Buried Treasures Of The South

W. C. Jameson

August House 1992. ISBN 0-87473-286-1

Lost, buried, and/or forgotten treasures throughout the southern United States are the stuff of adventure. Dividing the book into sections by state, Jameson provides a map of the state with the believed location of treasure troves marked, at the beginning of each section. This format aids in distinguishing the locations of the stories but detracts because sometimes one feels one is reading the same story with the details changed.

The prologue and introduction provide limited information about the research sources, why Jameson finds treasure hunting exciting, and a brief cultural history of the inhabitants of the south -- Indian tribes, Spaniards, plantation owners, and pirates -- and the value of the legendary treasures to each group through the centuries. A two page bibliography of selected references at the end of the book makes up for a lack of footnotes. This style makes the stories more easily read and accessible to upper elementary students, as well as adults, while providing sources for further research. Treasure Hunts and pirates always create excitement, therefore I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to explore the world of lost treasure in the southern states or wants be become more conversant with the treasure tales of a particular state.

Reviewed December 1st, 1994 by Rosemary Czarski