Treasure Signs

[Springfield]

If you are marking a site hundreds of leagues within an uncharted wilderness, you choose an unmistakable geographical landmark and leave permanent, unmistakable carvings. If those who follow know their meanings, then perhaps they can recover their target. The first three are all within 50 feet of eachother. The fourth is further separated.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[Springfield]

These are located near the previously posted four carvings at the beginning of the thread. The 'niche' and the 'church' are new within the past ten years. The 'church' may well be a prank. I'll monitor the 'niche' because I have a hunch that it will become a shrine for Santo Nino de Atocha, the patron saint of this ancient mining district.

 

[mdog]

Thanks for the pictures Springfield. Is the last picture you posted the geographical landmark you spoke of or is the landmark the first picture with the large cross? Also, is it common for folks to make shrines in the mining areas in recent times?

Rick

 

[Springfield]

Thanks for the pictures Springfield. Is the last picture you posted the geographical landmark you spoke of or is the landmark the first picture with the large cross? Also, is it common for folks to make shrines in the mining areas in recent times?

Rick

No, the last picture is an odd looking rock formation, and an intriguing one, given its location. It appears to have been altered. Nor is the picture with the large cross the landmark, although if you notice, behind the cross in the photo is a buffalo head. The landmark I'm referring to is the entire formation upon which all the photos in this thread are located - unique and well known twin peaks visible for many miles.

Yes, it was/is common for shrines to be erected by Catholic miners (still in Mexico, not in USA since the '50's or so) - they are usually close to the mine entrance, where the miners could bless themselves and their fellows going and coming from work. The niche I have shown is a completely different thing. It may relate to a 'bigger story' in the area, one which many generations ago adopted Santo Nino de Atocha (who prisoners and trapped miners prayed to). Of course, I could be wrong about this - it's blue sky speculation based on a number of factors. The niche may have a different purpose altogether. Only the person who created it can tell us. Interestingly, this person is likely still alive.

Below is a photo of Santo Nino de Atocha looking toward the mountains from a window in the old Catholic church in Pinos Altos.

 

[mdog]

Thanks Springfield.

Were you able to figure out the carvings in the first four pictures? Were they pointing a direction to go? Were they topographical features? Was there some kind of measuring involved? If you think I'm asking too many questions, I won't be offended if you choose not to answer.

Rick

 

[Springfield]

Thanks Springfield.

Were you able to figure out the carvings in the first four pictures? Were they pointing a direction to go? Were they topographical features? Was there some kind of measuring involved? If you think I'm asking too many questions, I won't be offended if you choose not to answer.

Rick

Since you asked, the second photo shows a cross on a pedestal. I'm told that the weathered-out carvings below the 'E.T.' reads '1540', but I have to squint to visualize that. The right arm has a weathered arrow at the tip. If you sight along the right arm in the direction of the arrow, you are looking at a vee-shaped notch in the rocks about 40 feet away - a 'gunsight' of sorts. About 300 yards away, on this exact line, is an old, old opening to underground workings (photo below, showing my buddy's boot soles). This adit is way too dangerous to enter because of very bad ground - the drift is collapsed. Maybe some day. This hole is not the primary target, IMO.

The first photo is a directional pointer as well as a cross. There is no measuring code that I am aware of.

 

[mdog]

Thank you Springfield, that is very interesting.

Rick

 

[desertmoons]

Nice...thanks for posting the old and the new and what one line leads too. Good lesson for me..and it reinforces some things that are finally sinking into my thick head.

Very kind of you

Kim

 

[tesoro dog]

Thanks Springfield!!! td

 

[oddrock]

Thanks Springfield!!! td

I also thank you...always glad to see more.

Oddrock

 

[treasurechest]

Thanks Springfield!!! td

I also thank you...always glad to see more.

Oddrock

That's one enormous cross up there! thanks for sharing.

 

[dog the treasure hunter]

man, nice pics. and info springfield. thanks. dog

 

[HOOSIERau]

Great set of pics, Springfield !
So is the last one an entrance to the mine ? too dangerous ? impassible ?
Is there a pozo anywhere ? or are you looking for a vault near the mine ?

 

[treasurechest]

Hi Springfield,

On your first pic, I don't see a bison, I see an elephant. Can you (or anyone) circle the bison? I see the enormous cross, but nothing else.

 

[desertmoons]

Steve,
re the Santo Nino de Atocha..its a nice land we live in I think. So many strong themes. I thought that picture of Nino looking out to the mountains was wonderful in so many ways. It says so much about place and people.


Your pic number 1 is quite interesting. In fact , when i finally got a good look at it, it gave a long long pause.
It appears to be altered to me in quite intriguing ways. I wonder just how old some of that alteration is. It might encompass 2 very different eras. If so..well..congrats for either era.

Just speculation.

 

[Springfield]

Steve,
re the Santo Nino de Atocha..its a nice land we live in I think. So many strong themes. I thought that picture of Nino looking out to the mountains was wonderful in so many ways. It says so much about place and people.


Your pic number 1 is quite interesting. In fact , when i finally got a good look at it, it gave a long long pause.
It appears to be altered to me in quite intriguing ways. I wonder just how old some of that alteration is. It might encompass 2 very different eras. If so..well..congrats for either era.

Just speculation.

Yes, Santo Nino is a huge influence here, going back at least 250 years that we know of. I personally believe the timeline can be pushed back to ca 1540-1545. The Anglos here reject the idea, the Catholics don't. Go figure.

When I first saw the rock depicted in Pic 1, my first impression was 'horse'. Still is.

 

[Springfield]

Hi Springfield,

On your first pic, I don't see a bison, I see an elephant. Can you (or anyone) circle the bison? I see the enormous cross, but nothing else.

Try this one. As you may know, I don't normally buy into 'looks like' rocks. However, this one seems to fit aspects of the legend surrounding this particular site.

The second photo has always been puzzling to me. I normally don't chalk carvings, but this one was so old and worn that I had to in order to photograph it. The carving is very hard to locate among the others nearby. I know what the word means, but the design is the question.

 

[kanabite]

bump

nice pics!

 

[desertmoons]

is there a confluence of streams down below? re indahchalked. That is a curious mark on the upper line there.