France has introduced that the world’s longest treasure hunt seems to be over after a buried golden owl statue has been unearthed after 31 years.
“We verify {that a} duplicate of the Golden Owl was unearthed final night time and the answer was despatched to the web verification system,” learn a publish posted on the hunt’s official chat line Thursday morning.
“So there is no level in digging now wherever you assume there is likely to be treasure.”
The announcement was made by Michel Becker, who illustrated the unique Chouette d’Or (Golden Owl) guide and who engraved the buried statuette in 1993.
There was no additional details about the placement or the finder, and Mr. Becker couldn’t be reached by telephone.
Tens of 1000’s of individuals participated within the search, which spawned a wealth of secondary literature in books, pamphlets, and Web websites.
They’re all fixing 11 complicated puzzles posed by Max Valentin, the creator of the primary guide. He took over the enterprise following Becker’s loss of life in 2009.
These complicated clues ought to result in a exact location someplace in France, the place a bronze duplicate of an actual golden owl will likely be discovered underground. The winner will obtain a valuable gold unique.
The world of foodies (as treasure hunters are referred to as) was in uproar Thursday morning as information of the invention unfold.
“Lastly – liberated!” learn one publish on the looking chat line on the Discord discussion board.
“I did not assume I might reside to see today,” wrote one other. And: “It is similar to COVID. It is good when it is over.
“Oddly sufficient, I am relieved. I am now dying to know the answer and see if I am on the fitting path,” one other consumer commented.
Some hunters stay skeptical, fearing the cache might have been found with a metallic detector. In response to the foundations, the discoverers should show that they solved the puzzle accurately and didn’t encounter the owl accidentally.
Within the years after Mr. Valentine’s loss of life, the hunt was mired in authorized disputes, and never all owl hunters accepted the central function Mr. Becker inherited.
Mr. Becker himself had no data of the buried owl. The answer got here in a sealed envelope and was saved by Mr Valentine’s household.
However after the authorized dilemma was resolved, Mr. Becker learn the answer and went to the location to confirm that the owl was nonetheless there.
In recent times, he is posted extra clues to the owl group, sparking curiosity in a brand new era of foodies.
