World’s longest treasure hunt over as 31-year search for mystery item ends
Hundreds of thousands of people had attempted to locate this golden owl hidden in 1993 — and it’s finally been found.
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The world’s longest treasure hunt has finally come to an end after confirmation the Golden Owl - buried in France more than 30 years ago — has been found.
The item, worth around $240,000, has fascinated hundreds of thousands of wannabe sleuths who have attempted to narrow down its location after reading a book titled On the Trail of the Golden Owl.
The armchair treasure hunt book was created in 1993 by communications expert Régis Hauser under the pseudonym “Max Valentin” and illustrated by artist Michel Becker.
Readers were challenged to solve a series of clues that would enable them to find the prize, buried by Hauser in a secret location.
But for decades it proved impossible and the owl remained buried when Hauser died in 2009.
Becker took over organisation of the hunt and sent searchers into a frenzy when he posted an announcement on October 3 which read: “A potential winning solution is currently being verified. The verification system is currently locked and no longer allows you to submit your solutions. Further information will be communicated to you as soon as possible.”
Two hours later he added: “Don’t go digging! We confirm that the Golden Owl countermark was unearthed last night.”
The official website of the treasure hunt was also updated with the news.
Search led to divorces, financial ruin and insanity
The legend of the mystery object only grew because of the desperate lengths people went to find it.
What was a fun part-time activity for some was sheer obsession for others, with the trophy hunt causing financial ruin, divorce - and even madness.
There have been reports that some searchers’ spouses left them over their one-minded devotion to finding the owl, while others spent eye-watering amounts to travel to and across France and join in on the search.
At least one person even wound up in an asylum - and key infrastructure was wrecked and crimes committed in the search for the treasure.
Last year in a remote eastern France village, a local mayor had to issue a desperate plea for hunters to stop digging holes around its chapel, the Telegraph reported.
Elsewhere, one hunter reportedly wanted to blow up a chapel after they’d decided there was a chance the treasure was underneath it. And another arrived at a bank with a pneumatic drill for the same reason.
What was the Golden Owl hunt?
On The Trail Of The Golden Owl contained a series of clues for readers to work through.
Becker created 11 paintings that ran across double-spread pages in the book, each of which contained a discrete riddle composed of a title, text, and a painting.
Each pair of pages was numbered with a wavelength associated with its colours, and with an owl face.
Three specific techniques were confirmed by Hauser before his death:
The use of maps. The reader must do something with a map, to reveal the final zone of the game, then use a precise map of that zone to find the cache that contains the owl.
The existence of a “mega trick”, which is the key to using the sequence of eleven riddles to identify the final zone.
The existence of a final, hidden riddle that completes the game. When a reader finds this riddle in the final zone, he or she will be able to use elements of the previous riddles to form and solve the last riddle. The decryption of the last riddle will lead to the cache that contains the owl.
Treasure-hunters were in a joyous uproar after the news of the discovery came out on the hunt’s Discord forum.
One person said: “Finally – liberated!”
Another added: “I didn’t think I’d live to see the day.”
Fans are now eagerly waiting to find out where the Golden Owl was located and who found it.
Becker sent another message on October 6 explaining the delay. “Tons of emotions to manage for all those who are responsible for managing the end of this episode and complex logistics to put in place,” he wrote.
- with The Sun
Originally published as World’s longest treasure hunt over as 31-year search for mystery item ends