Spanish Impact was SignificantThe impact of the Spanish explorers, conquistadores, and colonists in the New World was significant and long-lived. One of the main drivers that brought the Spanish to Central, South, and North America and the Caribbean (as well as other world locales) was the pursuit of wealth. Or treasure, to put it bluntly.
Treasure Hunting
Not only were the Spanish excellent record keepers, but over time they developed a sophisticated and extensive treasure symbol "library" with which to document, mark, and point the way to the location of buried treasure caches. For example, the carved heart symbol in the photo above marks a treasure trail to gold and is a commonly found Spanish treasure symbol here in the United States.
Treasure Symbols Abound
The Spanish covered tremendous amounts of territory during their explorations and searches for treasure, but nowhere is this more true than the American West and Southwest where vestiges of their passage is everywhere. Spanish treasure symbols abound in California, Arizona, and New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and can also be found in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and other locations in the U.S.
So a key question for aspiring treasure hunters on the trail of lost or buried Spanish loot is not whether these treasures exist (in most instances they do) but rather how to decipher or "read" the legion of physical makers the Spanish left behind that point the way to potential caches. All the research and knowledge in the world won't do you a bit of good in the field if you don't know how to read Spanish treasure "signs."
Many Resources are Available
Fortunately there are many good resources available to us on the subject of Spanish treasure symbols and signs. No small number of these can be found online while others can be purchased in the form of books or other printed materials. Here are just a few of these books and websites:
"Turtles Lead to Treasure" at http://www.turtlesleadtotreasure.com/
Treasure Hunters University at http://www.treasurehuntersuniversity.com/spanish.html
Research Unlimited at http://www.research-unlimited.com/signs_and_symbols.html
TreasureNet Forum at http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php?board=82.0
There are many other material resources out there on the subject as well. Just take the time to do a bit of research online.
Cautionary Note
Not only were the Spanish adept at developing and employing a wide range of treasure symbols but they were also quite good at "boobie trapping" many of their buried treasure locations. These traps are also indicated by certain symbols and you should familiarize yourself with them, if you are seriously committed to searching out and recovering an abandoned Spanish treasure cache.
No, I am not joking here. An unwary treasure hunter could be trapped, seriously injured, or even killed by a Spanish treasure trap. To learn more about these dangers and the symbols associated with them see: http://www.treasurehuntersuniversity.com/death.html
Take care out there and the best of luck to you in your treasure hunts.
If you liked this post, you may want to read: "5 Famous Lost Mines and Treasures"
http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2008/11/5-famous-lost-mines-and-treasures.html
(c) J.R. 2008
Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com
