Hidden in Plain Sight

We have all seen treasure maps, or at least photos of maps. Some of them have been carved, others have been redrawn by someone and in a few cases we have seen original maps. In the case of maps on mediums that can be carried around such as leather, cloth or metal, they need to be looked at just as closely as any carved map.

This article is meant to deal with outlaw maps but some of the information can translate to other types of maps as well. I have posted a photo of part of an original treasure map I have. Sorry, but I’m still working this one so part is all you’re going to get. This particular map was made on oilcloth and this is from a scan I made of the map. Keep in mind the map is more than 120 years old and is in pretty bad shape so the scan isn’t perfect but it depicts the map as it actually is.

This particular map has lines on it made in red and blue ink. This photo shows just a few of the red lines. If you look closely you can see in the lines what could be a W or an upside M or even a V. To the right of that you can also see the number 3. These letters/numbers are hidden in the line. When you look at the map in it’s entirety the red line seems to form a topographical area and the letters/numbers just seem to be part of the line, and you would think the topography.

That would be where you would be wrong. There are a few of these hidden symbols in this map and since they occur repeatedly, they are something that needs to be looked at separate from the topographical lines. Another thing that should be mentioned is that the occurrence of letters and numbers could mean that all of these hidden symbols are numbers. Outlaws weren’t beyond using a Roman numeral or two every now and then.

Portions of the red topographical lines in this map also form the shape of an animal. This animal shape is a clue as to the name of the location where the map is to be used. This particular map was seen in its entirety at the last treasure hunters get together in Medicine Park, OK.

Clues can be hidden in many ways in a map and you have to be careful not to overlook something just because it looks like something else. Deception was part of the way they kept their hidden treasures hidden but one of the most common things to use was misdirection. They will have you looking at one thing and completely missing the clues you need. This of course will also get you to over think certain things, which will have the same affect.

Outlaws were smarter than what most people give them credit for, well, some of them were. I know when I started treasure hunting I never thought that an old outlaw would be able to outsmart me and I have been proven wrong about that on several occasions!

This is just a short article to get your mind wrapped around the way things could be done and how you should be thinking. Later on I will try to post a map in its entirety to show how much misdirection there can be in just one map.

You need to think logically and be methodical in your quest for treasure. It beats wondering around in circles every time!