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| Robinson Crusoe Island – the hidden treasure site. |
According to legend, in 1715, Spanish Admiral Juan Esteban Ubilla and Echeverria commanded about 14 Spanish warships and a Dutch chartered ship loaded with gold, silver, jewels, and other valuables from the Americas back to their homeland when they encountered a storm. To protect the ship’s cargo, Ubilla buried it on Robinson Crusoe Island. Later, British sailor Cornelius Webb discovered the treasure and hid it in another location on the same island.
Attorney F. Echeverria, an advisor to the treasure hunting team, stated that the expedition members have employed a metal detector capable of detecting chemical compounds and believe they have pinpointed the treasure’s burial site. They will begin excavation once they secure permission from local authorities.
This is not the first time such treasure hunts have been organized. Wagner himself has been involved in treasure hunting since the end of World War II. In 1998, an expedition comprising archaeologists from the U.S., the Netherlands, and Chile scoured every corner of the island but found no trace of the massive treasure.
Not only is Robinson Crusoe Island captivating due to the legend of treasure, but it is also the site where Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk lived in isolation for years, inspiring English author Daniel Defoe to write the world-famous novel “Robinson Crusoe” in 1729.
