For the UK television game show, see Treasure Hunt

For the US television game show, see The New Treasure Hunt

For the 2006 US television reality show, see Treasure Hunters

A treasure hunt can be one of a number of things. The original meaning was a search for real treasure; another meaning is a children's game (although as activities they may have developed independently).

Real treasure

Searching for hidden treasure has been a notable human activity for millennia.

In recent times, the early stages of the development of archaeology included a significant aspect of treasure hunt; Heinrich Schliemann's excavations at Troy, and later at Mycenae, both turned up significant finds of golden artifacts. Early work in Egyptology also included a similar motive.

More recently, most serious treasure hunters have started working underwater, where modern technology allows access to wrecks containing valuables which were previously inaccessible. Starting with the diving suit, and moving on through Scuba and later to ROV's, each new generation of technology has made more wrecks accessible.

The game

A treasure hunt is a game in which a single player or a group of players try to find hidden articles, locations or places by using a series of clues.

A common and traditional application of the treasure hunt was the Easter egg hunt that was performed on Easter Sunday mornings. Children would find an Easter egg or other Easter gift by reading a clue that was given to them then going to the location of that clue. Sometimes this game is performed as part of children's parties with the final article being something other than the Easter egg.

See also

• Buried treasure
• Geocaching
• Marine salvage and treasure hunting (marine)
• Armchair treasure hunt

Treasure found by treasure hunters

• Ringlemere gold cup

Damage caused by treasure hunters

• Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains
• Many barrows
• The exploitation of huacas in South America by so-called huaqueros.

External links

• Treasure Center™ Treasure and archaeological adventure site. Treasure and archaeological exhibits from around the world, lost treasures, treasure hunting tips, and the latest in fascinating treasure and archaeological news from around the world, updated daily.
• DetectorX.com - Treasure hunting News, Research, Articles and Forums.
• Recreational treasure Hunting - A complete resource site for treasure hunting with a metal detector.
• The Shipwreck RMS Republic - A very real quest/treasure hunt for what may be one of the largest shipwreck treasures of all time.
• Hunter - A free mixed-reality treasure hunt involving Google Earth.

Further reading

• Robert E. Burgess, Sunken Treasure (Dodd, Mead; New York; 1988)

Outdoor locating games

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