Dig Here!: Lost Mines & Buried Treasure of the Southwest [Paperback]

Thomas Penfield (Author), David Hatcher Childress (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2004

Exciting tales of lost treasure in the deserts of the US! This is a reprint of a rare 1966 book pinpointing real bonanzas in Arizona, New Mexico, California, Texas and Nevada, giving the locations of over 100 fabulous fortunes waiting to be found in the ore-rich Southwest! For the first time, lost treasure stories of the Southwest are stripped bare of their legends and lies! The author's account of each treasure includes * the approximate location * the estimated total value of the treasure * an authentication of that value * and reading sources for each locale so readers can do additional research Dig Here! is a gold mine itself, overflowing with fascinating lore, spellbinding backgrounds, driving Western drama ‘ and exciting, reliable facts!

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Adventures Unlimited Press (September 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931882355
• ISBN-13: 978-1931882354
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #672,853 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book- Dont' listen to F. Hollister's review, February 20, 2007

By 

Dustin M. Dudley - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dig Here!: Lost Mines & Buried Treasure of the Southwest (Paperback)

This book tells of all of the great stores of buried treause and riches in the southwest. The author has done plenty of research. F.Hollister, who wrote the review below me (book deserves a better rating then he gave) obvoiusly expected to purchase the book then go out and dig up millions. What a fool. These treasures and pieces of history are nearly always lost to time, the elements of nature, bad details and directions for the locations (no one wants to tell someone exactly where to find their horde of gold coins)and many other factors. The author does a good job with all of the proven facts. Each story tells the likelihood of the treasure actually existing (based on known facts). It also tells a general area where the treasure is most likely to be or where an initial crime (many are robberies) took place. This book is not going to tell you exactly where to dig, but it give you a few good clues and some general idea as for location. In the end, you would still need to use your own head. Nonetheless, it is very enjoyable reading and will take back in time over a century.
I know many treasures are out there, but they obviously don't give themselves up easily. If you were going to hide a million dollars in gold from the world, would you hide it in an easy place? I didn't think so! I know I would hide it in a desolate area where only I would be able find it with a few unique landmarks. I would probably only tell one or two close friends or family members. Now you can see how a treasure can get lost. Read the book! Many are legends, but some are definitely true.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Providing the locations of more than one hundred fortunes, September 11, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dig Here!: Lost Mines & Buried Treasure of the Southwest (Paperback)

Dig Here: Lost Mines & Buried Treasure Of The Southwest by Thomas Penfield is a dedicated treasure hunter's indispensable reference providing the locations of more than one hundred fabulous and still undiscovered fortunes hidden away in the deserts and mountains of the American southwest. Enhanced with treasure lore, dramatic backgrounds to treasure tales, aspiring treasure hunters will learn about the Treasure of Tumacacori; the Lost Mine of the Tonto Apache; the Black Princess Lost Mine; the Treasure of Montezuma's Well; the Lost Adams Diggings, Germonimo's Lost Gold Mine, as well as the grandaddy treasure of them all, the Lost Dutchman's Mine. These and so many more are provided with an approximate location, an estimated value, and authentication for the reality of the buried or forgotten treasure. In Dig Here, Thomas Penfield has successfully accomplished the remarkable and highly commended task of separating fact from fantasy, legends and lies!

13 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Lost and this book won't help you find 'em, either, January 16, 2007

By 

F. Hollister (Big Island of Alameda) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dig Here!: Lost Mines & Buried Treasure of the Southwest (Paperback)

Why in the world would a publisher bring this title back into print? And why would anyone serious about reading about lost mines and buried treasures buy it?

While it's true this work has been around for a number of years, Thomas Penfield completed no original research when he wrote it. Where are the sources? The detailed bibliography? Look for them you may, but you won't find them any sooner than you will find any of the missing treasures outlined here.

IF Mr. Penfield tells you anything original you may rest assured he made it up. Over the years many reviewers have pointed out his numerous errors and mistakes.

More to the point, where's the new information? You would be much better off reading J. Frank Dobie's "Coronado's Children" or "Apace Gold and Yaqui Silver" - two true classics. You will probably find "Lost Mines and Buried Treasures" by "Leland Lovelace" to be more entertaining reading - it is certainly better written.

Finally, hardcover copies of "Dig Here!" are readily available. Watch out for the first printing of the first edition - the numbered maps showing the (very general) locations were supposed to be keyed to text chapters. Well, the publisher forgot to include the numbers in the text (rather a metaphor for the whole book) although this was corrected in later printings.

Give this one a miss.