When Robert Louis Stevenson published Treasure Island in the late 19th century, it all but created every stereotype now associated with pirates. The book is a coming-of-age adventure that mixes character studies, action, a vivid setting, and commentary on the ambiguity of morality, as embodied by the memorable Long John Silver. Its influence on the popularity of historical pirates is unmistakable, with its inclusion of treasure maps, where "X" marks the spot, schooners, tropical islands, and one-legged pirates with parrots on their shoulders.

Of course, Stevenson’s work and the public’s fascination with pirates were hardly new phenomena. After all, people had heard tales of hidden booty and gold for centuries, from rumors about Blackbeard and Captain William Kidd to stories about outlaws and criminals burying their booty to come back for it at a later date. It was only fitting that Stevenson’s work came in the same era that people across the world were panning the earth for mineral resources, most notably the California Gold Rush in the late 1840s.

As this all suggests, there’s something about buried treasure that catches someone’s attention like few other things. As soon as there’s the potential for uncovering hidden wealth, otherwise sane and reliable people will abandon their homes and regular lives and become obsessed with tracking down the treasure.

In the 1969 Western Mackenna’s Gold, word gets out that the Apaches have an entire canyon filled with gold deep in their territory. A gang of outlaws go after it, with the sheriff hot on their tails, but the sheriff’s task gets immeasurably harder when the nearby locals rush out looking for the gold, too. Soon, the local cavalry captain gets corrupted by gold fever as well, and everyone is fighting everybody, with the Apaches picking off the survivors.

Luckily, most treasure hunts aren’t that bloody, but they can be dangerous and disappointing. Indeed, those who typically traveled to boomtowns to make their fortunes struck out. Nonetheless, the rare cases of success have always sparked imaginations, and they offer reminders that the latest treasure to be found is not the last one. They may be nearly impossible to find, but there are no doubt more caches of gold, silver, and jewels hidden in a shipwreck somewhere or buried at a secret location.

Buried Treasure: A Collection of Strange Mysteries, Golden Legends, and Lucky Finds in the Search for Hidden Wealth chronicles some of the most interesting stories associated with hidden treasures and the people who went looking for them.