Build a trail of evidence, one clue at a time.

By Treasure Hoards · Published October 5, 2026

1. Capture the clue faithfully

Record the source, release date, page or radio time, and exact spelling. Mark a listener transcription as unconfirmed until another source supports it. Keep corrections alongside the original record so your reasoning can be retraced.

2. Separate observation from interpretation

“The illustration shows three stars” is an observation. “Those stars identify a highway” is an interpretation. Put them in separate columns, then list at least one alternative. Look for several independent clues that support the same idea.

3. Test a cipher before believing its output

Write down the alphabet, key, reading direction and treatment of spaces. Apply the method consistently to the whole relevant clue. If it only works after skipping inconvenient letters or changing rules halfway through, record those assumptions and test another approach.

4. Give map measurements a reference

Record which map, coordinate format and units you used. A distance measured from an assumed starting point is only as strong as that starting point. Label regional centers, theories and verified finds separately. Our directory map shows broad regions, not secret hiding coordinates.

5. Try to break the theory

Check whether a find announcement, deadline, area restriction or plain geographic mismatch rules it out. Log failed checks as well as promising ones. Before any field visit, return to the organizer’s current rules and confirm access.

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