UPDATE: TREASURE HUNT HAS ENDED
The journey towards finding the Gargaphia Treasure, a collection of over a thousand precious items from all across the world, begins with the book Gargaphia: Where History Means Murder. Robert Jones, author of Gargaphia, and creator of the Gargahpia treasure hunt, is offering the chance to claim this incredible treasure by being the first person to solve all four stages of the armchair adventure. An additional prize of $1,000 cash, and $1,000 cash to a charity of choice, can also be claimed, by the first person who solves just Stage One. Stage one is found on his website! Awesome!
Let’s learn more from Robert about the hunt and how we can join the adventures!
Six Q with Robert:
- 1Q) Gargaphia: Where History Means Murder is proving to be great fun. Thank you for creating such an intriguing hunt and offering the chance to ‘Journey for Treasure’. When did the idea to create an armchair treasure hunt first come to you, and what inspired you to write the story of which the hunt revolves around?
I first thought of an armchair type treasure hunt more than a decade ago. I had just started writing for pleasure and wondered how I could engage more people in a story… Make them part of the adventure so to speak. This made me think about hiding different elements in each story that I write. The actual book, Gargaphia: Where History Means Murder, is a very fictionalized story of my own research concentrating on ancient battlefield recreation. I actually wrote the story prior to being accepted into the Ph.D. program I’m now in the process of finishing up.
- 2Q) Can you share more about the Treasures included in the final prize? How long have you been collecting the items? Can we have a peek at a few of the treasures?
I would call this an eclectic treasure. There are the usual suspects such as gold coins, bars, and fine silver… But then I’ve added some very interesting antiques and collectibles. For example, a 19th century clarinet, a German silver flintlock pistol, some sports memorabilia, and even a blunderbuss. I’ve been collecting since I was a child… There are items within the treasure that I remember obtaining when I was five or six years old! I wanted the treasure to embody my personality and growth… and so it is diverse and contains elements that have interested me through different stages of my life. I’m happy to share a little peek at some of the treasure!
- 3Q) You mention the First Stage Puzzle is on your Gargaphia Website and is the curious string of numbers. Can the puzzle be solved there as well, or is the book needed to discover the answer?
The book is required (Kindle or hard copy) for the first stage of the hunt.
- 4Q) Are the answers to all four stages found within the book and self-contained? For instance, while the internet is needed to access your website and submit answers, is it needed for other reasons, like research for answers to the puzzles?
The book will also be needed to solve the fourth and final stage. However, the second and third stage will require an internet connection and the ability to research online. While you can solve all four stages from anywhere in the world… you do need to have the ability to search online.
- 5Q) Would you have any advice to offer searchers on how to go about solving the various stages of your treasure hunt? How would you rate the difficulty of the hunt? Will the solutions require special knowledge of codes and ciphers, or can anyone discover the answers to the four stages?
My advice is to think outside the box and stay creative. This is not something that will be easy. I like to think that earning something always means more than something that’s given. However, there are no prerequisites of knowledge required. I’m not someone that has an academic background in codes or ciphers. I made something that I think is completely unique to myself. That said, anyone can solve this! That’s what makes it fun. A master of puzzles or someone that has never solved a puzzle in their life might be the first person to make it through stage 1!
- 6Q) Is Gargaphia your first book? When not writing, what are some of your other interests? Do you work on other treasure hunts or explore lost treasures? What do you enjoy?
Gargaphia is my first book of fiction that’s been officially published. I have another young adult book self-published more than ten years ago and I have a fantasy book under contract with my publisher forthcoming. My primary interests concern archaeology, sports, animal rescue, and business creation/ideation. I’ve heavily involved myself in all four.
I run two nonprofits concentrating on animals. Wildlife Resources and Education Network educates wildlife professionals, veterinary staff, and the general public regarding wildlife rescue, and also assists in the transport of injured wildlife through a large network of volunteers (we’ve taken part in the rescue of more than 4,000 wild animals in the last four years). Tilted Tavern Animal Sanctuary is a farm animal rescue located on my farm in East Tennessee. We take in and treat abused, neglected, and abandoned farm animals. We have more than 80 animals that are permanent residents. They, and their stories, are meant to act as beacons for the betterment of our human-animal relationship. My business interests include a few apps (including a game), a green equipment leasing company, and lots of consulting on various projects.
As for my more archaeological interests… my professional concentration is ancient Greek military history/archaeology. My research uses remote sensing technologies (GPR and UAV mostly) combined with text to locate the lost topographical markers of history. When not in Greece, I’m in TN working on my own more personal interests. I have a 19th century farm with a historic tavern. There is tons of history here to find and we are always digging up something.
Currently, we are excavating the first of at least three old cisterns. There are always lots of coins, buttons, bottles, guns, pots, farm tools, etc to be found! I’ve been very lucky to explore this type of work both professionally and as a hobby. One of the treasures within this hunt actually includes an old Spanish piece of eight that I found diving in the Caribbean. I love hunting for the treasures of our past and I’m so happy that I can provide this excitement for the people that are after my personal treasure!
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