10 Unclaimed Treasures That Would Make You Filthy Rich
7. The Treasure Of The Temple Of Solomon
Modern Value: $1.2 Billion Everyone knows the name Dead Sea Scrolls, but very few people know that with the theological scrolls was a scroll unlike the others. This very special scroll was different to the 972 parchment and papyrus texts found, as it was made of copper, which would have been expensive and difficult to work with at the time the scrolls were hidden to protect them from the wars that were ravaging the land. The copper scroll was a found in two separate pieces, presumably split to protect the contents of the scrolls from any unworthy discoverers. The copper scroll was discovered in March of 1952, slightly separate from the other finds and more carefully hidden. The scroll has suffered badly from oxidation and was extremely fragile, meaning it would be some time before the scroll could be translated. Eventually however, the scroll was translated and it was discovered to be an extremely detailed list of 64 locations where large amounts of gold, silver, religious relics and treasure had been hidden. It was clearly intended to be retrieved and the treasure to be recovered, as it is written assuming that the reader is familiar with the places, locations and landmarks mentioned. Estimates have dated the scroll to around 110-30 BCE. Much of the land was ruled by Romans during and after this period, and it is not surprising to discover that the general theory held among historians is that at least some of the treasure was located and taken by the Romans, however, the sheer number of hiding places detailed means that it is unlikely that any occupying force would have found all of the treasure without the list and a local informant to detail the locations. As an example of the cryptic nature of the list, a short translation has been made public. "In the funeral shrine, in the 3rd row of stones. One hundred gold ingots. In the ascent of the "staircase of refuge', to the left-hand side, three cubits up from the floor are forty talents of silver. In the cave that is next to and belonging to the House of Hakkoz, dig six cubits. Within are six ingots of gold." It's the treasure map that keeps on giving! Discover one treasure, and you are filthy rich, discover two and you will never need to work again. Spend your days hunting down the other treasures! Solving ancient riddles, and recovering 64 individual treasures, not to mention the historical and cultural artefacts that are sure to accompany the most valuable resources buried during a time of war, occupation and persecution.
