Whether it's a birthday, another holiday, or just a normal day, treasure hunting is an easy and fun way to keep kids entertained and entertained. Such a game will not only bring joy and fun to the child, but also contribute to the development of his mental and physical abilities. In this article, we will tell you how to organize a treasure hunt with children.

Steps

Preparatory activities

Think about who you will be playing with. Different children are interested in different approaches to play. Usually the most difficult moment is the complexity of the game and the route, it should be selected depending on the age of the children. There are some other important points:

• Age and gender of children. Make sure the difficulty level is appropriate for the age and intelligence of the children.
• The time for which the game is designed. Keep in mind that younger children get tired quickly, and as soon as they get bored with the game, they will become irritable.
• Find out if any of your children are allergic to foods or any sweets.

1. Choose a large (depending on the level of difficulty and the age of the children) place for the game. The place you choose should be large enough to play in, but not so big that children can get lost. If you are organizing play for younger children, they may need to be played with by adults who can accompany them if you have chosen a large play area.

   • For children 2-4 years old, it is advisable to organize a treasure hunt right in the house. It should be a small safe place.
   • For children 5-8 years old, you can organize a playground for playing inside and outside the house. Again, the playground should be supervised by adults. If the site is located outside, it should be away from public organizations.
   • For children 9-12 years old, a park or school is suitable. So the children will feel more independent.
   • For teenagers, a block or even a whole district, a market or a large open field is best suited.

2. Think about the theme or format of the game. It's much better to get all the kids to play than to try to entertain everyone willy-nilly. The most amazing games are made when the hunters are united by some common theme, for example hobbit or some general plan, for example, searching for keys, recipes and ingredients for preparing a certain dish. Of course, you can play the classic version of the game - with hints and a map!

   Think about how long the game is. It is believed that the child will remain patient and interested in the game if there are twice as many clues as the child's age. Of course, even older children will get tired after 26 clues. Hints should be from 5 to 15 (depending on how far apart the keys are).

   Think about what the treasure will be like. The very last clue should lead the kids to treasure or something fun that will reward their patience and effort. Think about how to additionally reward the team that finds the treasures first - this will create conditions for competition.

   When coming up with clues, start backwards: from finish to start. When you know what the next step will be, it will be easier to come up with the real one. Each key should lead the children to the next key, so you need to hint at the next location of the key in the clue, and then hide the note. And so with each key. Make sure that the last key you write (which will also be the first one the children find) will lead them to the next key and so on until the finish line.

   • Keep in mind that the first key should be easy, and each next key should be harder than the previous one to make the game a little more difficult.

3. Come up with simple rules. Print them out or write them down on slips of paper and hand them out to the players. Children must be old enough to read these rules for themselves and follow them. If the children are too young, explain the rules yourself or ask their parents about it. At this point, you can focus on several points, for example:

   Diversify the clues with images and pictures. Draw or take pictures of the places that the children have to explore to find new clues. This is a great option if you're organizing play for younger children because it will allow them to quickly move on. If you are playing with older children, you can make it more difficult by including old photographs, satellite images, or close-ups of some object in the hint.

   Include in some hints mini-games. For example, you could take three identical cups, show the children which cup contains the clue, then quickly stir the cups and have the children guess which cup contains the clue. You can also arrange egg races, small obstacle races, any mini-game, after passing which the children will be given a key.

   • This can be a great way to take a break in the middle of a game. The first 4-5 keys may be normal, and the next may pause the game. Once the game is paused, children can eat, drink juice, rest or put on sunscreen, and then they can continue the game and find the remaining 4-5 keys.

4. Draw and write clues in invisible ink, or come up with secret codes to make things harder. The easiest way to make invisible ink is to write something on a white background with chalk, and then have the children decipher the writing with a marker. Make a note in invisible ink, and let the children guess what to do with the "empty" key.

   • Another fun way that's suitable for kids of all ages is to turn off the lights in the room so you can't see anything. After that, invite the children to look for clues with a flashlight or by touch.

5. Hide the clue in some interesting object that will be interesting to explore. For example, you can put the keys in a bowl of spaghetti and have the children pretend they are “brains” that you need to dig through to find the keys. If you have waterproof cardboard or something to write a clue on, stick it at the bottom of the pool. So the kids will have to dive and swim to find the key (it's important to keep an eye on them). Any idea that gets the kids moving and trying new things will do.

   Consider creating a multi-part clue (for older children). For example, you can order cheap puzzles online, print them out and paste them into a clue. With each next clue, children can get several pieces of this puzzle, at the end these pieces will need to be put together to find the last clue. Here are some other ideas:

   • With each key, children can open one letter (as part of a whole word). This word will be the password for the next key, or the key itself, which will point to the treasure.
   • You can come up with thematic options, such as: “the final answer is what all the clues have in common” or “the last clue is obtained by adding the first letters of all the other clues.”

6. Include popular songs and movie characters (age-appropriate for children) in the clues. This will be especially interesting if you are planning a themed treasure hunt. For example, the key might be the question: "What part of the house did Harry Potter have to live in as a child?" This question will direct the children to the stairs or closet where the next key can be found.

   Instead of the usual clues and hints, use the map. It can be combined with puzzles or multi-keys. Draw a map, add a few pictures to it and a few confusing points (for example, "accidentally" erased symbols in the map). Then, next to each point on the map, indicate the key or some kind of prize that needs to be found in order to get to the treasure, so the children will not be able to reach the finish line in a matter of minutes.

Start the game

Let the players find suitable clothes in advance. There is a big difference between playing at home and playing in the yard or in the park, the preparation of the child also depends on this. Once you have decided where the game will take place and come up with clues and clues, tell the children how to dress for the game.

Think about how the children can find the first key. The bottom line is that the first key should point to the place where the second key will be hidden and so on until the children find the treasure. But the first key should be the most interesting and intriguing, it should be the opening of the game:

If the children are unable to complete the task or are at a dead end, be ready to help them. If children are more or less successful in completing tasks, you should not help them. But children will quickly get frustrated if they fail to find the key or complete the task. Come up with a few spare keys and clues in case you have to guide the kids yourself. Use these clues only if you see that the children are not coping and are nervous.

Prepare water, snacks, and sunscreen ahead of time, especially if the game is going to be long. While the children are looking for treasures and solving riddles, they are unlikely to think about how to eat on time or not burn out in the sun. So take care of it yourself, or leave a few bottles of water and some snacks next to each clue so kids can drink and eat on the go.

• It can be a couple of boxes of muesli or cereal, as well as some snacks that you can eat on the go. Snacks can be given to children before the start of the game, as well as halfway to the treasure.

1. If children are under 10 years old, they must be accompanied if the game takes place in a small area. Do not leave small children unattended, even if they are not far from you. Try to split all the players into teams, where each child will have an adult partner with whom the game will go faster and safer.

• Children may want to play the game on their own without your help (depending on the age of the children and the level of difficulty of the game). In order not to guess in vain, ask the children what they want.
• Try to come up with more clues and clues. You can beat them with different codes, letters, puzzles, riddles, mini-games. Keep in mind, all this should not be repeated.
• To avoid strong competition, let the children take turns reading the riddles and clues.
• If the hint is written on paper, it will be fun to spread out these clues in different ways. For example, you can make origami or musical accompaniment.
• Be sure to save some good prize for the end of the game. Even if the children enjoy the game and all this fuss with the keys, they will still expect that there will be some other surprise for them at the end.
• Let some clues be puzzles at the same time - to find the key, you need to solve the puzzle. For example, you can place a key on a toy boat and place a fishing net next to it so that the children use the net to pull the boat out of the water.
• If you are playing with older children, you can give them directions by phone or email.
• This game can be interesting not only for children, but also for adult guests, for example, at a family holiday it can be an Easter egg hunt in the garden.
• Don't come up with too many clues for little kids or they'll get confused.

Warnings

• Each child should receive an equal share of the treasure! You don't want one of the children to get upset and cry because he will have less candy and sweets than his friend.
• If you're hosting a game on someone else's property, be sure to talk to the owner of that lot or building. No one likes a bunch of kids suddenly showing up!
• Keep in mind that kids can get bored even while playing, so try not to get offended!
• During the game, children must be supervised by adults, it depends on the venue of the game.
  • Children under the age of six must be accompanied by an adult or teenager.
  • If you are playing in an open area, children under the age of 10 should also be supervised.

The children learn the legend of the old duke's treasure and go in search of a map. Having completed all the tasks, the children receive the coveted card and go in search of a treasure. The ghost guarding the treasure holds games and contests to see if the guys are worthy. At the end, the guys are in for a little surprise - greetings from the duke.

Target: development of orientation skills in the area, team cohesion.

To play, you need to arrange 3 locations:

1. Meeting point for participants: a clearing where logs or benches lie where you can sit.
2. The place where the players will complete tasks: with a large number of players, this area should be large enough.
3. Location of treasure: here it is Ghost.

Required attributes:

• Hat with multi-colored ribbons for dividing into teams;
• A plan of the area indicating the route and stopping places for each team;
• Stop signs;
• Notes- tasks for finding the necessary numbers;
• Meter, sheet, pen;
• A leaflet with a cipher;
• Treasure map;
• A ball of thread;
• twigs, sheet and pencil;
• A note from the duke;
• Treasure- sweets.

Roles:

• Leading
• Ghost

Event progress

All children, led by the Leader, gather in the clearing.

Leading:

Guys, many, many centuries ago, an old castle stood on this very spot. A very rich duke lived in it, whose possessions stretched for tens of kilometers around. He had a beautiful wife and three children. The children grew up, left, leaving their parents alone in a huge castle. His wife died shortly thereafter, and the duke did not want to leave the place where he was happy, although the children did everything to transport him to them.

There is a version that this duke still passes here at night, but not as a person, but as a ghost. Lives in the past, remembers his happy days. So, he was left alone, dismissed almost all the servants who could not please him. He left only the cook, the gardener and the maid, so as not to disappear altogether.

And then one day the evil people wanted to rob a lonely old man. But he found out about this and hid all his precious things in advance. The thieves came, but found nothing. They tortured the duke, but he did not say a word to them. They left him alone, left, but the old man did not live long after that - he died without waiting for his sons. Since then, whoever has tried to find treasures, no one has succeeded. Legend has it that the treasure can only be found one day a year. Today is just such a day. Let's look for the treasure buried by the old duke!

But first, let's split into teams. Each team will have its own distinctive sign - a ribbon of a certain color.

Children approach the hat, take the ribbon and are divided into groups depending on the color of the ribbon.

Leading: The teams are ready. Now you need to choose a captain who will lead the rest of the group.

Each group chooses a captain.

Leading: Your task is to find the treasure of the old duke. The place where the treasure is located is indicated by a cross on the main map of the area. And to find a card, you must first find all the numbers, and then use a special code to make a word out of them. It will be the key that will help lift the veil of secrecy and find the map. To complete the tasks, you will need a map of the area.

Each captain is given a plan of the area, on which arrows indicate the route of each team and circles - stopping places where you can find out any number.

Leading: Let's see which team can complete the task faster and be able to find the ducal treasure.

The teams are on their way. Team paths may intersect, but must not follow the same path. It is important that the teams do not interfere with each other during the execution of tasks. Each stopping place must be marked with special signs - signs, under which there is a sheet with a detailed task.

Task examples:

• Count all trees and bushes at the bus stop, subtract the smaller from the larger number – the resulting number will be the desired one.
• Find the lowest tree and count the number of leaves on the lower branch.
• Count the number of colors on the lawn.
• Determine tree species count the number of letters in their name and add up the results.
• Measure with a meter the approximate distance between two birch trees marked with red ribbons, and round it up to meters.
• Measure the width of the girth the thickest tree and round it up to decimetres.
• How many petals does a chamomile have growing 2 meters from this tree?

Teams complete tasks, find the right numbers, and then return to the leader, take the transcript from him. Each letter in the cipher is assigned a certain number (for example, a - 22, b - 45). Children find the necessary meanings and form the word "glade" from the received letters.

Leading: Here is the location of the treasure map. I suggest everyone unite and find a map.

All groups work together to search for the hidden map in the indicated location. It can be anywhere: in a crack in a tree, under a stone, under a pile of grass. The map shows the place where the treasure is hidden. Several paths lead to it, bounded on both sides by multi-colored ribbons. The children are again divided into teams: now the group must get to the place as quickly as possible along “their” path. At the indicated place, the team is met by the duke's ghost.

Ghost: Hello guys. Why did you complain?

Leading: We want to find hidden treasures!

Ghost: Do you think you can?

Leading: We have already found a treasure map, it indicates exactly this place, which means that the treasure is located here.

Ghost: Maybe this is where he is. Yes, but I won't let you find it. I will confuse the tracks, hide the signs!

Leading: We have already spent so much effort trying to find treasures that we simply will not turn back. You don't need the treasure anyway, so don't interfere, please!

Ghost: Needed - not needed, but I have to guard him! Treasures should go only to those who have a pure soul, a good heart.

Leading: We are ready to be tested.

Ghost: Is everyone ready? But remember, if you fail the tests, you will have to turn back.

Leading: Deal. Really guys?

Ghost: The important point is to support each other in a difficult situation. Let's see if you can do it.

Conducts the game "Unification". The participants are divided into two groups. Each group stands in a semicircle. The first participants are given a ball of thread. They must connect all the participants as quickly as possible with a thread, wrapping it around all the players in turn. After the last participant has joined, the task changes - it is necessary to wind the thread into a ball as quickly as possible. It is important not to break it though.

Ghost: The next test is to test the strength of the spirit. This is a very difficult test! It is important to be united with the whole team in order to win.

Conducts the game "Potyagushki". The teams line up opposite each other in a column, the first are the captains. Each participant grabs the person in front by the waist. Opposing team captains grab each other's arms and pull with all their might. The task of the players is to help their captains win over the opposing team to their side.

Ghost: Well, you have the strength of mind - do not be discouraged if you lose. But that is not all. Now let's check if you can understand each other.

Conducts the game "Spoiled Telegraph". Participants line up. Each player is given a branch. The last participant “draws” with a branch on the back of the person in front the figure that the leader called him (for example, a square). The one who had a figure “drawn” on his back “transmits” the image further as he understood it. The team captain, having received a "telegram", draws it on a piece of paper. Then the original and what happened as a result of the “journey” of the drawing are compared.

Ghost: Well done, you did all the work! So, worthy to receive the treasures of the old count. Therefore, I will not disturb you - good luck in your search (leaves)!

Leading: Well. Now you can continue your search.

Children find a treasure and a note “I decided to please you with sweets today. Old Duke.

Leading: Here's an old prankster! Nothing, next year we will still find his treasures. Now we need to find a use for those sweets that we found. I think that there will be no difficulties with this. Isn't it guys? Well, now let's arrange a feast with a mountain in honor of our today's adventure!

When Gleb was born, my mother bought a dacha. Since then, my main task in the summer, despite the undoubted benefits of clean air, is to appear there as little as possible. And now, just now, at the end of the tenth summer, my friend discovered a wonderful way to spend time with a child in the country perfectly and profitably. Of course, this is a treasure hunt! As a treasure - chocolates.

Round one

Pre-planned and carefully prepared action. The task is to get three ten-year-olds to strain their brains at least a little and throw out their energy, running around the site to their heart's content.

How easy it is to hide a treasure / gift / surprise for children in a summer cottage

Preparation: you will need the Internet, sheets of paper, a camera, a printer, plastic bags. Think in advance where you can hide the task bags. It can be anywhere: a bag can be put under a stone, hung on some household item, hidden in the leaves in the garden. Stop, although it’s better not to hide in the garden, otherwise you never know, precious crops may suffer, so it’s better next to the garden. Take a picture of these places, print on a printer, preferably in color, mark the location of the bag with the task with a cross and cut each photo like a puzzle. Put in a bag and hide. Come up with a couple more tasks for a change and you're all set to find the treasure.

It should be borne in mind that tasks for children should not be very difficult, children get tired and lose interest if something does not work out for a long time. But they don't have to be very basic either. Because then they get upset, which is too easy.

Our game for three ten-year-olds began with a puzzle about a refrigerator.

Admire, look -
North Pole inside!
There sparkles snow and ice,
Winter lives there.
Forever us this winter
Brought from the store.

In the refrigerator was a bag with a drawn site plan, on which a certain place was marked with a cross.

In which, or rather on which, because it was a kind of construction, the next bag hung. It contained a puzzle (a cut photograph of a fence) and a note:

GUYS!

YOUR OBJECTIVE IS TO COMPLETE THE PUZZLE. THEN YOU WILL SEE IN THE DRAWING THE PLACE WHERE THE NEXT TASK IS HIDDEN.

RUN THERE AND FIND IT.

GOOD LUCK!

At the fence, they found a bag containing the following task:

GUYS!

YOUR NEXT TASK:

NAME 5 PLANTS THAT START WITH THE SAME LETTER AS 'MAMA'

GOOD LUCK!

And you can believe me that even adults could not quickly name five such plants. Yes, and the children were able to do this only with a hint. Yes, yes, hints are allowed! Although the question is, should carrots be considered a plant?

At this stage, after the named plants, we ourselves gave the children the next puzzle. He led them to the other end of the site. And puzzle again...

I had to return to it and still collect it. Because before that, as soon as one of the children found a piece of paper with a cross (and, as you remember, we mark the location of the note with the task with the cross), he yelled: “AAA! I know this place, ”and everyone ran after him in a friendly herd. And then, not immediately guessing the place, they had to return, find the abandoned pieces of the puzzle and put it together at last. After a long search under the tree, a bag was found with the last task - encryption.

RFUCK!

THE PLACE WHERE THE NEXT OBJECTIVE IS HIDDEN IS ENCODED. DISCOVER THE CODE, RUN THERE AND LOOK FOR THE MISSION!

The deciphered message read: find a gazebo. stand facing the entrance. turn left. walk by the steps. find a task.

The difficulty was that instead of the letter “U” it was necessary to read the number from above - “20”. We meant walk 20 steps. But no one had figured it out before. Maybe it was necessary to remove the box under this figure. May be. But after long hints, throwing, I had to prompt and the children did find a treasure near the garden with beets! And they offered to hold for adults ...

Second round

And, indeed, after some time they called us and handed us a crumpled piece of paper on which a black and white fly agaric was drawn. It was definitely a fly agaric, so big, with circles on the hat. Experienced parents took into account the psychology of children and went looking for just some kind of mushroom. To do this, they dispersed around the site and wandered for a long time in search of mushrooms (there were many of them, but there were no pieces of paper next to them), until they asked at least to indicate the direction of the search. And lo and behold, a mushroom, and a note next to it, was found. Moreover, it was the most unremarkable mushroom, before that there were even better mushrooms.

The note contained the following task: to name the heroes of 10 modern TV series. It was easier with the heroes than with mimosas, poppies and carrots. And then it turned out that the children forgot to prepare the next note for us. So they just took us to the garage and vaguely said that it was hidden around here somewhere. The bottom of the car was thoroughly examined, all the details of the bicycles were twisted, there were threats, blackmail and affectionate flirtations from the mothers, but the children were like flint and did not prompt. Finally, the note was found ... and this is ingenious, I think, under the wheel of a bicycle. But for some reason, it didn’t occur to us just to move the bicycles for a long time.

The note contained the words: door, tree, grass, well, swing. They had to be found in a crossword puzzle and run to look for the next task in a place that would combine a door, a tree, grass, a well, a swing.

Children, remember, when you arrange something for parents, try to keep the tasks simpler. Because parents, when something doesn’t work out for a long time, lose interest and get tired.

Finally, indeed, near the door, the well, and somewhere in the distance, standing by a swing, a note was found with a game of gallows.

The word "apples" was guessed in a minute and everyone rushed to study the area in the area of ​​​​apple trees. Where a compound note in three parts was found. On one it was written: look for something round, on the second a house without windows was drawn, on the third a keyhole and a question mark. And I will not torment you with the details of the search, I will immediately say what all this meant, and you will understand that “the West is the West. East is East." They will never understand each other.

Something round - it was a ball, it turned out to be the very object that we were looking for. We should have understood this from the drawing with the castle. Because it meant that the riddle was solved, the code was cracked, the secret was revealed. The house, by the way, symbolized the greenhouse.

As they say, no comment.

And what do you think, restless children again demanded one more game from us...

Third round

“Please, please, we don’t need any gifts,” whined those parental peace-breakers. “We would have simple tasks, but only more difficult!!!”

Yep, now! Exhausted by a long search for something round, the parent organism could only get into the Internet and find a few riddles on everyday and garden topics.

So, how to quickly prepare a treasure hunt in 5 minutes? You will need: Internet, paper and a pen.

We tensed up and identified several places and objects in the house and on the yard where the note could be hidden. These were: a stove, an apple, a swing and a beetroot. All these objects, except for the stove, have already appeared in previous tasks. But more was not enough.

Oven riddle:

There is a brick hut,
It's cold, it's hot.

There is a vertical well

The old treasure in it is hidden from everyone:

Damask sword, mirror shield,

With pure gold armor.

There are a lot of treasures there.

What is buried - it does not matter.

That's when we open them

Everyone will say: "Yes!"

(c) Vladislav Krapivin

"Treasure on Smolenskaya street"

Hello dear readers. In this article, we will tell you how to become a treasure hunter, even if you have no experience, and at the same time remain within the law. When someone drops a word treasure hunter", an image of a muscular man dressed in a shabby traveling suit is drawn in the imagination. His face is certainly calcined by the Sun and weathered by storms and hurricanes. The worn-out shoes have walked an incalculable number of miles. And a mysterious ringing of treasures is heard from the shoulder bag. put a whip in your hand, we will see the great and inimitable Indiana Jones, perhaps one of the most famous treasure hunters. It remains only to find the answer to the question "How to become a treasure hunter?" and go for wealth.

What is a treasure?

Treasure is not only coins, but also any object hidden by the owners. In times of unrest, people tried to save any thing suitable for household use. This is how household treasures appeared. They are incredibly popular to this day. With the end of the season in the garden plots, many gardeners do not take dishes and small tools home, but hide them in the garden. The epochs of battles and wars gave rise to relic treasures. This, for example, is a hidden banner of a military unit that is surrounded. According to the charter, a military unit that has lost its combat banner is subject to disbandment. Situational treasures are similar to them. If we take the wartime treasure as an example, then let us recall the hidden archives with documents. Also, such treasures include caches with awards and personal belongings of soldiers going on reconnaissance. By the way, pirate and robber treasures are also often situational, if the treasures were hidden temporarily, subsequently hoping to find a more reliable place.

The most numerous and heterogeneous class of treasures are valuable ones. Nowadays, many of them have lost the value they once represented. Until now, old houses hide bundles of banknotes that have gone out of circulation. The value of other things passes from the monetary component to the historical one (for example, a treasure of colored beads made on the island of Murano at a time when only the craftsmen of this island had the recipe to give color to glass). But salt carefully hidden in clay pots, hidden in the era of salt riots, is now hardly considered a treasure. A subspecies of valuable treasure, interesting to collectors - savings. This is a pot of gold coins or jewelry. Its owner opened a deposit "on demand" in a secluded place, but sometimes he did not have time to claim it. Cult treasures should also be added here. famous Zarni-an- The Golden Baba is the most famous example of such a treasure that has not been found so far.

Where are treasures hidden?

“Where are we going to dig?” asked Huck.

- Oh, let's try everywhere.

- Is it buried everywhere?

- Well no. Buried in special places, Huck, sometimes on islands, sometimes in rotten chests under the bough of an old withered tree, just where the shadow falls at midnight, and most often in haunted houses.

(c) Mark Twain "Adventures of Tom Sawyer"

Going for treasure without experience is just a waste of time. Work on treasure hunt begins long before reaching its prey. We must patiently study the map of the area, looking for abandoned villages or disappeared ancient settlements. A real treasure hunter will give an impressive list of locations where, according to his signs, treasures can be hidden. A blessed place is considered old houses survivors of times of disaster or war. The older their age and the more significant the former greatness, the higher the chance that there is hidden something valuable. And we didn’t even touch such a group of treasures as shipwreck treasures.

Treasure hunter's tools

For many centuries, the main tool for extracting treasures has been a shovel. We approach her choice carefully. Experts advise: "The shovel handle must be strong enough, made of birch, 40 mm thick at the knee, 35 mm thick at the handle, and have a special handle that makes it easier to handle the shovel. The length of the handle is also of great importance. With a short handle, you have to expend much more effort than with a long In addition, with a short handle, the body bends much lower than with a long ".

The life of a treasure hunter has become much easier with the advent of metal detectors. Therefore, when searching coins, medals and other metal products, this tool is indispensable. It is better if the metal detector is light and inconspicuous. Because if, in full view of the people, you go into the forest not with a basket, but with a metal detector, then the success of this expedition will have to be divided by the entire district. In places where the soil is stony, excavation will be greatly facilitated by a pickaxe. A metal probe will also come in handy. To sift the earth, when the treasure appears in the form of a placer of precious metals, a sieve or sieve will help us. A compass also does not hurt, since navigators do not work everywhere.

Treasure and law - how not to be on the opposite side of the barricade

According to Russian law, a treasure is "buried or otherwise hidden money or valuables". This includes jewelry precious metal products, precious stones and other items of material value. Items of historical value (documents, manuscripts, the same regimental banner) are not a treasure under the law. Additional condition: only things can be considered treasure "the owner of which cannot be established or by virtue of law has lost the right to them". A ring or a single coin found on the beach is not a treasure, since the condition "hidden", that is, things deliberately hidden, is not met. You should find out if you are excavating on the territory of archaeological sites. Fortunately, all of them are included in the Unified State Register of Cultural Heritage Objects.

Black diggers (black archaeologists) are treasure hunters engaged in search contrary to established legislation. Very often for one valuable artifact they irretrievably destroy many other objects that do not carry material benefits, but are invaluable from the point of view of archeology. Examples of such diggers are the extensive history of the looting of the Egyptian pyramids. Very often, historians who carefully opened the burial places of the pharaohs found only traces of the former treasure.

For example, Ukraine provides for criminal liability for misappropriation of someone else's property found or accidentally found in the possession of the guilty person. Article 140 of the Civil Code of Ukraine determines: “Appropriation by a person of someone else’s property found or accidentally found in his possession, which has important historical, scientific, artistic or cultural value, as well as a treasure, is punishable by a fine up to 50 tax-free minimum incomes of citizens, or correctional labor for a term up to two years, or arrest for up to six months". Much kinder attitude towards unscrupulous treasure hunters in foggy Albion. The Treasure Act 1996, which replaced the general hoard law in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, states: “There is criminal liability, punishable by up to three months in prison, or a fine of not more than the fifth level (currently £5,000), or both, for failure to report the find to the coroner. that the find is not a treasure, as well as good reasons why he did not report the find".

Where and how to hand over the found treasures

"Dima wanted to be even more indignant, but at that time a district policeman approached them.

- They say that a treasure was found on your territory yesterday, - said the district police officer. - Do you know the law? Found - must be handed over. And, of course, you will receive an award - also according to the law.

- What treasure? What's the premium? - Dad boiled. - It was some grandfather who came up with some kind of treasure so that it would be more interesting for these boys to dig holes. We dug holes for bushes!

- My business is to remind, - said the precinct. “The treasure must be handed over,” and he went to the gate.

(c) V. Medvedev "How Captain Sovri-head almost found a treasure, or the Gold Rush"

Already in the children's book we are imperceptibly attached to article 233 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, which describes the actions associated with the discovery of a treasure: " 1. Treasure, that is, money or valuable items buried in the ground or hidden in any other way, the owner of which cannot be established or by virtue of law has lost the right to them, becomes the property of the person who owns the property (land plot, building, etc. .), where the treasure was hidden, and the person who discovered the treasure, in equal shares, unless otherwise established by agreement between them. If a treasure is discovered by a person who excavated or searched for valuables without the consent of the owner of the land plot or other property where the treasure was hidden, the treasure is subject to transfer to the owner of the land plot or other property where the treasure was discovered..

Before handing over the treasure to the police, it should be photographed. In the process of registration, the items are handed over according to the inventory, and the finder is issued an act on the discovery of the treasure. It also requires the presence of three witnesses to confirm that the treasure was found by you. It may take up to three years to receive the appropriate compensation, as it is required expert evaluation. If they recognize the treasure of historical value, then a value judgment will be issued on compensation. If the treasure is of no historical value, then it will be returned to you. But lawyers say that an assessment is also required here, since personal income tax will have to be paid.

Note that a legitimate treasure hunter always distinguishes the concept of "Treasure" from the concepts of "Ownerless Property" and "Find".

"Article 227. Find

1. The finder of the lost thing is obliged to immediately notify the person who lost it, or the owner of the thing or any other person known to him who has the right to receive it, and return the found thing to this person.

2. If the person who has the right to demand the return of the found thing, or the place of his stay is unknown, the finder of the thing is obliged to declare the find to the police or to the local self-government body.

Article 228

1. If, within six months from the moment of reporting the find to the police or to the local self-government body, the person entitled to receive the found thing is not established or does not declare his right to the thing to the person who found it or to the police or to the local self-government body, whoever finds the thing acquires the right of ownership to it.

“In other words,” a searcher forum user writes, “you found, for example, Dmitry Donskoy’s helmet, which he lost on Kulikovo Field (what if ?!) Reported it to the police, as expected. Six months have passed, and if Dmitry Donskoy it will not be a helmet - your helmet. According to the law, it turns out that way. The civil code does not say when the thing was lost, yesterday or six hundred years ago.

But here the concept of "Archaeological value" comes into play, and our hypothetical find will not go to the lucky one, but straight to the Historical Museum. We read about this below: "2. In case of discovery of a treasure containing things related to historical or cultural monuments, they are subject to transfer to state ownership. In this case, the owner of the land or other property where the treasure was hidden, and the person who discovered the treasure, have the right to receive together remuneration in the amount of fifty percent of the value of the treasure.The remuneration is distributed among these persons in equal shares, unless an agreement between them establishes otherwise.If such a treasure is discovered by a person who excavated or searched for values ​​without the consent of the owner of the property where the treasure was hidden, the remuneration to this person is not paid and fully transferred to the owner.

3. The rules of this article do not apply to persons whose labor or official duties included excavations and searches aimed at discovering the treasure."

As we can see, it is more profitable to find a treasure in Russia, because the state takes only half of it. Whereas in Ukraine there are norms left over from the times of the Soviet Union, which provide for the receipt of three-quarters of the cost of found treasure. Ingenious people teach how to act in order to legally increase the share that passes into ownership: "And if you dig up the found treasure in your dacha, and then find it in front of your neighbors. As a result, you and the owner of the land and the finder, share the treasure with yourself 50/50." In other countries, for example, in France, the found is divided in half - between the owner of the land and the seeker. In the UK, the found treasure should be taken to the police station within two weeks. Experts will determine whether the find is a treasure or not. The treasure is then valued and offered at that price to museums and collections. If the acquisition does not take place, the find goes to the treasure hunter. But in Germany, the right to treasure belongs exclusively to the owner of the land. Only a few federal states believe that their property should be given to the local administration. The three-mile zone of US territorial waters, where sunken ships can be located, has been declared a national park, and the ships themselves have been declared a national treasure. Do you want to search for treasure? Get permission from the authorities first. But international law interprets differently search for sunken treasures. The host country of the sunken ship is entitled to half the value of the treasure. The owners of the waters in which it sank and the search companies agree on the distribution of the remaining wealth.

Changes in Russian legislation

And everything was fine at the excavations of our Motherland, until in 2013 it arose Article 243.2"Illegal search and (or) removal of archaeological objects from their places of occurrence." Formidable measures already loomed on the horizon: "1. Search and (or) removal of archaeological objects from their places of occurrence on the surface of the earth, in the ground or under water, carried out without permission (open sheet), resulting in damage or destruction of the cultural layer, is punishable by a fine in the amount of up to five hundred thousand rubles or the amount of wages or other income of the convicted person for a period of up to eighteen months, or by corrective labor for a term of up to one year, or by deprivation of liberty for a term of up to two years". The situation is more serious if all this happened on the territory of a cultural heritage site. In this case, the offender is punished "a fine in the amount of up to seven hundred thousand rubles or in the amount of the wage or other income of the convicted person for a period of up to two years, or by deprivation of liberty for a term of up to four years". There are other aggravating factors:

a.) use of special technical means of search and (or) earth-moving machines;

b.) use of his official position;

c.) a preliminary conspiracy or an organized group.

"Use of special technical means of search"

Here the penalty increases to up to one million rubles or in the amount of the wage or other income of the convicted person for a period of up to five years, or by deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for a term of up to five years, or by forced labor for a term of up to five years, or by deprivation of liberty for a term up to six years. The metal detector is included in the category of "special technical means of search".

It is useful for persons who have "seized archaeological objects" to familiarize themselves with Article 7.15.1"Illegal circulation of archaeological objects", which threatens with a fine and confiscation of archaeological objects. Treasure hunters, who at once found themselves outside the law, began to argue that the restriction on the use of a metal detector is applicable only in the case of archaeological research. However, an indistinct definition led to the fact that there were already accused persons who had nothing to do with archeology, but were detained with a metal detector in the process of searching.

Is it easy for a treasure hunter to get rich?

Unlike films and books, the happy ending of which predicts a prosperous existence for successful heroes, real life is not so beautiful. In most cases, items found treasure difficult to attribute to treasures. Yes, and with a successful completion, the search for treasures still remains akin to buying lottery tickets. It's nice to win, but it's extremely unwise to write winnings as a permanent income item. Therefore, when buying equipment, always keep in mind that costs can significantly exceed income. But the main thing here is the very passion for the search process. After all, the fisherman goes to the utterly early to the cherished reservoir not at all in order to recoup expensive equipment and fishing tackle.

Treasure search has long become instrumental and resembles a mine clearing operation. The main tool is a metal detector, mine detector or metal detector.

Manufacturers of metal detectors (mine detectors, metal detectors):

Price:

Professional metal detector from 45,000 - 50,000 rubles and more.

Metal detector for beginners from 15,000 rubles and above.

When buying a mine detector for the first time, try to avoid both too cheap models and expensive professional devices. A cheap, weakly sensitive device may not meet your expectations and unnecessarily disappoint you in your search. On the other hand, an expensive computerized instrument is too difficult for a beginner to master.

• GoldBug American company Fisher - the easiest to use metal detector (mine detector)
• Bounty Hunter Tracker IV

Basic requirements for a good metal detector:

the ability to get as much information as possible about the found object

the device captures a large area when examining the surface

the device distinguishes both non-ferrous and ferrous metal (discrimination)

the ability to detect small artifacts, high sensitivity, for example, the ability of a metal detector (mine detector) to catch a “flake” coin at the maximum depth is highly valued

high speed of recognition, and therefore high speed of surface inspection

great depth of detection. It should be borne in mind that the real depth to which the treasures were buried is a maximum of a meter. The normal growth of the cultural layer in the forest is 1-2 centimeters per century, in the city - about a meter per century. From here you can calculate the detection depth you need at the device

low level of "buggy" That is, it should be possible to set the degree of "rejection" of trash, as well as visual and sound recognition. The less false anomalies, the less false excavations, the less labor costs for working with the device. The most common rubbish in Russia is vodka corks, foil, nails

ease of use of the device, intuitive interface

power is sharpened for both batteries and accumulators

Before choosing a metal detector (mine detector), you need to decide what exactly you want to find and where. Then some of the above requirements for the device will come to the fore. For example, if you are looking for military artifacts or serious treasures, then the best results are achieved when using deep mine detectors, which allow you to search at depths of up to 5 meters. Discrimination (the ability to distinguish between the type of metal) is not so important in such cases. Suppose that a hoard of gold coins was hidden in an iron bucket or in an iron-studded chest. The iron will create a shield for the gold, the discriminator will identify the find as iron, and the treasure will be skipped. If you are looking for loose coins, buttons and antique household items, then the depth of the search is not so important. It will be a maximum of 50-60 centimeters. The sensitivity and high accuracy of the discriminator are more relevant. Thus, the choice of device depends entirely on the purpose of the treasure hunt.

First steps in using a metal detector

First you need to get used to the sounds of the device and the diagrams on the display, having learned to distinguish between large and small objects, products at different depths and from different metals. To do this, you can create a “laboratory garden” yourself by burying a wedding ring, lead sinkers, vodka corks, nails, coins, etc. on the site. The wedding ring is especially good because your wife will not let you stop looking until you find, and you will have a great excuse for training.

After you get used to the indications of the mine detector, start excavating. First, listen to the surrounding surface with the device and find the nearest place where the device is silent. Put the prepared plywood sheet there for promising soil. Rake some soil from the place you are digging and lay it on the plywood. Listen to the excavation and plywood with a metal detector. The target may remain in place or end up on the plywood along with the soil. If there is nothing on the plywood, discard the waste rock from it. It is necessary to repeat this procedure until the purpose of the excavation is on plywood. If the target is relatively large, then it can be easily seen. A small target, such as “scale” coins, will have to be looked for more carefully. To do this, spread the earth on plywood in a thin layer, conditionally divide it in half and listen to which half the target is in. Shake the empty half off the plywood. Then once again divide the remaining land in half. And so on until there is very little of it left, and the goal of the search becomes clear. Having found an "undesirable find" (nails, wire, etc.), never throw it away in the search area so as not to stumble upon it again. Put the debris away so as not to cause a false reaction of the metal detector (mine detector).

IN ORDER TO CHOOSE A MINE DETECTOR YOU CAN GO TO THE SITE...

Shovels and shovels

The average price is 300-1700 rubles

The shovel must withstand maximum loads and at the same time be light and comfortable. An ordinary Russian garden shovel breaks quickly, so it is not suitable. Shovels made of light and durable steel from the Finnish company Fiskars are valued. When choosing a shovel, be sure to check it. Grasp the handle with your right hand, tilt the shovel to the length of your lowered arm and press your foot firmly into about the middle of the bayonet. A good spade has a springy bayonet. You can increase the life of the Finnish shovel by strengthening the bayonet. To do this, immediately after the purchase, it is necessary to weld a metal plate over the bayonet with argon in the nearest workshop.

For different purposes, different shovels are needed. For example, to work in a well, it is better to use a folding sapper shovel. It is important that the bayonet of such a blade is pointed, has stiffeners, and the bracket for attaching the handle to the bayonet is not welded, but riveted. You can also use a geological hammer, a shovel, a construction trowel or a very light pick to excavate.

The scoop is also needed for clearing the excavated item. Plastic scoops of the Finnish company Fiskars are valued. They do not interfere with the work with the metal detector.

Clothing and footwear

During the search, it is better to remove watches, rings and bracelets, as well as clothes with metal buttons and rivets on the sleeves and near the shoes. Otherwise, you are guaranteed a false reaction of the metal detector.

Clothing should not be loose, so as not to cling to protruding nails, branches, pieces of roofing, log cabins of wells, etc.

On the head it is desirable to have an ordinary construction hat.

As for shoes, it is best to have rubber boots, because there is no metal on them. If rubber boots slip, then it is better not to use them when searching in attics, near rivers and in wells.

You will need several varieties of flashlights from a head "cyclops", a long "maglight", to a mini-flashlight that resembles a pencil. The lantern, which is mounted on the head, allows you to free your hands for work. At the same time, the flashlight in hand has more maneuverability and opportunities for illuminating hard-to-reach places. It is better not to buy expensive models, because flashlights are lost more often than other equipment. It is better that the flashlight is light.

Maps suitable for treasure hunting are easy to find on the one hand. There are many treasure hunt maps on the Internet. freely available or for little money. However, it is likely that almost all the places depicted on these maps have long been studied by more than a dozen people. And everything of value has already been found there. It is best to look for maps in libraries and archives. For the search, the most relevant are old maps on a scale of 1-3 versts in an inch (in 1 cm - 420-1260m). Modern topographic maps should be no smaller than 1 cm - 1 km, and even better 500 m or even 250 m. It is better to have both modern and old large-scale maps when searching for treasures. Experts recommend Schubert Maps (1860), Mende (1858), General Land Survey Plans (1792).

Additional equipment

Tray for flushing rocks when searching near water bodies

Spare battery packs for flashlight

Spare bulb for flashlight

Satellite navigation system, GPS - navigator

A sheet of plywood or plastic 30 cm by 30 cm to search for small objects

Metal detector batteries

Motor pump for pumping water from wells

The sequence of actions when searching for treasures

1. Determine what we are looking for
2. Determine where we are looking for by shoveling hundreds of sources of information. This is the most important point. Professional treasure hunters believe that they search for treasures with their heads, not with a shovel.
3. Pick up good equipment depending on the purpose and location of the search
4. Having studied the legal side of the issue, it is necessary to resolve the issue of the legality of their searches. For example, by requesting permission to excavate if circumstances so require.
5. Start the search by invoking good luck
6. Assess the value of the finds and decide where to put these finds

In addition, the treasure hunter must understand that he can return from the search empty-handed. Therefore, one must be able not to succumb to despair and not pay attention to public opinion. Success is always mixed with failure.

The purpose of the search depends on the experience of the treasure hunter.

For beginners, it is best to start mastering technologies:

• • on any beach, along rivers, along lakes. However, you need to make sure that the legislation of the country that owns the beach is loyal to people with metal detectors. So, for example, in Israel, searching with metal detectors is strictly prohibited. There are no such restrictions in Russia. During the search on the beach, as a rule, modern rings and bracelets are found. That is, this way to hone treasure-hunting technologies is interesting for quick earnings, but minimal satisfaction from the historical significance of the find
  • in my garden, in my grandmother's garden
  • in the land of any city, looking for any ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The finds can be handed over to the metal collection point. That is, as in the previous case, there is earnings and quite fast, but there is no excitement. It is much more exciting to find something hidden than something lost or thrown away.
  • the best place for beginners is abandoned villages and towns, as well as the attics of old houses. Here is the excitement, and the result is guaranteed - the finds will be in 90% of cases.

Professionals are most often addicted to the famous unfound treasures, devoting a significant part of their lives to this. Their expeditions are similar in severity to scientific excavations. They know exactly what they are looking for. Among them are many historians and archaeologists by education. For every hundred legends about unfound treasures, about ten will turn out to be more or less true, and only one can turn out to be real. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that due to the secrecy of most professional treasure hunters, as well as due to the possible illegality of some treasure hunts, the "unfound" treasure could have been discovered for a long time. Only officially no one was told about it. And the famous artifacts have long settled at the treasure hunter himself or, through the black market, in some private collection.

By the way, there is another way for beginners - to join existing expeditions for treasures, to infiltrate transnational search parties. Even for the most rough work. It's almost impossible, but there are precedents. The experience that can be gained as a result of several months of work on such an expedition is colossal. In addition, a big plus is that, without yet investing their personal finances, a beginner will be able to decide whether he captures the excitement of searching for treasures or not, whether he enjoys the process. However, there are also disadvantages. A novice treasure hunter in a transnational search party must be fluent in languages, at least English, and, in addition, have an unlimited supply of time, because, of course, an employee is not needed for a couple of weeks of legal leave in such expeditions. The search for treasures of world significance lasts for months, or even years.

Where can I get information about the location of the treasure hunt?

The main known finds are associated primarily with painstaking long-term research, including the most detailed study of archival materials. So, it can take up to 15 years to study only papers. And although this figure is more an exception than a rule, the essence of this does not change. Without a detailed study of all documentary sources, the chances of success are almost zero. Before you go to the place, you need to be very well prepared informationally. This applies to both those who are looking for the famous unfound treasures, and those who set their sights on the usual peasant "pod".

The main documentary sources for the treasure hunter:

Storeroom records, old maps inherited from great-grandparents. It must be borne in mind that not all pantry records can be trusted. In ancient times, there was such a profession as a "dealer in storeroom records", many records were composed for the purpose of momentary profit. If a person did not find a treasure according to such a record, then it could always be explained by the fact that the treasure was unclean. In addition, the storeroom records could be encrypted.

Historical archives, reports of archaeological expeditions

Libraries

Local history museums

Archives of newspapers and magazines

Folklore of the local population (legends, family traditions, opinions)

old letters

Internet

Old bookshops, bookstores

When studying documentary sources, it must be borne in mind that the terrain may change. Rivers can dry up, lakes can be replaced by swamps, landslides and destruction of rocks occur in the mountains. What served as a guide many years ago may no longer exist. Therefore, do not limit yourself to one source of information. It is better to take several, and from different time periods. To be able to observe the picture of terrain changes in dynamics. This will reduce the search error.

It is also worth bearing in mind that treasures will always be found where people lived, as well as along the roads along which troops with looted goods moved in wartime, and along active trade routes. That is, where there were opportunities for robbery. The location of such objects must be paid attention to when studying documentary sources. It is interesting that the most valuable finds are made in cities, but in terms of the number of finds, the countryside is in the lead.

How to look for treasure in an abandoned village?

The simplest thing is to look for lost coins. For this, all that is needed is to consistently examine the entire surface of the former settlement with a metal detector. Especially a lot of coins (literally in bulk) can be found along the streets, in the central square, near former trading places, fairs and inns.

Specially buried items are harder to find. They were usually hidden where people rarely go to ensure safety. Most often - in vegetable gardens, in backyards, in gardens, in sheds, that is, where you can easily disguise excess and fresh soil, less often in the foundations of houses. Once in an abandoned village, the first thing to do is to decide on the location of the houses according to the remains of log cabins and foundations. Then figure out where the backyards, sheds, vegetable gardens, cesspools, stables, stables, etc. were located. Think, focusing on a specific area, where it would be most convenient to dig a hole, and especially carefully examine these places with a metal detector. Treasures are also found in the brickwork of stoves, in old plumbing siphons, in wooden window sills, in window frames and door jambs, in attics and basements; there are also well-made caches in the walls, floors, in antique furniture.

To find the treasure hidden in the foundation of the house, you must adhere to the following sequence of actions:

• first dig the stove from all sides with narrow pits
• then dig the corners of the foundation with pits
• then punch holes along the walls
• All dumps of earth from the pits should be carefully examined with a metal detector.

Treasures were often hidden in old wells near villages. In some wells, the object layer can reach several meters! A distinctive feature of such finds is their excellent preservation, especially if the soil is clay. Before descending into the well, it is necessary to clear its frame, removing all rotten logs for safety reasons. To do this, you need to dig a log house and remove the rot until normal, hard wood appears from the ground. If there is water in the well, then it must be pumped out with a motor pump. Only after that you can go down into the well. For descent and ascent, it is advisable to use a climbing descent system, securely fixed on the surface of the earth, for example, by a tree trunk. Less desirable rope ladder. It does not allow you to quickly respond to unforeseen situations. It is advisable to develop wells not alone, so that partners can always insure you at the top. When working in a well, it is better to wear a construction helmet on your head. Because there is where to fall on the head of the treasure hunter with sticks, stones and other debris. So that a bucket with soil being raised to the surface does not fly on your head, it is advisable to check the condition of the rope and the handle of the bucket every time before lifting. For excavations in the well, it is better to use a shortened sapper shovel. Asphyxiating gas can accumulate in wells. Therefore, if a long break was made during the excavation, it is better to play it safe and ventilate the well. To do this, you need to drive an empty bucket up and down for some time. After the completion of the excavation of the well, it must be laid with logs so that no one falls into it.

Well Search Equipment:

1. Motor pump for pumping water from a well
2. Climbing descent system or rope ladder
3. Construction helmet
4. Flashlight
5. Bucket for earth and finds
6. Folding sapper shovel or shovel

How to search for treasure in the city?

One of the most popular places to search within an urban area is in riverbeds. Alluvium is produced in places where objects are most likely to accumulate: along embankments, near bridges and former piers, near casinos, restaurants and churches that stood on the shore, etc. It is worth finding the shallowest place so that you can stand in waders. The technology is simple - soil is scooped up with a shovel, poured onto a tray and examined by a metal detector. In general, the search coil on the device can be immersed in water; only the “brains” of the metal detector cannot be wetted.

Water search equipment:

1. Waders.
2. Tray.
3. Owl shovel.
4. Rope ladder to get down from the embankment.
5. Find bag.
6. Metal detector.

You can inspect houses that are being demolished. Every city has such buildings. In them, it is worth scanning the foundation, laying of stoves, old plumbing siphons, wooden window sills, window frames and door jambs, as well as attics and basements. The most popular in this list are attics. Inspection of the attic begins with roof beams and rafters. However, if the house was repaired, and the roof was replaced on it, then the beams can not be inspected. Since all possible "burials" have already been found on them. After the beams, all noticeable recesses in the walls, niches, ventilation holes, gaps between bricks in the masonry and other voids are in line. It often happens that a brick that visually seems to fit into a wall actually masks a hiding place. Then sand should be dug along the walls and supporting structures to a width of at least 20 cm. If the attic is covered not with earth and sand, but with coal chips and fine gravel, then the period of backfilling is the 60s of the 20th century, that is, the time when treasures were practically not laid. The probability of finding something interesting in such an attic is very low. Metal detectors in the attic are practically not used, as they actively react to construction metal debris. It is useless to search in the center of the attic. It is also worth checking the voids between the attic floor and the ceiling of the upper floor of the house. To do this, you need to clear the floor and raise the boards. As a rule, this takes time and you need to be sure that the residents of the apartment under the epicenter of the search will not call the police as a result of the uproar. Parsing ware blockages in the attic can also sometimes lead to interesting finds. Although most often it is rubbish, an accumulation of household items that they tried to get rid of, and not that they wanted to save.

Equipment for searching in attics:

1. construction helmet
2. imported medical respirator or cotton-gauze dust bandage
3. shoulder bag for finds and tools
4. several varieties of flashlights from the head “cyclops”, a long “maglight”, to a mini-flashlight resembling a pencil
5. sapper shovel or small chopper with a short handle and a blade length of 7-10 cm
6. small crowbar or crowbar (to wring out iron sheets or beams)
7. master keys for an attic lock, if you don’t open attics with a crowbar in principle

What to do with the finds?

All finds should be brought home, and already here, under normal conditions, in the light and with hot water at hand, deal with them. Do not attempt to clean the find with anything other than a soft brush and soapy water. Never use acid or abrasive materials to remove oxides from the metal surface. The value of the find can be analyzed based on special catalogs of ancient and modern coins, medals, jewelry and buttons. Also, in case you are not a professional historian, it is important to consult with a specialist. Catalogs can be found in the libraries of your city, and experts will be advised to you in the local history museum or in the NPC (scientific and practical center for the protection of monuments, there are in every region, in every country).

Examples of catalogs for defining coins:

Shchelokov catalog. Good for Russian coins of the period 1917 - 1991.

Orlov's catalog, Uzdennikov's catalog. Good for Russian coins of the pre-revolutionary period, from the beginning of regular coinage under Peter I in 1700 to 1917.

Melnikova catalog. Good for Russian coins of the period from Ivan the Terrible to Peter I.

Oreshnikov's catalog published at the end of the 19th century. Good for coins of specific Russian principalities

Krause catalog showing coins from all over the world from the 17th to the 20th century.

Tatar coins that circulated in Russia during the Yoke of the Golden Horde, as well as Arab dirhams that circulated until the beginning of the 11th century, are best identified with the help of museum workers, numismatists.

Depending on the results of the analysis of the value of the find, it can be sold or kept in the home collection.

Examples of the value of some finds

Like all people whose earnings can be seriously affected by luck, that is, an absolutely uncontrolled substance, treasure hunters are superstitious. Each country has its own rituals, the implementation of which calls for good luck in the process of finding treasures.

Days when treasure is especially easy to find (Russia)

According to beliefs, treasures buried in the ground rise to the surface, open or glow from the ground, then they can be seen and taken away. This happens on the eve of Ivan Kupala (July 7, according to a new style), on Palm Sunday (the sixth week of Lent, the Sunday before Easter week), at midnight before big holidays: before Christmas (on the night of January 6 to January 7), New Year ( on the night of January 1), the Annunciation (March 25), St. George's Day (May 6, new style, December 9, new style), Easter.

In addition to the indicated days of the year, there is another day especially loved by treasure hunters. May 23, according to the new style, is the day of St. Simon the Zealot, one of the apostles, the patron saint of treasure hunters.

How to overcome a conspiracy or spell on a treasure (for Orthodox treasure hunters). That is, how to find a treasure, and so that there is nothing for it. (Russia)

Serve a prayer service to St. John of Novgorod.

Take a prosvirka with you in honor of the nine ranks of the angels.

Before proceeding with the excavations, sprinkle the alleged location of the treasure with holy water, fumigate with incense and read a special exorcism prayer: “Give, God, to your servant (the name of the treasure hunter) evil stewards from the luggage of stegnati, take gold from the earth for good deeds, take small orphans for consolation , God's temples for building, all the poor brethren for division, and for me for honest merchant trade (you can specify another decent goal).

During work, you can’t look around, succumb to drowsiness and talk, especially swear obscenely - you will lose the help of holy forces. It's better to just be silent.

To have a plakun-grass (loosetail) with you, it drives away evil spirits guarding the treasure.

Do not touch the found treasure without first making the sign of the cross and reciting the aforementioned prayer again. Otherwise, even if treasures and hands are given, they will not bring happiness.

How to search for treasures on Easter night (Russia)

On Saturday, after dark, it was necessary to go beyond the outskirts to look for treasures, trying to determine their location by the lights.

Take with you a cross, cherubic incense, a passionate candle

During the search for the treasure, in no case should you swear.

How to search for treasures on New Year's Eve (Russia)

Only on New Year's Eve can all the values ​​hidden in the ground flare up at once. They blaze, as a rule, with a bright blue flame.

Anyone who noticed this fire should immediately take off something and throw it into the flame. Burning money needs to be dug only by the one who noticed them, otherwise they will not be given to anyone else.

Clean treasures should be looked for before dawn, and impure treasures - in the evening.

How to look for treasures on the night of Ivan Kupala (Russia)

The best time to search for treasures.

Exactly at midnight, under the moon, you need to climb to the top of the mound, look at your shadow and measure it - at this distance the treasure is buried. An error of about plus or minus two feet can be allowed in case of a mismatch in the height of the digger and digger.

A blooming fern, as well as a flower ring, will more accurately show the place where the treasure is buried.

How to look for a clean treasure or a treasure pledged “for lucky” (Russia)

A treasure laid "for a lucky man" often reveals itself. Usually he appears to someone in the form of a black cat, which, as it were, invites him to follow him. Seeing such a sign, you need to follow the cat, and where it stops and meows, hit it and shout "Scatter!", And then dig in this place.

Another way: You need to take a candle in a walnut candlestick and light it at the supposed place of burial of the treasure. The closer the treasure is, the stronger the flame will flicker, and where it goes out completely, you need to dig.

You must first promise to give part of what you found to the poor, or spend it on some other good purpose, otherwise the treasure will go so deep into the ground that it will become impossible to dig it out.

How to look for unclean treasure (Bulgaria)

Sprinkle with ashes from the badnyak (stump, branch, burned on Christmas Eve, January 6) the supposed place where the treasure is located.

The next day, traces will be visible on the ashes.

Based on the footprints, determine what sacrifice should be made to the treasure. If traces of an animal or a bird are visible, they slaughter a lamb, a ram or a rooster, if there are traces of a person, it is believed that the demon - the "owner" of the Treasure is waiting for a human sacrifice. Decide whether it is possible for a treasure hunter to make such a sacrifice.

How to look for unclean treasure (Czech Republic)

Put a rosary, a white rag or a piece of bread in a pale light at the location of the treasure.

Then the treasure will come to the surface and it will be easier to dig it out.

Treasure hunting dangers

The search for treasures cannot be attributed to extreme, dangerous adventures. However, force majeure situations are also possible here.

Interest from local residents

Most often, the inhabitants of the rural outback are extremely inquisitive and at the same time not too smart. The danger from them can only arise if they guess that you are looking for treasure. Then the aborigines may be overcome by a thirst for money-grubbing and profit, which can lead to an attack on the treasure hunter. The recommendations here are simple:

Look for treasures not alone, but in a group. Yes, you have to share, but it's safe

Bring self-defense equipment, such as a gas gun

Keep the purpose of your research secret. A person with a metal detector can be anyone, a geologist, a soil scientist, an archaeologist. It is better to pretend to be such people from science. Beware of any mention of the material side of things in conversations with local residents.

During the excavation, the treasure hunter can fill up

It can fill up during searches in a well, in an abandoned house, in a cave, in the mountains. In this case, you just need to have a charged cell phone with you, the number of the nearest emergency rescue team, as well as at least one partner who, remaining out of the risk zone, can quickly call the Ministry of Emergency Situations and organize an operation to get you out of the collapse zone.

And, of course, it is desirable "on the shore" to prevent searches in potentially dangerous conditions, for example, in a well with a rotten log house or under a loose rock-rock.

Finding a military projectile

If you find a mine, a cartridge, a grenade, you should not be interested in what they have inside, especially throw them into the fire! It is best if you return them to their original place, complete the excavation and report the location of the find to the nearest police station. Although opinions differ about the Ministry of Internal Affairs - some experts argue that it is not worth reporting to the police about the finds of military shells, because it is from this moment that real "adventures" will begin for the treasure hunter.

Treasure laws

In the staff of expeditions organized by professional treasure hunters, one of the most honorable professions is a lawyer or advocate. Before looking for a treasure, it is necessary to study the legislative framework of the country where the excavations will be carried out. Otherwise, you threaten to pass for a black digger with all the ensuing criminal and administrative consequences. Pay special attention to the law regarding:

• Who owns the found treasures ( in addition to the treasure hunter himself, the state, the owner of the land, the heir to the treasure may have shares, etc.)
• What is the tax on found treasures
• Will it be possible to export the finds from this country and how

May also be usage restrictions certain types of search equipment. There are no federal restrictions on the use of metal detectors in Russia. However, it is necessary to clarify the district, regional laws. There may be nuances.

Along with the legal market for artifacts, there is also a black market where black diggers work. Naturally, from a financial point of view, it is more profitable for a treasure hunter to sell an old item on the black market. So, in Russia, in the case of a legal sale, the treasure hunter will receive about 20-25% of its value on the black market for an artifact. There are, of course, loopholes in the law, and legal earnings can be almost as high as the income of a black digger. So, for example, you found the sword of the Old Russian Grand Duke in your attic, and declared this sword as a find to the police according to. And if after 6 months the prince does not appear for his sword, then you automatically become the owner of the sword, and your income in this case is equal to the market value of this ancient sword. The time of the loss of the thing does not appear, there is no difference - 600 years ago it was dropped or the day before yesterday. But such loopholes are the exception rather than the rule. In general, the income of "white treasure hunters" is 3-4 times less than the earnings of black diggers in the black markets. But there is no risk of incurring administrative or even criminal penalties.

If you decide to look for treasures legitimately, the first thing you need to do before excavating in Russia is to determine whether the search site is a monument of history and culture. How to do it? To do this, you need to study , , and also . Otherwise, if you do not identify the excavation site and start work, you may face up to imprisonment for up to 5 years.

If you determined the place of search, based on documentary sources, quite accurately, and it suddenly turned out to be a monument of history and culture, then you need to request permission. The right to excavate is granted only by the Open List, it is issued exclusively by the Council of the Field Research Department of the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. You are more likely to be granted a permit if you have a degree in archaeology, experience and references. This is at least some guarantee that you will not cause irreparable harm to the historical heritage of the state. However, it is especially important to note that a diploma in archaeology does not guarantee the right to excavate. The situation is solved individually each time. What to do if you have a clear plan, a great desire to act, but do not even have a diploma? You need to interest one of the archaeologists with your idea. And join forces. This happens quite often. However, you will have to share with your partner fame, recognition, money, finally. Another way is to become a black digger, search in secret, without official permission, and be prepared to suffer for your actions.