Mongolia

Redo for a treasure hunt?

When communist rule in the 1930s destroyed hundreds of monasteries, a monk in pursuit of protecting monastery treasures hid 64 treasure boxes in sandy soil in the vast Gobi desert.

Decades later, he revealed the story and the memorized locations to his grandson. He, in turn, located and dug up a third of the boxes once freedom of religion was allowed in Mongolia. Unsure of the religious and cultural stability, he let the rest stay hidden.

Another lot of artifacts of great value for Mongolian culture were dug up 20 years later.

However, about 20 boxes remain. Hidden in the sand…