Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Treasure Signs
and Symbols
Charles Garrett
Understanding
Treasure
Signs and
Symbols
Charles Garrett
Front cover photo:
These boulders mark the location of a treasure
hidden by an Indian tribe in the Western United
States.This tribe hid its tribal wealth in a cave prior to
a conflict with the federal government in the 1880s.
They planned to recover the treasure after the war.
This is one of several treasure markers examined in
later years in this area. Remember, when searching
for hidden treasure signs always search diligently
for “out-of-place” markers. See other such marker
photos in this book.
Treasure
Signs and
Symbols
Understanding TREASURE SIGNS AND SYMBOLS
4 www.garrett.com
CONTENTS
6 www.garrett.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
For more than 45 years, Charles Garrett has
pioneered the development of the modern metal
detector, demonstrated its capabilities in search-
es throughout the world and devoted himself to
teaching others to use detectors. He has recovered
treasures of all types while searching all over the
world. Garrett has encountered various treasure
signs and symbols in the field, some the ancient
pictoglyphs of Native Americans and others such
as age-old symbology of Spanish people.
The author’s lifetime interest in treasure
hunting prepared him to excel in that field.
After earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Electrical Engineering, Charles Garrett worked at
Texas Instruments and Teledyne Geotech develop-
ing systems and equipment required by America’s
fledgling space effort. While devoting himself to
his hobby, he designed and built his own metal de-
tectors. This avocation became a career when he
and his wife, Eleanor, founded Garrett Electronics
in 1964 to manufacture and market his inventions.
8 www.garrett.com
INTRODUCTION
Garland, Texas
10 www.garrett.com
EARLY TREASURE SIGNS
12 www.garrett.com
location of a business that might offer a hand-
out. Hobos even made symbols to warn their
companions of a mean dog or other menaces.
Those hiding treasure caches certainly did
not want to make them easy to find, so one sym-
bol might lead the searcher to a spot where a
second symbol or map could be found. In some
cases, the person hiding the goods expected not
to return for years or perhaps even not at all.
Yet, they wanted to leave some path that could
lead others to what they had stashed.
The person hiding the treasure even needed
to give himself a reminder of where to dig for
his hidden loot. Some of the symbols that were
left behind could therefore indicate a number of
things: the treasure itself, directions, distances,
time, personal identification, landmarks or even
warnings related to the treasure trove’s location.
Florida Indians were known to carve sym-
bols into conch shells or onto hammered-out
Spanish pieces of eight. Pirates often incorpo-
rated astrological, zodiac, Masonry and even
witchcraft symbols into their “treasure maps.”
Trees were often carved with multiple symbols
Understanding Treasure Signs and Symbols 13
and sometimes other trees or rock formations
in the same area provided additional clues. The
navigational marks on one old tree might very
well lead to another marked tree and so on.
Many symbols used in different cultures
have similar shapes and meanings. In some
cases, not all symbols can be understood—par-
ticularly those where a person created a per-
sonal emblem for recognition purposes. Only
an individual who knew a great deal about
that other person might be able to spot and
interpret such a personalized symbol.
This field guide simply does not have the
space to cover all known treasure signs and
symbols. I will, however, present some of the
more common signs that today’s treasure hunt-
er might have the good fortune of encountering.
The key to finding an old treasure cache is good
research and learning how to find and interpret
the clues that were left behind.
14 www.garrett.com
SOME PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
16 www.garrett.com
We were searching for a famed silver ore
cache that was reportedly hidden in this moun-
tain range. Clues were evident along the slopes
of this region. Circular painted symbols had
been applied to the rocks as location mark-
ers leading to the treasure. We followed these
painted symbols and, with the aid of our metal
detectors, were able to discover sacks of silver
ore nuggets that had been hidden in this area
decades before.
Indians often marked trees to pinpoint their
trails or to indicate directions to a treasure trove
or some sacred location. The young trees which
they bent, twisted or tied into a particular direc-
tion often grew into malformed adult trees. In
areas were trees were not available or practi-
cal for carving, Indians marked their trails or
caches in other ways.
Roy Lagal—my treasure hunting buddy—
and I have encountered several piles of stones
that had been used by Indians as markers. We
have found large rocks stacked in peculiar ways
or moved into positions that could not have
occurred naturally. Roy and I quickly learned to
Understanding Treasure Signs and Symbols 17
Indians often tied off young trees to point out a trail or the path to a
treasure. Even in its old age, this deformed oak still clearly points
toward some old trail.
18 www.garrett.com
These heavy boulders, located in a fairly remote area, were
obviously propped against each other to serve as a guide. The
treasure hunters who noticed this unnatural marker found an
Indian cave cache site nearby.
20 www.garrett.com
Treasure hunter George Mroczkowski studies pre-Columbian pic-
toglyphs in the Laguna Mountains of Southern California.
22 www.garrett.com
The author holds pieces of high-graded silver ore from two caches
he discovered in Canada by observing a treasure sign in the field.
24 www.garrett.com
INTERPRETING YOUR DISCOVERY
26 www.garrett.com
This old tree section contains a specific “J” symbol that was re-
portedly used by the outlaw Jesse James to mark an area where
he had hidden a cache. This symbol, again highlighted in white to
show the detail, is also on display in Garrett’s museum.
28 www.garrett.com
COMMON TREASURE SYMBOLS
Sun Symbols
A circular sun may often be found with vari-
ous accompanying signal clues. For example, a
setting sun would indicate that you should look
toward the west.
3 KILOMETERS 3 KILOMETERS
4 VARAS, 2 VARAS,
4 DEGREES, CONTINUATION OF,
ETERS4 ETC. TO RIGHT DISTANCE2 ETC. TO LEFT
4 MINUTES, ON CORRECT
4 ETC., IN
5 VARAS CAVE LINE, 3 VARAS
4 DEGREES,
OR CAVES, 3 CONTINUATION OF,
KILOMETERS 5 VA
DIRECTION 4 VARAS
4 MINUTES, ON CORRECT DIRE
DS OFMINERALS
POINT 5 VARAS IN
4 ETC., CAVE
GREES,ON4 BOTTOM
DEGREES, CONTINUATIONCONTINUATION OF, OF
OF, LINE, 3 VARAS
OR CAVES, DIRECTION ON B
NUTES, 4 MINUTES, ON CORRECT ON CORRECT
MINERALS FINGER OF POINT FINGER
., CAVE 4 ETC., CAVE LINE, 3 VARAS LINE, 3 VARAS
MEANS ON BOTTOM
ONE DISTANCE
OR CAVES, DISTANCE
CAVES,3 KILOMETERS TRIPLE
MEASUREMENT = MEANS ONE
ERALS MINERALS 50 VARAS
E 4 VARAS,
TRIPLE (33.3 INCHES), 2 VARAS,
4DISTANCE
ETC. TO RIGHT SOMETIMES = FINGER
2 ETC. TO LEFT
TRIPLE
100 VARAS MEANS ONE
RAS,
4 VARAS,
4 ETC. TO RIGHT
6 FEET, 6 14&15
VARAS,
5 VARAS DISTANCE
DIRECTION
IN
2 VARAS,
6 ETC. 6 MINUTES, 6 ETC. 2 ETC. TO LEFT
OF POINT
4 VARAS, TRIPLE 4 VARAS,
DISTANCE 2 VARAS, 2 VARAS,
ON BOTTOM
4 ETC. TO RIGHT
C. TO RIGHT 2 ETC. TO LEFT2 ETC. TO LEFT
FINGER
32 www.garrett.com
MEANS ONE
3 KILOMETERS
3 KILOMETERS
MINUTE OR INCHES OR
FEET DISTANCE SECONDS
2 VARAS
Distance and Measurement Symbols
4 TIMES DISTANCE,
5 VARAS TO LEFT,
INCHES OR
2 VARAS FOLLOW POINT,
5 SECONDS OR
SECONDS 4 VARAS
5 INCHES TO LEFT.
3 ENEMIES
5 ENEMIES TO TREAS
, DIRECTION, TO WAT
OTHER SIGNS
3 ENEMIES
ENEMY, DIRECTION, ARROWS DOWNWARD TO
OR TO OTHER SIGNS DOWNWARD
TREASURE BELOW,TO TREASURE,
5 ENEMIES DOWNHILL TO
FOLLOW TO
LOOKDOWNHILL
BELOW TO TREASURE 3 ENE
NEXT MARK
BOX BELOW
DEFEAT, DEATH CIRCLE AROUND
TOWARD THE SUN,
LOOK AROUND Y
TOWARDS THE MOON
TO THE RIGHT
OF THE TRAIL
TOWARD THE SUN,
ORPROCEED,
LANDMARK
THEN TURN RIGHT TOWARDS THE MOON BENEATH THE WATERS
BOX BELOW BOX BELOW
4&5
CIRCLE AROUND,
LOOK AROUND YOU
TO THE RIGHT
OF THE TRAIL
WARRIORS, CIRCLE
OR AROUND,
LANDMARK
DEATH LOOK AROUND YOU
TO THE RIGHT
PROCEED,
OF THE TRAIL
OR LANDMARKUnderstanding Treasure Signs and Symbols BOX
THEN TURN RIGHT CIRCLE AROUND,
WARRIORS,
BELOW
35WARRIOR
S BENEATH THE WATERS LOOK AROUND YOU
DEATH DEATH
“ WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS” TOWARD THE CENTER
DIRECTION “PROTECTS”,
CHANGETOWARD THE CENTER
DIRECTION DIRECTION
CHANGE CHANGE
DIRECTION, WATER NEARBY,
HERE,
GO AROUND, LOOK UP, ALERTNESS
TO WATER, TO CRE
OVER AND UNDER
DIRECTION
POINTS TO,
REVERSE,
DIRECTION RIVER, STREAM, OC
FROM,
TOCHANGE
THE LEFTLIGHTING HERE, CHANGE
OVER AND UNDER
WATER NEARBY,
TO WATER, TO CREEK,
POINTS TO, “ WARD
DIRECTION, OFF EVIL SPIRITS”
RIVER, STREAM, OCEAN
“PROTECTS”,
FROM, LIGHTING LOOK UP, ALERTNESS
DIRECTION, TOWARD THE CENTER
LOOK UP, ALERTNESS
DIRECTION “ WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS”
CHANGE “PROTECTS”,
TOWARD THE CENTER
DIRECTION
CHANGE ARROWS
WA
TO W
POINTS TO, RIVER
FROM, LIGHTING
DIRECTION DIRECTION
CHANGE CHANGE
HERE,
GO AROUND,
OVER AND UNDER
REVERSE,
TO THE LEFT WATER NEARBY,
HERE,
GO AROUND,
DIRECTION TO DIRECTION
WATER,
OVERTO CREEK,
AND UNDER
REVERSE,
POINTS TO,CHANGE CHANGE
RIVER, STREAM, OCEAN
TO THE LEFT
FROM, LIGHTING
“ WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS”
36 www.garrett.com “PROTECTS”,
DIRECTION, TOWARD THE CENTER
LOOK UP, ALERTNESS
DIRECTION
CHANGE
Compass Degree Symbols
Some old maps will contain symbols of
45˚compass degrees
90˚ to SEXTILE
help steer you120
toward your
45˚ 90˚
= 60˚ ˚ = 60
treasure.
45˚ 90 90˚SEXTILE = 60
SEXTILE ˚ 120˚
45˚
45˚ ˚˚
45˚ 90 90˚
SEXTILE ˚˚SEXTILE
= 60 ˚˚= 60˚ 120˚120˚
= 60˚
SEXTILE120
120
45˚ 90˚ SEXTILE = 60˚ 120˚
SEMI-SEXTILE = 20 ˚
SEMI-SEXTILE = 20 ˚
˚˚˚ ˚ ˚ ˚˚ ˚ ˚ ˚ ˚˚
45 90 120
SEMI-SEXTILE
SEMI-SEXTILE = 20 = 20
SEMI-SEXTILE
SEMI-SEXTILE = 20 = 20
45 SEXTILE
45 90 = 60 SEXTILE
90 = 60 SEX ˚
EMI-SEXTILE ˚
45 = 20
˚
90 ˚
SEXTILE = 60 120 45
˚ ˚ ˚ 90 ˚
180 ˚
150 ˚
SEMI-SEXTILE = 20SEMI-SEXTILE SEMI-SEXTILE
= 20
˚ = 20 ˚ ˚ 1
˚˚ ˚˚
180
150 180
ONE AND A HALF 180 180
˚
˚˚˚
SEMI-SEXTILE = 20
˚ ˚ ˚ ˚ ˚ ˚˚
150 SEMI-SEXTILE = 20
EXTILE = 60
QUADRATES˚ = 135 ONE AND 150
120 A HALF
150 ˚˚
180 180 180
ONE AND AONE AND 150
A HALF = 135 180
HALF QUADRATES
ONE AND A
ONE ANDQUADRATES
A HALF HALF
=150 ˚˚ ˚
180
˚
QUADRATES = 135
AND A HALF =QUADRATES
135
˚˚
= 135
180
˚ ˚
∞
ONEQUADRATES 135
∞
QUADRATES = 135
˚
∞
18
∞ ∞
˚ ˚˚
150 150
˚˚
∞
150 180
INITY PERPENDICULAR
ONE AND A HALF ONE AND A HALFONE AND A HALF
180 180
˚
150 PERPENDICULAR
˚ ˚ ˚
INFINITY SQUARE, 90
INITY ONE AND
QUADRATES
INFINITYA HALF
INFINITY
= 135QUADRATES
PERPENDICULAR
PERPENDICULAR
135 180
= QUADRATES
PERPENDICULAR APART
= 135
ONE
˚
IN LONGTITUDE
AND A HALF
˚ SQUARE ˚
FINITY
QUADRATES = 135
PERPENDICULAR
˚ SQUARE,
OR RIGHT 90SQUARE,
APART 90
ASCENSION
QUADRATES = SQUARE,
135
IN LON
90 ˚˚ ˚ ˚ ˚
Y PERPENDICULAR APARTSQUARE, 90INOR
∞∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
APART
IN LONGTITUDE LONGTITUD
RIGHT AS
APART IN LONGTIT
SQUARE,
APART IN 90
LONGTITUDE
OR RIGHT ASCENSIO
OR RIGHT ASCENSION
APARTORINRIGHT
LONGTITUDE OR RIGHT ASCEN
ASCENSION
˚
180 ˚
OR RIGHT ASCENSION
INFINITY PERPENDICULAR
INFINITY INFINITYPERPENDICULARPERPENDICULAR
180
˚ SQUARE, 90
˚
FINITY 0
PERPENDICULAR ˚ INFINITY APART IN LONGTITUDE
APA
PERPENDIC
CONJUNCTION 0 SQUARE,
OR ˚
90
RIGHT ASCENSION
OR ˚
0
SAME LONGITUDE, 0 CONJUNCTION
˚˚ 0
0 CONJUNCTION
˚ ˚
APART IN LONGTITUDE
SAME LONGITUDE,
CONJUNCTION
RIGHT ASCENSIONCONJUNCTION OR RIGHT ASCENSION
SAME
0
CONJUNCTION ˚
SAME LONGITUDE,
LONGITUDE,
SAME
RIGHT ASCENSION
LONGITUDE,
Understanding
CONJUNCTION
SAME ASCENSION
RIGHT
SAMERIGHT
Treasure
LONGITUDE,
RIGHT
LONGITUDE,
Signs and Symbols 37
ASCENSION
RIGHT ASCENSION
ASCENSION
RIGHT ASCENSION
SQUARE, 90 0
˚ ˚
0
CONJUNCTION CONJUNCTIONCONJUNCTION
0 ˚ ˚
APART IN LONGTITUDE
MOUNTAIN OR CAVE,
MOUNTAIN OR CAVE, ARM, SWORD
ARM, SWORD
TUNNEL,TUNNEL,
LOOK UP,
LOOK UP,
OVER DEPOSIT
OVER DEPOSIT
MARKS SPOT, ON
TREASURE IN MARKS LONGEST
LINE, FOLLOW SPOT, ON
TREASURE
MOUNTAIN IN
OR CAVE, MARKS SPOT, LINE,
ON
ARM,FOLLOW
SWORDLONGEST
EASURE MOUNTAIN
IN
TUNNEL, LOOKOR CAVE,
UP, LINE, FOLLOW LONGEST ARM, SWORD
TUNNEL,
TAIN OR CAVE, LOOK UP, SHOE GOING
ARM, IN RIGHT
POINTING,
SWORD
OVER
O NEXT SIGN DEPOSIT MARKS SPOT, ON
DIRECTION
IN ROUTE
SURE IN UP,OVER DEPOSIT
EL, LOOK LINE, FOLLOW LONGEST
ER DEPOSIT
N OR CAVE, ARM, SWORD
LOOK UP,38 www.garrett.com
DEPOSIT
OF LONGEST ARM CHURCH TREASURE,
FOLLOW LARGE KNOB,
CHURCH OBJECTS HERE
CHURCH TREASURE,
Treasure Direction Symbols FOLLOW LARGE KNOB,
CHURCH OBJECTS HERE
PATHS CROSS,
PATHS CROSS,
THIS PLACE, HEREANCHOR,
THIS PLACE, HERE
FOLLOW,
PATHS CROSS, ARROW
MARK SPOT,
THIS PLACE, HERE FOLLOW POINT MARK SPOT,
REASURE, AROUND HILL, STONE,
OF LONGEST ARM
RGE KNOB, CHURCH TREASURE, ETC., THEN TOFOLLOW
RIGHT POINT
JECTS HERE FOLLOW LARGE KNOB, OF LONGEST ARM
AROUND HILL, STONE,
CHURCH OBJECTS HERE TRIANGLE OF
TRIANGLE OF
ETC., THEN TO RIGHT
TREES OR ROCKS,
TREES OR ROCKS,
TREASURE TO ONE SIDE
TREASURE TO ONE SIDE
TRIANGLE
ROCKSOF ENCLOSE
TREES OR ROCKS,
TREASURE
TREASURE TOINONE SIDE
TRIANGLE
MEASURE OFF
CURVE SHOE POINTING,
NG TO NEXT SIGN IN ROUTE
GOING IN RIGHT
DIRECTION CAVE OR SHAF
FILLED, STEPS
SHOE POINTING,
TRAIL FORKS
IN ROUTE
TAKE LEFT HAND
GUN SIGHT AIMS
TOWARD NEXT MARK
TRAIL FORKS
TAKE RIGHT HAND MEASURE OF
DEER TRACKS OR OTHER ANIMAL GUN SIGHT AIMS
CURVE
KNIFE=POINTS
TRACKS PLENTYTO
GAME, TOWARD NEXT MARK
TREASURE OR TO
FOLLOW NEXT SIGN
TRACKS
SHOE POINTING,
TURKEY
POINTING TO TRACKS,
NEXT SIGN
TRAIL FORKS IN ROUTE
CROW TRACKS, TRAIL FORKS
TAKE RIGHT HAND DIRECTION
FOLLOW TAKE LEFT HAND
R ANIMAL
GAME,
Treasure Direction Symbols
GUN SIGHT AIMS
TOWARD NEXT MARK
CHURCH TREASURE,
KS DEER TRACKS OR OTHER ANIMAL FOLLOW LARGEGUN SIGHT TRAIL
KNOB, AIMS FO
TRACKS
DEER TRACKS= PLENTY GAME,
OR OTHER TOWARD
ANIMAL CHURCH OBJECTS HERE
GUN NEXT
TAKE
SIGHT MARK
RIGHT
AIMS
FOLLOW
TRACKS TRACKS
= PLENTY GAME, TOWARD NEXT MARK
MARK SPOT,
FOLLOW TRACKSFOLLOW POINT
URE,
OF LONGEST ARM TURKEY TRACKS,
NOB,
HERE PAN, HANDLE CROW TRACKS,
POINTS IN FOLLOW DIRECTION
HORSE SHOE
TREASURE WITH DOT =
DIRECTION CHECK FOR
SOMETHING BELOW
AROUND HILL, STONE,
ETC., THEN TO RIGHT
PATHS CROSS,
TONE, THIS PLACE, HERE
RIGHT
HORSE POINTING RIVER WITHPAN, HA
DOWN = TREASURE
RUNNING WATER A FORK IN IT POINT
OR NEXT
EARTHLY
HORSE SIGN BELOW
WATERS
SHOE HORSE POINTING TREAS
POINTING IN DOWN = TREASURE DIREC
HORSE SHOE HORSE
AROUND POINTING
BEND,
DIRECTION TO
POINTING IN OR NEXT= SIGN
DOWN BELOW
TREASURE
CONTINUETO AWAY FROM TRIANGLE
TRIANGLE
DIRECTION OR NEXTOFSIGN BELOW
CONTINUE TREES OR ROCKS,
TREASURE TO ONE SIDE
LE
RUNNING
RIVER WITH ISLANDS EARTHLY
OR STONES
VARIATION
HORSE SHOE IN TRAIL = ANCHOR,
WITH FOLLOW
HORSE DOT =
SHOE
POINT FOLLOW,
CHECK FOR VARIATION IN TRAIL =
ARROW
WITH DOT = VARIATION,
SOMETHING BELOWFOLLOW POINT FOLLOWINPOINT
VARIATION TRAIL =
CHECK FOR
Understanding
SOMETHING BELOW TOTreasure
TREASURE Signs andFOLLOW
SymbolsPOINT
41
CENTRAL POINT LEG PRIMARY FORCES,
ROCK, LOOK BELOW FLAME
CENTER TREES - IN THE WOODS
GO POINT
CENTRAL OPPOSITE
BETWEEN TREASURE
3 TREES D
SAME, LOOK
ABOVE AND BELOW,
Treasure Location Symbols
2 LOCATIONS
CIRCLE OF ROCKS
ON INDIAN MOUND
ON LINE OR HILL = TREASURE
OF TREASURE CENTRAL POINTHERE
CIRCLE OF ROCKS AROUND CENTRAL
TREASURE CLOSE
TREE TREASURE
FOLLOW HERE
= TREASURE HERE
POINTS,
OR BY, LOOK FOR CIRCLE KEY TO MEANING
OF ROCKS OR
AROUND
THEPOINTING
FOUR GREAT TREASURE TO HERE BELL
TREASURE
TREE = TREASURE
BELOW
TOTREES
TREASURE
PRIMARY IN THE WOODS, LAST SIGN CIRCLE
- FORCES, OF ROCKS AROUND TRE
BETWEEN
(ANY OFGO
3 3 TREES
DIRECTIONS) IN HOLE,
OPPOSITE TREE = TREASURE HEREFAVOR
CAVE OR TUNNEL
SY
NEW MOON
POINTING DOW
DIG HERE,
GOLD SILVER, CAVE
NEARBY, OVER C
TREASUREGOLD
TREES
IN - IN THE WOOD
CAVE
TREASURE ORGOLD
CAVES
DIRECTIONS BETWEEN 3 TREES
SAME, LOOK OR
19 KEY TO
TREASURE
ABOVE
MEANING
TREASURE
TOAND
BELOW
BELOW,
TREASURE
CLOSE
BY, LOOK FOR
2 LOCATIONS BELL = NEAR
LAST SIGN
CIRCLE OF ROCKS AROUND TREASURE,
TREE = TREASURE HERE FAVORITE PIRATE
TREASURE BELOW SYMBOL
ON LINE, BELOW
TREASURE
LAND MARK, OR
TREASURE
TO BREAK,BELOW
OR
TO DIVIDE, OR 10
FOLLOW POINTS, KEY TO MEANING OR
THE FOUR GREAT TREASURE
TO TREASURE
TREASURE
PRIMARY IN TUNNEL
FORCES, BELOW
OR ENTRANCES
GO OPPOSITE CIRCLE OF ROCKS
ON INDIAN
GOLDMOUND
PRECIOUS BELL
STONES = NEAR OR HILL = TREASURE
NEARBY, ORTREASURE,
4, OR HERE CLEAR DEPOSIT IN
PRECIOUS
TRIANGLESTONES
OF TREES
VARIANT OF CROSSPIRATE
FAVORITE
NEARBY, OR 4, OR
SYMBOL OR STONES
PRECIOUS ROCKS
VARIANT OF CROSS
NEARBY, OR 4, OR
VARIANT OF CROSS
42 www.garrett.com FENCE
TREASURE BELOW
TREASURE CLOSE
HOLDS IN
BY, LOOK FOR NEW MOON L
TURTLE OR ANIMAL OR CONTAININGS
SYMBOLS OF GOLD BELL = NEAR
TREASURE
IN TRIANGLE
GO UP SLOPE
LEG POINTS Treasure Location Symbols
GO DOWN SLOPE
VERGING
EPOSIT, IF ON CANDLE = FOLLOW
ONE LEG POINTS
OLOOK
CAVE,BELOW
TO DEPOSIT,FLAME
IF ON CANDLE = FOLLOW
FOLLOW
ROCK, LOOK BELOW FLAME
TER LEG
FOLLOW DIRECTION
OINTS
IF ON CANDLE = FOLLOW
BELOW LOOK BELOW OR
FLAME
FOLLOW LEGS
RGING
ONE LEG POINTS
AVE,
TO DEPOSIT, IF ON CANDLE = FOLLOW
LLOW
ROCK, LOOK BELOW
CENTRAL POINT FLAME
R LEG
ON LINE
CENTRAL POINT
F TREASURE CENTRAL POINT
CENTRAL POINT
ONVERGING
ONE LEG POINTS
18&19
NTO CAVE,
CENTRALONE LEG POINTS
POINT
TO DEPOSIT, IF ON CANDLE = FOLLOW
TO DEPOSIT, IF ON
WC., FOLLOW CENTRAL POINT CANDLE = FOLLOW
ROCK, LOOK BELOW FLAME
ENTER LEG ROCK, LOOK BELOW FLAME
N LINE
REASURE CENTRAL POINT
CENTRAL POINT
TURTLE OR ANIMAL OR
TREASURE
FLAT STONEHERE
OR STONES WELL OR FENCE SYMBOL = TREASURE
HOLDS IN
STONE ORCOVERING
STONES
OR POINTING
LOCATION SHAFT BELOW CHECK SOMETHIN
FILLED,
TURTLE OR ANIMALTREASURE
CHECK OR CONTAININGS
BELOW
SOMETHING
TO TREASUREOR POSSIBLE
ERING LOCATION CONTAINGS
SYMBOL = TREASURE
BELOW
TONE OR CHECK
HOLDSSOMETHING
STONES IN IN HOLE,
BELOW
(ANY OF 3 DIRECTIONS) TREASURE
BELOW
OR
RING LOCATION BELOW
CONTAININGS CHECK SOMETHING
HOLDS IN
CAVE OR TUNNEL
BELOW TREASURE
TURTLE OR ANIMAL
TREASURE IN TUNNEL OR CONTAININGS
ES BELOW
SYMBOL
OR ENTRANCES = TREASURE
CHECK SOMETHING
N
BELOWBELOWFLAT STONE OR STONES
COVERING LOCATION
FLAT STONE OR STONES TRIANGLE OF TR
TRIANGLE OF TREES,
ROCK, LANDMA
TRIANGLE
WELL OR OF TREES,COVERING LOCATIONROCK, LANDMARKS,
TREASURE IN CE
WELL OR SHAFT
ROCK, FILLED,
LANDMARKS, TREASURE
TRIANGLE IN
OF TREES,
CHECK SOMETHING TREASURE IN CENTER
SHAFT FILLED,TREASURE
POSSIBLE IN CENTER
CONTAINGSFLAT STONE OR STONES
CAVE OR LANDMARKS,
ROCK, CAVES
WELLCONTAINGS
OR TREASURE BELOW
SIBLE TREASURE COVERING LOCATION TREASURE IN CENTER
HAFT FILLED, TRIANGLE OF TREES,
TREASUREBELOW FENCE
44 www.garrett.com ROCK, LANDMARKS,
BLE CONTAINGS
TREASURE TREASURE IN CENTER
HOLDS IN
S WELL OR
TURTLE OR ANIMAL OR CONTAININGS 22&23
SHAFT FILLED,
SYMBOL = TREASURE
CIRCLE OF ROCKS TREASURE BELOW
ON INDIAN MOUND STEPS TO TREASURE OR PRECIOUS STONES
TREASURE BELOW
IN CAVE, 3 CHEST OR 3 ETC.NEARBY, OR 4, OR
OR HILL = TREASURE
ON LINE,
VARIANT OF ON LINE,
CROSS
HERE
PRECIOUS LAND MARK, OR
STONES CIRCLE OF ROCKS
LANDAROUND
MARK, OR
NEARBY, ORTO Treasure Location Symbols
BREAK,
4, OR CLEAR
TREE DEPOSIT HERE
= TREASURE IN
TO BREAK,
VARIANT OFTOCROSS
DIVIDE, OR 10 TRIANGLE OF TREES
TO DIVIDE, OR 10
OR ROCKS
SHAFT TO TREASURE IN 3 TREES
CIRCLE
TUNNEL ATOF ROCKS
ON INDIAN
FOOT OF HILL MOUND
OR HILL = TREASURE
PRECIOUS STONES SYMB
HERE SYMBOLS
NEW MOON
PRECIOUS STONES NEARBY, OR 4, OR OF GOLD
MINERA
CLEAR
POINTINGDEPOSIT
DOWN, IN LOOK
VARIANT IN TUNNEL
OF CROSS CLEAR DEPOSIT
IN MI
NEARBY, OR 4, OR
TRIANGLE SYMBOLS
OF TREES OF GOLD
SYMBOLS OF CROSS OR MINE SHAFT
DIG HERE,
VARIANT SYMBOLS OF GOLD OF TRE
TRIANGLE FO
OR ROCKS
OF GOLDSILVER, CAVE GOLD OR ROCKS P
NEARBY, OVER CAVE
TRAINGLE OF LANDMAR
BUT STAY TO THE RIGH
STEPS TO TREASURENEW OR MOON RISING SUN =
IN CAVE, 3 CHEST OR 3 ETC. DOWN, TREASURE BELOW
S, POINTING SYMBOLS OF GOLD
SYMBOLS
S,
LD RISING SYMBOLS
SUN = OF GOLD DIG OFHERE,
SYMBOLS
GOLDOF GOLD BOX ORSYMBOLS
SYMBOLS CHEST, OF GOLD
ER TREASURE BELOW SILVER, CAVE TREASURE BELOW
OF GOLD BURIED HERE,
NEARBY,
MINEOVER CAVE
OR TUNNEL COP
ON LINE, OR SQUARE FOOT
CLOSED, ROCK ROOM, T
AND MARK, OR
LIVING QUARTERS TRE
TO BREAK,
O DIVIDE, OR 10
22&23
RISING SUN =
RISING SUN = TREASURE BELOW MINERALS OR TREASURE
BOX
LOOKORINCHEST,
TUNNEL BOX ORSIDE,
CHEST,
TREASURE BELOW IN TO
SHAFT MOUNTAIN
BURIED
OR MINEHERE,
SHAFT BURIED HERE,
ON LINE,
OR SQUARE FOOT TUNNELFOLLOW LONG
ATOR SQUARE
PRECIOUS POINT,
STONES
FOOT OF HILL DELTA FOOT
LAND MARK, OR
CLEAR DEPOSIT IN TO BREAK, NEARBY, OR 4, OR
TO DIVIDE, OR 10
RIANGLE OF TREES VARIANT OF CROSS
OR ROCKS
LADDER = CLIMB
22&23 SHAFT TO TREA
TO TREASURE
TUNNEL AT
FOOT OF HILL
MINE ORDEPOSIT
CLEAR TUNNEL IN COPPER, MINES WITH
CLOSED, ROCK
TRIANGLE OFROOM,
TREES STEPS TO TREASURE OR VEIWS
TUNNELS, SYMBOLS
MBOLS OF GOLD SYMBOLS
LIVING
ORQUARTERS
ROCKS IN CAVE, 3 CHESTOF
ORMINERALS
3 ETC.
OF GOLD
SPIKE =
GOLD OR ORE NEAR
TREASURE
BELOW
TUNNELS -
BRACKETS = TREASURE INSIDE ANCHOR = TREASURE
LADDER
TREASURE NEARBY
OPENING, = CLIMB
MINE OR BELOW, FAVORITE
CAVE TO TREASURE
CONCEALED POT = PIRATE SYMBOL, STOPPOT =
HERE
DAGGER = HERE
TREASURE TREASURE HERE
GOLD OR ORE NEARBY
TREASURE SPIKE =
STRAIGHT
BELOW TREASURE
TO LEFT AHEAD
L BELOW
TREASURE IN TUNNEL
OR SPRING,
LOOK IN HOLE
STRAIGHT
WINDLASS = MINE TO LEFT AHEAD
TREASURE IN OR
TUNNEL
TREASURE BELOW HORSESHOES =
OR SPRING, TREASURE BELOW
LOOK IN HOLE
GOLD OR ORE NEARBY
ANCHOR == TREASURE
BRACKETS = ANCHOR = TREASURE HORSESHOES
TREASURE NEARBYBELOW, FAVORITE TREASURE BELOW,
BELOWFAVORITE
PIRATE SYMBOL, STOP HEREPIRATE SYMBOL, STOP HERE
TUNNELS -
HORSESHOES = POT = TREASURE
OPENING, MINE OR INSIDE
WINDLASS = MINE
TREASURE BELOW TREASURE HERE CAVE CONCEALED
OR TREASURE BELOW
46 www.garrett.com
OPENING, MINE ORSTRAIGHT
TO CONCEALED
CAVE LEFT AHEAD
TREASURE IN TUNNEL
OR SPRING,
STRAIGHT
OPENING,
AHEADMINE OR
TO LEFT RIGHT LOWER POT =
CAVE CONCEALED RIGHT LOWER
GO DOWN
HALF TREASURE HER
CHANGE HALF TREA
Treasure Location Symbols
DIRECTIONS
TUNNELS -
GO DOWN TREASURE INSIDE
CHANGE
CHANGE
TREASURE DIRECTIONS PERPENDICUL
RIGHT LOWER STRAIGHTTREASURE
TREASURE
DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS
WINDLASS
BELOW= MINE
GO UP ABOVE T
HALF
TO LEFT
TREASURE AHEAD
DIRECTIONS
OR TREASURE
TREASURE IN TUNNELBELOW
OR SPRING,
LOOK IN HOLE
PERPENDICULAR
FO
JE
GOGO
UPUP LEFT UPPE
RIGHT LOWER CHANGE ANCHOR = TREASURE
BRACKETS = RIGHT LOWER HALF O
HALF DIRECTIONS LEFT UPPER
BELOW, FAVORITE HE
TREASURE
RIGHT LOWER FOLLOWNEARBY
90º HALF HALF
PIRATE SYMBOL, STOP HER
HALF OR FOLLOW
FOLLOW POINT,
POINT
POT = SYMBOL
HORSESHOES = JESUIT WINDLASS = MINE
TREASURE
TREASURE BELOW FOR HERE
GOLD OR TREASURE BELOW
OR TREASURE
HERE OR NEARBY
GOON
DOWN
COU
CHANGE FOLLOW 90º
DIRECTIONS GOCHANGE
UP FOLLOW
GO90º
DOWN IN EITHE
CHANGE OR FOLLOW POINT
DIRECTIONSOR FOLLOW POINT
DIRECTIONS NORTH OR
FOLLOW OPPOSITE
COURSE
ON TO SOUTH
TREASURE
COURSE, FOLLOW
OPENING, MINE OR
ABOVEDIRECTION
IN EITHER
CAVE CONCEALED POT =
TREASURE HERE
PERPENDICULA
GO UP NORTH
GO UP
FOLLOW 90º OROR
PERPENDICULAR
NORTH
GO UP FOLLOW TO EAST FOLLOW
FOLLOW OPPOSITE
OPPOSITE
OR FOLLOW POINT COURSE TO SOUTH
(CAN BE A “W”, “S” OR “N”) COURSE TO SOUTHPOINTING LIM
FOLLOW LIM
ANCHOR = TREASURE
Understanding
BELOW, FAVORITE Treasure Signs and Symbols OFTEN USED
47
SPANIARDS, PIR
FO
PIRATE SYMBOL, STOP HERE
TREASURE TREASURE JE
POINTING LIMB =
BELOW ABOVE FOLLOW POIN
FOLLOW LIMB, JESUIT SYMB
OR
ON COURSE,
PERPENDICULAR FOLLOW
TREES, ROCKS, ETC.
INTREASURE ON OPEN SIDETRIANGLE OF
EITHER DIRECTION
WATCHING TREASURE
TREES, ROCKS,DIRECTIONS
ETC. TREA
URE HERE OR TREASURE ON OPEN SIDE
GLE OF TREES, NORTH OR
CKS, ETC. Treasure Location Symbols FOLLOW OPPOSITE
COURSE TO SOUTH
GOLD NEABY
FOLLOW POINT,
JESUIT SYMBOL EYE WATCHING
FOR GOLD TREASURE HERE OR
OR TREASUREIN TRIANGLE OF TREES, TRIANGLE O
EYE
OPENING, HERE OR NEARBY ROCKS,EYE
WATCHING
CAVE ETC.WATCHING TREES, ROCKS
TREASURE HERE OR
CONCEALMENT TREASURE
FOLLOWHERE OR
TREASURE ON OP
TO EAST
POINTING LIMB = OPENING, CAVE IN (CAN
TRIANGLE OF TREES,
IN TRIANGLE OF TREES, BE A “W”, “S” OR “N”)
FOLLOW LIMB,
ROCKS, ETC. CONCEALMENT ROCKS, ETC.
OFTEN USED BY
SPANIARDS, PIRATES
TREASURE
ABOVE
ON COURSE, FOLLOW
IN EITHER DIRECTION OP
GOLD NEABY CO
TREASURE IN
OPENING
FOLLOW
LONGEST POINT TREASURE
TREASURE IN
DIRECTIONS OPENING, CAVE
GOLD NEABY GOLD NEABY HOLE INCONCEALMENT
TREE =
FOR 4 VARAS, ETC OPENING
SIGHT THRU
HOLE TO LOCATION
TREASURE
20 & 21
HERE TRE
O
TREASURE
POINTING LIMB = ABOVE TRIANGLE OF
FOLLOW
CHESTLIMB,
OR BOX, TREASURE
EYE WATCHING TREES, ROCKS, ETC. IN
OFTEN
180ºUSED
TO BY
TREASURE
EASURE HERE OR
TREASURE TREASURE ONOPENING
TREASURE OPEN SIDE
SPANIARDS, PIRATES CHEST OR BOX,
RIANGLE OF TREES,
ABOVE ABOVE
E ROCKS, ETC. 180º TO TREASURE
FOLLOW
LONGEST POINT TREASURE 18
SPADE = DIG HERE
FOR 4 VARAS, ETC HERE POINTS TO
SOMETHING CHEST OR BOX,
OPENING, CAVE
TREASURE REMOVED TREASURE 180º TO TREASURE
ABY CONCEALMENT
48 www.garrett.com
HERE FROM HERE HERE
SOMETHING
REMOVED
FROM HERE
20 & 21
RE
REMOVED
EYE WATCH
NING TREES, ROCKS, ETC.
FROM HERE
TREASURE HER
TREASURE ON OPEN SIDE
IN TRIANGLE OF
SPADE = DIG HERE LEFT UPPER
ROCKS, ET
POINTS TO HALF
Treasure Location Symbols
EST OR BOX,
SPADE = DIG HERE TREASURE IN MOUND
TO TREASURE OPENING, CAVEGO DOWN
POINTS TO GOLD NEABY
CONCEALMENT
TREASURE IN
TUNNEL OR CAVE,
TWO ENTRANCES
T
PERPENDICULAR
TREASURE IN
SOMETHING
OPENING
REMOVED TREASURE IN TREASURE
FROM HERE TUNNEL OR CAVE, ABOVE
INT, TWO ENTRANCES
BOL
D
RE FOLLOW POINT,
& 21
ARBY JESUIT SYMBOL
FOR GOLD
OR TREASURE
HERE OR NEARBY
CHEST OR BOX,
180º TO TREASURE TREASURE
SURE IN MOUND HERE
LOW
ION
ON COURSE, FOLLOW
IN EITHER DIRECTION
SOMETHING
REMOVED
UnderstandingFROM
Treasure
HERE Signs and Symbols 49
SPADE = DIG HERE
POINTS TO
TO THE LEFT
“COMING FROM”
FURT
DOUBLE DISTANCE UP, FURTHE
HT DOUBLE DISTANCE UP,
TO THE LEFT T
DOUBLE DISTANCE UP, TREE, LOOK
FURTHERUP, UP, TRE
UP TOTREE, LOOK
THE “COMING
TOUP, UP, FROM”
THE RIGHT
DOUBLE
TO DISTANCE
THE RIGHT TREE,
UP, LOOK HERE,
TO THETHE
LOOK DOWN
LEFTTREE
E” RIGHT, LOOK
DIVIDED DOWN
“GOING TO “C
FURTHER TREE,
“GOING
UP, TOLOOK UP,LOOK DOWN BEGINNING,
“COMING FROM”
URTHER SOMEWHERE”
UP, SOMEWHERE” MULTIPLIED FUR
TREE LOOK DOWN UP TO THE
TREE DOUBLE DISTANCE UP,
RIGHT, DIVIDED AR
TREE, LOOK UP,
TO THE RIGHT TO THE LEFT TO
LOOK DOWN
°
E
“GOING TO “COMING FROM” OR
SOMEWHERE” LESS
N. THAN HERE, THE HERE, THE UP TO TH
AROUND 180
TO TREASURE
° HERE, THE
BEGINNING, GREATERBEGINNING, RIGHT, DIVI
UP TO THE BEGINNING,
HERE, FURTHER LESSUP, THAN MULTIPLIED
MULTIPLIED
CE UP, OR NEXTUP TOSIGN.
RIGHT,
THE
DIVIDEDMULTIPLIED TREE
BEGINNING, THAN
RIGHT, DIVIDED FURTHER UP,
°°
P, MULTIPLIED DOUBLE DISTANCE UP, AROUND 180
DOUBLE DISTANCE UP, AROUNDTREE 180
N HERE, THE
TREE, LOOK UP, TO TREASURE
TREE, LOOK UP,
LOOK DOWN HERE,
BEGINNING,
LOOK DOWN °
AROUND 180 TOOR TREASURE
NEXT SIGN.
TO TREASUREOR NEXT SIGN.
MULTIPLIED LESS
CONTAINS OR NEXT SIGN. FURTHER UP,
HERE, EARTH, TO LEFTTHAN
DOUBLE DISTANCE LESSUP,WITHIN
GREATER
AROUND
GREATER
OR
TO
TREE
RIGHT,
TREASURE
°
180
VARAS
LESS UP,
TREE, LOOK GREATER HERE, THAN
THAN THAN UP TO (USUALLY
OR NEXT50
THE OR 100),
SIGN.
THAN
LOOKGREATER
DOWN THAN CONTAINS
MINUS, NEGATIVE
RIGHT, DIVIDED
THAN WITHIN UP TO THE
FT RIGHT, DIVIDED
HERE, THE GREATER HERE, THE
), BEGINNING, THAN BEGINNING, HERE,
MULTIPLIED HERE, TIMES
EARTH, TO CONTAINS
LEFT
MULTIPLIED
TOHERE,
TREASURE
°
AROUND 180 HERE, EARTH,
HERE, EARTH, TO LEFT
TO LEFT THREE
THE OR
UP TO THE
RIGHT, VARAS
DISTANCE, WITHIN
HERE,
HERE, EARTH,
CONTAINS
OR NEXT SIGN.TOOR
OR RIGHT,
LEFT AROUND
RIGHT,
(USUALLY
VARAS
VARAS 180 LESS (USUALLY
°
50 OR 100),THAN FARTHER,
AROUND °
RIGHT, 180
DIVIDED
50 OR 100),
TO TREASURE
HERE,
UP, THE HERE (USUALLY
DOWN,
CONTAINS TO TREASURE
50 OR 100), MINUS,
A MEASUREMENT, NEGATIVE
OR RIGHT, VARAS
WITHIN MINUS,NEXT
NEGATIVE OR NEXTLESS
SIGN.
BEGINNING,
GOD
WITHINPOWER
100),OR
(USUALLY 50 ORMINUS, NEGATIVE SIGN. CAVES THAN
MULTIPLIED HERE, EARTH, TO LEFT
MINUS, NEGATIVE
UP, DOWN, HERE
50 www.garrett.com GOD
OR RIGHT,
AROUND
GREATER
POWER
VARAS
°
180
GREATER (USUALLY
TO TREASURE50 OR 100),
THAN
MINUS, NEGATIVE THREE TIMESLESS
THAN THREE TIMES
OR NEXT SIGN.
THREE TIMES THE DISTANCE,THAN UP, DO
THE DISTANCE, HERE, UP, DOW
THREE TIMES THE DISTANCE, FARTHER, GOD
FARTHER,
Turtle Signs and Symbols
The turtle is an important treasure symbol
used to point to a trail or to give direction to a
hiding place. If you see a turtle with markings
on his shell, each mark represents 1 vara in dis-
tance. The number of marks is often followed
by a vara arrow pointing in a particular direc- VARIA
tion. Three marks followed by a down-pointing NOTE
LLOW TURTLE,
REASURE, TO
EXT SIGN BY
LOWING HEAD STOP, DANGER,
SLOW, NOTE
OBJECTS HIDDE
FEET CLOSE TO FEET ARE OBVERSE =
BODY ON RIGHT SIDE
52FEETwww.garrett.com
ARE OBVERSE =
ON RIGHT SIDE
MONDS AND VARA SHELL MARKED TO MEAN
L INDICATES TO GO “GO 4 VARAS IN DIRECTION
S IN THIS DIRECTION OF TURTLE’S HEAD”
ATION, HEAD TO NEXT SIGN SNA
3 VARAS
RATTLESNAKE = HEAD
PROCEED WITH CAUTION HEAD POINTS TO TREASURE
DOW
GO IN
OF H
Understanding
HEAD OR TAIL TO NEXT SIGN Treasure Signs and Symbols 53 10X D
ACK SNAKE =
FE TO FOLLOW TO G
TO T
RATTLESNAKE =
OR T
ROCEED WITH CAUTION
DOWN = MEASURE ENEMY
TIP TO GROUND,
10X TO NEXT HEAD =
SIGN OR TREASURE SNAKE SNAKEDIRECTION OR
Snake Signs and Symbols
SNAKE GOING
DOWN = MEASURE
SNAKE GOING UP,
GOING UP,
GOING UP,ENEMY
GO TO NEXT SIGN GO TO NEXT SIGN
TIP TO GROUND,
GO TO NEXT SIGN
SNAKES HEAD = DIRECTION
10X TO NEXT HEAD = DIRECTION= OR
HEAD ENEMY
N SIGN OR TREASURE SNAKE GOING
ENEMY
DIRECTION OR
HEAD = DIRECTION OR DOWN = MEASURE
ENEMY
BLACK SNAKE ENEMY
= TIP TO GROUND,
SAFE TO FOLLOW 10X TO NEXT
SIGN OR TREASURE
DOWN,
BENEATH
FOLLOW AROU
TO RIGHT, ALS
HEAD =
TREASURE BENE
DIRECTION OR
SNAKE ENEMY
GOING UP, HEAD POINTS TO TREASUR
DOWN,
DOWN,
DOWN,
GO TO NEXT SIGN
BENEATH BENEATH
BENEATH HEAD = DIRECTION OR
FOLLOW AROUND
ENEMYFOLLOW AROUND
TO RIGHT, ALSO
SNAKE TO RIGHT, ALSO BENEA
FOLLOW AROUND TREASURE
GOING UP, TREASURE BENEATH
GO TO NEXT SIGNTO RIGHT, ALSO
TREASURE BENEATH HEAD = DIRECTION OR TO RIGHT
STAY ONLY
FOLLOW AROUND SNAKE
ENEMY
TO LEFT GOING UP,
GO TO NEXT SIGN
GOLD, GOLD,
TTAINMENT,
GOLD, THEHORN,
ATTAINMENT, HORN,
THE ATTAINMENT, HARMONY
TREASURE
REASURE TREASURE HARMON
TREASURE
TO THE LEFT
TREASURE
MOON WITH DIRECTIONAL EYE WATCHING TREASUR
ATCHING TO THE LEFT
EYE WATCHING
MARKS TO THE RIGHT LOCATION TO THE LE
CATION
LOCATION
Understanding Treasure Signs and Symbols 55
MOON IN CLOUDS,
FARTHER, LOOK T
HIGHER
GO TO RIGHT MO
H, MOON IN WOODS,
Moon Symbols
GO TO LEFT
LOOK
MOON IN FOREST
OVER MOUNTAINS, GO TO RIGHT ECLIP
GO TONEW
RIGHT
MOON, LO
GO TO LEFT TRAVEL TO MOUNTAINS, WESTNEW MOON,
MOON IN CLOUDS, GO TO RIGHT,
MOON INFARTHER,
CLOUDS, LOOK GOTIDES,
TO RIGHT,
TIDAL WATERS
FARTHER, LOOK TIDES, TIDAL WATERS
HIGHER
HIGHER
NEW MOON,
NEW MOON,
MOON MOON IN CLOUDS,
IN CLOUDS, GO TO GO TO RIGHT,
RIGHT,
FARTHER,FARTHER,
LOOK LOOK ASCENDING TIDES,TIDES, TIDAL WATERS
TIDAL WATERS
MOON DESC
HIGHER HIGHER ECLIPSE,
GO TO DANGER,
LEFT NEW MOON, NEW MOON,
UNTAINS, GO TO RIGHT,GO TO RIGHT,
MOON IN CLOUDS,
MOON IN CLOUDS, LOOK HERE
TAINS, WEST
FARTHER, LOOK FARTHER, LOOK WANING MOON,TIDES, TIDALTIDES,
WATERSTIDAL WATERS
N, HIGHER HIGHER LOOK BELOW
TER
WANING MOON,
MOON, ALSO SUN, WANING
LOOKMOON,
BELOW
MOON, ALSOOFSUN, LOOK
FIRE, FACE WATER GOBELOW
TO RIGHT
GO TO
FIRE, FACE OFLEFT
WATER GO TO RIGHT
GO TO LEFT
G
DESCENDING MOON
GO TO GO TO RIGHT
RIGHT
GO TO GO TO LEFT
LEFT
12&13
MOON, ALSO SUN,
GO TO RIGHTGO TO RIGHT
GO TO LEFT GO TO LEFT FIRE, FACE OF WATER
WANINGWANING
MOON,MOON,
MOON,MOON, ALSO SUN,
ALSO SUN, LOOK BELOW
LOOK BELOW
FIRE,OF
FIRE, FACE FACE OF WATER
WATER SPANISH
SYMBOL
ECLIPSE, =
DANGER,
UNTAINS, MOON, MONTH, WANING MOON,WANING MOON, M
MOON,
AINS, WEST SUN, ALSO SUN, LOOK HERE
ALSO MOON, LOOK BELOWLOOK BELOW L
TIME ECLIPSE, DANGER,
IRE, FACEMOON
OF WATER
FIRE, FACEMOUNTAINS,
OVER OF WATER
ECLIPSE, DANGER,
LOOK HERE
MOON
TRAVEL OVER MOUNTAINS,WEST
TO MOUNTAINS, LOOK HERE
TRAVEL TO MOUNTAINS, WEST
SPANISH
SPANISH
SYMBOL
www.garrett.com
56 SYMBOL =
= MONTH,
MOON, MOON IN WOODS,
MOON, MONTH, MOON IN WOODS,
LOOK IN FOREST
TIME DESCENDING MOON LOOK IN
TIME FOREST
ASCENDING
SPANISHSPANISH
ASCENDING DESCENDING MOON ECL
ESS, DAYS JOURNEY, NUMBER OF DAYS
HOURGLASS,
1 DAY
SUN SYMBO
HAPPINESS, DAYS JOURNE
AT OR
THE DEATH
LION WARWAR WARRIORS DO NOT RECOVER
EO THE LION WARRIORS DO NOT RECOVER
DANGER OR DEATH
OR DEATH IN DAYTIME
IN DAYTIME
OR DANGER DEAD PERSON
EO THE LION WAR WARRIORS DO DEFEAT
NOT RECOVER
OR DEATH
HICH
OR INDICATE DEATH
DANGER OR DEATH IN DAYTIME
WARRIORS
LEO THE LION
LEO THE DO LION
LEOLION
THE NOT RECOVER
WAR WAR WAR WARRIORS
WARRIORS DO NOTDO
WARRIORS RECO
NO
OR DANGER
OR DEATH
OR DANGER IN DAYTIME
OR DANGER OR DEATH
OR DEATH IN DAYTIM
OR DEATH IN
DEATH 58ORwww.garrett.com
OR
DEATH WATER OR OR
WATER IMMINENT DANGER
CAMPFIRE IMMINENT DANG
CAMPFIRE DEATH
DEATH HOSTILE INDIANS OR
HOSTILE DANGER,
INDIANS
DEATH OR WATER OR LONG STRETCH
IMMINENT
LONG DANG
RATTLES
STRETCH
CAMPFIRE DEATH WITHOUT WATER
HOSTILE INDIANS
WITHOUT WATE
IN DAYTIME WARRIORS
LEO THE LION
LEO THE LION
WAR WAR WARRIORS DO NOTDOREN
OR DANGER
LEO THE LION WAR OR DEATH
WARRIORS
OR DEATH IN DAYT
DOI
OR DANGER
OR DANGER OR DEATH
DO NOT RECOVER
Danger Symbols
IN DAYTIME VERYVERY FOU
BATTLE
BATTLE AXE, DEATH POISONOUS
AXE, DEATH POISONOUS SPANISH
POISONOUS LIGHTING
POISONOUS INDI
OR DANGER
OR DANGER BOLT OR ABSOLUT
DEATH; CAN ALSO
INDICATE THAT A
OUR POINT STAR SIX POINT STAR DEATH TRAP IS NEA
DICATES GRAVE INDICATES MORE VERY VERY THEPOINT
FOUR TREASURE
DANGER GRAVE DANGER FOUR STAR
SPANISH LIGHTING POINT
BATTLEBATTLE
AXE, DEATH POISONOUS POISONOUS
POISONOUS VERY INDICATES GRAVE
FOUR POING
AXE, DEATH POISONOUS INDICATES
BOLT OR ABSOLUTE
OR DANGER
BATTLE AXE, DEATH
OR DANGER DEADDEAD PERSON
POISONOUS
PERSON POISONOUS DANGER
INDICATES
DEATH;
DEFEAT CAN
OR DANGE
ALSO
DEATH
OR DANGER
ICH INDICATE
DICATE DEATHDEATH DEFEAT OR DEATH
INDICATE THAT ADANG
POINT STAR SIX POINT STAR DEATH TRAP IS NEAR
TES GRAVE INDICATES MORE THE TREASURE
ANGER GRAVE DANGER
DEATH
DEATH
OR OR WATER
WATER
OR OR
CAMPFIRE
CAMPFIRE DEATHDEATH
AR WARRIORS DO NOT
WARRIORS DORECOVER
NOT RECOVER DANGER, POISON OR
OR DEATH
OR DEATH IN DAYTIME
IN DAYTIME RATTLESNAKE JAW
IMMINENT DANGER
DEATH
HOSTILE OR OROR
INDIANS
DEATH WATERWATER
OR OR IMM
CAMPFIRE
LONG STRETCH
DEATH OR DEATHWATER
CAMPFIRE DEATHOR HOST
WITHOUT WATER
CAMPFIRE DANGER, POISON OR
DEATH LO
RATTLESNAKE JAW WI
IMMINENT DANGER GILA MONSTER,
GILA MONSTER,
DANGER,
DANGER,
HOSTILE INDIANS OR DESERT,
DESERT,
POISON
POISON
LOOKLOOK
HEREHERE
LONG STRETCH
WITHOUT WATER
VERY VERY FOURFOUR
POINTPOINT
STAR STAR SIX POINT
SIX POINT STAR STAR
POISONOUS INDICATES
OISONOUS INDICATES
GRAVEGRAVE INDICATES
INDICATES MOREMORE
DANGERDANGER GRAVE
GRAVE DANGER DANGER
DANGER, GILA MONSTER,
GILA MONSTER,
DANGER, DESERT, POISON
LOOK HEREDANGER, GILA
DESERT,MONSTER,
POISON
LOOK HERE
LOOK HERE DESERT, POISON
EARLY CROSS
LATIN CROSS LATIN
VAR
EARLY CROSS
EARLY CROSS EARLY CROSS
EARLY CROSS OR EARLY CROSS
OR AMONG THE EARLY CROSS LATIN CROSS
OR LATIN CROSS
AMONG THE
FIRST SIGNS LATIN CROSS
AMONG THE
FIRST SIGNS
FIRST SIGNS
EARLY CROSS
LATIN CROSS OR EARLY CROSS
MEXICAN CROSS
ST. PETERS GREEK CROSS
VARIATION
AMONG THE LATIN CRO
CROSS
ATIN CROSS LATIN CROSS
LATINFIRST
CROSSSIGNS ST. PETERS
GREEK CROSS
ST. PETERS
VARIATION
VARIATION CROSS
CROSS
MEXICAN CROSS
MEXICAN CROSS, MEXICAN CROSS
MEXICAN CROSS, MEXICAN CROSS
VARIATION
EXICAN CROSS,
VARIATION
VARIATION
ST. ANDREWS CROSS,
THE ROMAN CROSS PERUVIAN CROSS
OR “BARRIER”
WS CROSS,
N CROSS PERUVIAN CROSS
RRIER” ST. ANTONEY’S MEXICAN
MEXICAN CROSS
ST. ANTONEY’S
MEXICAN MEXICAN CROSS,
CROSS,
CROSS, VARIATION
S CROSS, VARIATION
VARIATION VARIATION
CHURCH CROSS CRO
CHURCH CROSS
MEXICAN CROSS,
CHURCH CROSS = CROSS OF LORRAINE, ST. ANTONEY
VARIATION
ELIGIOUS ARTICLES THE PATRIARCHAL CROSS CROSS, VARIA
CHURCH
CHURCH CROSS = CROSS = CROSS OF CROSS OF LORRAINE,
LORRAINE,
CROSS
JESUIT ON
SYMBOLS
RELIGIOUS SPANISH ARTICLESTHE PATRIARCHAL
RELIGIOUS
ARTICLES THE PATRIARCHAL
CROSS CROSS C
SILVER
OF GOLD, BARS
THE ATTAINMENT CHURCH CROSS = CROSS OF LORRAIN
RELIGIOUS ARTICLES THE PATRIARCHAL C
JESUIT SYMBOLS
JESUIT SYMBOLS
CROSS LATIN
OF GOLD, CROSS
OF GOLD, ST. PETERS
VARIATION
THE ATTAINMENT
THE ATTAINMENT CROSS
JESUIT SYMBOLS
OF GOLD,
Understanding Treasure Signs and Symbols
THE ATTAINMENT 61
SPANISH TREASURE TERMS
62 www.garrett.com
Spanish soldier. Fortunately, Spain accepted the
metric system in the late 1860s but treasure ter-
minology prior to that time frame will often in-
volve varas. Treasure symbols for vara can in-
dicate how many paces or sets of these 33-inch
lengths must be stepped off to reach a particular
point.
In North America, the vara had slightly dif-
ferent measurement lengths. In Mexico, the
vara’s equivalent in inches was 32.99. This was
later rounded to 33 inches in California while
Texas used a 33.33-inch vara for early land
measurements.
Many other words of Spanish origin will
likely be encountered in your research of old
documents. Although I recommend adding a
Spanish to English dictionary to your treasure-
hunting arsenal, it is worth considering a few
other significant treasure words that are of
Spanish origin. For example, the terms braza
and estado were also used to measure distances.
Pirates and sailors used the term braza as
a measuring distance of 5 feet 7 inches. Each
“pace” or vara distance given on a map was
Understanding Treasure Signs and Symbols 63
thus walked off in lengths of 5 feet 7 inches.
The term estado, used by Spanish Jesuits or
Catholic priests, was also measured as 5 feet
7 inches. One estado was the minimum depth
measurement that items of importance were to
be buried.
The term league is another important word
in determining distances to treasures. The stat-
ute (land) league was a distance that varied
between 2.12 and 2.18 miles while a nautical
league varied between 3.18 and 3.27 miles.
There are far too many words to cover in this
book but the treasure hunter should be aware of
at least some common terms of measurement
that can be quite troublesome.
The following brief list includes transla-
tions of common Spanish words that could be
encountered on treasure-related documents:
alhaja jewel
cajón large box, chest
cavar dig, excavate
cobre copper
codo half of a vara (16”)
64 www.garrett.com
entierro hidden treasure
escondida hidden
este east
harqueta fork in trail or stream
iglesia church
joya jewels
llano plain
loma small hill
marca mark, sign
moneda money or coin
norte north
oeste west
oro gold
pasada passage
patacón silver coin
plata silver
quilate carat (24 carat gold)
sur, sud south
tesoro treasure
tiro mine shaft
vena vein of ore
66 www.garrett.com
Other treasures could be buried in the middle—
halfway between your first symbol and the
point you believed to be the ending spot. Use
your metal detector to sweep the whole area
from one end to the other.
68 www.garrett.com
• I’ll leave you with the best treasures signs
advice I know to offer. Look for something or
things unusual or out of place. Anything you
can spot that could not have happened natu-
rally is important. Such abnormalities, although
often subtle, might be just the treasure clues
that could lead you to great discoveries!
www.garrett.com
72 www.garrett.com
Master treasure hunter and author