Bolivia.

In 2016 Vincent Pélissier claimed to have found the lost city of Paititi in July 2015. Pélissier expands on prior research including that of Thierry Jamin particularly that of the petroglyphs at Pusharo located on the south shore of the Palatoa River which Thierry believed to be a map to Paititi.

Pélissier claims to have been hacked and burgled as a result of his research which he states as proof of having found the lost city of Paititi using Google Earth screenshots and hand-crafted overlays which highlight rivers, mountain ranges, and supposed Inca roads.

What do you believe?

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Written By

Follow On:

ADAM L C

Director of Areas Grey

Adam is a Private Investigator and former Wilderness Guide with a passion for history and archaeology. With the skills, knowledge and gear, Adam is always eager to go on the next fortune seeking adventure and connect with fellow treasure hunters along the way.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

CodeBar Podcast

Join Robert, host of the CodeBar Live podcast and journey into the greatest treasure legends, armchair treasure hunts, codes, ciphers, puzzles, escape rooms, ARG’s, puzzle boxes & more!

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Subscribe

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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!

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– Fernando S. Gallegos, 2016

TREASURE OF LOCH ARKAIG

The Jacobite Gold

Overview

Over the years treasure hunters have flocked to the highlands in search of the lost gold of the Jacobites without success. Could an auction in 2018 for a silver cup spell the end to this treasure legend?

OVERVIEW

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The Legend

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The Treasure

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The Clues

According to Clan Cameron records a small sum of French gold coins were found in the 1850’s in the woods near Loch Arkaig. It’s however, unclear if this find has any connection to the Loch Arkaig legend.

Cowie had determined four likely locations based on his findings after conducting over two decades of research into all of the known historical texts and records including the Stuart’s Papers. You can see the locations in the map below.

ARCHIBALD CAMERON

ASHLEY COWIE’S EXPEDITION

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Conclusion

Despite the efforts of many treasure hunters only a small amount of French gold coins appear to have ever been found and it is unclear if this is connected to the Loch Arkaig legend. Perhaps an auction in 2018 can explain this lack of findings?

In 2018 an auction was held in the United States for a silver cup which was bought by a collector from the United Kingdom. This was no ordinary silver cup. The collector hired an antiques expert to research an engraving on the cup which read as follows:

This silver cup was Selby’s reward for making the arrangements and seeing that the gold was returned to Charlie. But, is this the end of the Loch Arkaig treasure legend, or is there more treasure out in the highlands of Scotland waiting to be found?

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Written By

Follow On:

ADAM L C

Director of Areas Grey

Adam is a Private Investigator and former Wilderness Guide with a passion for history and archaeology. With the skills, knowledge and gear, Adam is always eager to go on the next fortune seeking adventure and connect with fellow treasure hunters along the way.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

CodeBar Podcast

Join Robert, host of the CodeBar Live podcast and journey into the greatest treasure legends, armchair treasure hunts, codes, ciphers, puzzles, escape rooms, ARG’s, puzzle boxes & more!

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Subscribe

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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