Over the course of his time in the West Indies during the early 18th century, the pirate Alonzo Batilla came across many treasures, the maps to which he would retrieve from the wrecks of merchant and patrolling ships alike, after having engaged them in naval combat.
Treasures
Hernán Cortés - The Spanish Conquistador
Heart of Gold - A large gold nugget shaped like a human heart
Finger Ring - A ring made of cast gold representing the sacred figure of the jaguar
Sacred Mask - This sacred relic was not intended to be worn, but placed on statues as a tribute to the Gods
Lingote de Oro - A convenient way to carry stolen gold after the looting of Tenochtitlan
Turtle Necklace - A relic worn by the elected ruler of the Aztec people, Moctezuma II
San José - The Rich Galleon
Precious Box - This finely-crafted box was destined for the wife of an unlucky conquistador
Money Chain - The gold links of this chain were designed to be twisted open and used as currency
Mythical Cup - This decorative object from the captain's cabin is adorned with phoenixes, dragons, and unicorns
Emerald Pendant - At a time where ostentatious displays of wealth were forbidden, only the most powerful could afford to wear this beautiful piece of jewelry
Master's Ring - Carved with the family crest, this ring was passed on from generation to generation
Imperio Español - The Treasure Fleet
Gold Bars - Forged in the colonies, these numbered gold bars financed the expensive wars of the Spanish crown
Gold Cob - A gold coin featuring the Jerusalem cross
Cross Chain - This chain is embellished with a gold cross and a medallion
Emerald Gold Pin - Lost in 1622, this precious relic was found by a lucky treasure hunter in 1985
Spanish Doubloon - A coin forged in Spain and used as trade currency in the Caribbean
Bosun's Whistle - A tool for communicating orders to the sailors perched high up in the rigging
Gems - The Rare Stones
Sacred Emerald - This legendary Aztec relic was destined to be reclaimed by Quetzalcoatl upon his return among the mortals
Ruby Tooth - This stone was an extremely rare find in the mines of the Spanish colonies
Raw Sapphire - This pure blue gemstone was dug out by a native slave in the mines of Nuevo Reino de Granada
Massive Jade Stone - A rare and valued find from the Motagua River in Nueva España
Large Amethyst - This precious stone was found in the Mato Grosso in Colonial Brazil
Golden Topaz - Only the rarest of topaz stones shine like gold nuggets
Lovers' souvenirs - Dangerous Liaisons
Soiled Crucifix - A pious French woman lost her crucifix along with her virtue in the arms of a legendary pirate
Oriental Hairpin - An ancient oriental artifact from the pleasure houses of the Orient
Lost Earrings - These were taken as a souvenir by a notorious French pirate
Lady's Ring - Presented as a gift by a rich nobleman, this ring was stolen along with a lady's heart
Lover's Coin - Bending gold coins was a custom when offering them to court a lady
Garnet Ring - One ring to woo them all and in his cabin, bed them
Captain's Button - A gold button torn from a Royal Navy uniform
Royal Navy Ring - Engraved with the letters HMS – Her Majesty's Ship – this ring belonged to a Royal Navy officer
Noble's Knife - Fitted with a mahogany and gold handle, this sailor's tool must have belonged to a man of noble birth
Gold Sovereign - A coin representing queen Mary I, with a nominal value of one pound sterling
Mourning Ring - Death is a part of life. This relic belonged to a venerable land-owning family
Lost Chalice - Intrepid Jesuit priests expelled during the Reformation used this chalice to celebrate Mass
Aztec relics - Of Gods and Men
Mask of the Deity - Tezcatlipoca was associated with night, wind, sorcery, mischief, beauty, war, strife... and jaguars
Turquoise Mask - Made from a most precious stone, this mask of Quetzalcoatl was sent as tribute to the Aztec capital
Sacrificial Knife - A great sacrifice sustains the universe. Earth, food, people... all spring from the bodies of the sacrificial gods
Jade Mask - The ceremonial death mask of an Aztec ruler
Mosaic Mask - An ornamental turquoise mask representing Xiuhtecuhtli, the Aztec god of fire, day, and heat
Ancient Calendar - This adaptation of an old Mayan calendar - describing solar and lunar cycles and the motion of the brightest stars - was used to conduct ceremonies and rituals
Mayan relics - The Lost Empire
Statue of the Deity - Itzamna, the founder of Mayan culture, taught people how to grow plants, use medicine, and draw calendars
Statue of the Goddess - Ixhcel, the Goddess of childbirth and rainbows, decides how the moon affects men and women
Fertility Sculpture - Mayan women made offerings to the fertility goddess twice in their lifetime: once as a child, once as a mother
Deity's Head - A ten-pound piece of jade carved in the shape of the sun god
Onyx Tool - A hunting and fighting tool made of a precious, solid material
Mayan Codex - Pages featuring the Mayan calendar and its numeral system
Inca relics - Children of the Sun
Sun God Mask - Inti, patron deity of the Incas, son of the god of civilization, and father of the Sapa Inca, the ruler of the people
Ceremonial Mask - This mask of Mama Quilla, the moon mother, was used as a temple ornament
Ritual Mask - The Incas' gold masks are amongst the finest ever forged
Death Mask - Pre-dating the Incan empire, this mask was designed to be entombed for eternity
Statue of Kon - The god of rain and wind, son of the sun god and moon mother
Strange artifacts - The Oddest Treasures
Ancient Mask - Was this mysterious mask molded on a living man's head?
Chart Divider - A legendary pirate captain used this golden tool to navigate the seas and capture his prizes
Ancient Grooming Tool - An earwax and toothpick spoon, fallen out of fashion over the centuries
Mixtec Serpent - The double-headed serpent is associated with Quetzalcoatl, the all powerful Aztec god
Skull Goblet - An old Mixtec artifact used to collect the blood of sacrificed humans
Flying Device - An age-old Mayan relic resembling a bird... or is it a glider?
Henry Morgan - The King of Pirates
Ship's Bell - The only remains of HMS Oxford, a beautiful Navy warship captured by Morgan and destroyed by his drunk pirates the night before their attack on Cartagena
Letter of Commission - Seized from a French ship, this letter was sent by the governor of Baracoa to permit the French navies to trade with the Spanish and attack British pirates
Magdalena Emblem - A relic from one of the most beautiful and better equipped ships of the Spanish Armada, burned by Morgan's fire ship during the battle of Maracaibo
Astrolabe - This rare nautical instrument, one of Morgan's prized possessions, was stolen from his house before it was destroyed in the Port Royal earthquake
Gold Rum - An ordinary rum bottle filled with gold dust. Captain Morgan's special!
François l'Olonnais - The Bane of the Spanish
Pirate Cutlass - This blade was used to behead an entire Spanish crew. The only survivor was left alive to spread the tale of this pirate's cruelty
Gaucho Knife - The gaucho uses this tool to eat, kill and protect, but this pirate turned it into a torture instrument
Old Pocket Watch - This family treasure from the 16th century was finally surrendered to this pirate after hours of merciless torture
Pieces of Eight - A coffer full of silver coins worth eight reales each, part of a classical pirate bounty, this one taken during the sacking of Maracaibo
Bag of Gemstones - Small, yet valuable. This pirate found these stones in the house of a noble in Gibraltar, hours before the city was sacked
Gold Tooth - The only remains of this pirate after he was captured and dismembered by the native tribes of the New Kingdom of Granada
Exquemelin - The Barber Surgeon
Famous Book - The History of the Bouccaneers of America is a classical account of the lives of the famous early Golden Age pirates. Henry Morgan had it censored and amended to convey a more "proper" tale of his life
Medicine Chest - The most precious thing on a ship. Many a life could be saved with the potions stored in this wooden box... except when their illiterate user mixed them up
Surgeon's Saw - When limbs were doomed and pirates drunk enough to lie on the surgeon's table, the improvised doctor pulled out these tools and did what had to be done
Company Stock - This piece of paper issued by the West India Company is worth a lot more than it looks. After King Louis XIV dissolved the company in 1674, he had all the company shares bought back
Huguenot Cross - The proud property of a persecuted people, the members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France
Gold Razor - This barber's utensil was offered to Henry Morgan's barber by the infamous captain himself... after he stole it from a rich Spanish conquistador
African relics - A plundered continent
Dogon Axe - The animal figures engraved on this ceremonial bronze axe lend their strength to the warrior wielding it
Ram's Head - This ceremonial artifact was worn by the Olowo, the chief of the Owo state, to assert his power
Hunting Horn - Carved from an elephant's tusk, this hunting tool from the kingdom of Kongo allowed the hunters to coordinate deadly attacks
Sacred Leopard - Stolen from the kingdom of Benin, this ivory leopard was one of the symbolic representations of the Oba, the king
Egyptian Scarab - Placed on the throat, chest and heart of the mummy, these artifacts allowed their bearer to be accepted in the eternal afterlife
Soul Washer - Worn by high-ranking members of the Ashanti people, this protective pectoral disk was also a convenient way to store wealth
Sea treasures - Rare finds
Teardrop Pearl - The rounder and smoother the pearl, the more precious the find
Sea Glass Necklace - This gorgeous necklace was made with the most beautiful pieces of sea glass
Lion's Paw - A rare seashell used as a mount for this wonderful set of jewels
Gold Nautilus - A nautilus shell serves as the main structure of this exceptional gold-plated sculpture
Glory of the Atlantic - The Conus Granulatus is one of the rarest and most prized seashells of the West Indies
Black Pearl - The smooth surface of this perfectly round pearl makes it an extremely rare natural occurrence
Lucky charms - Symbols of future wealth
Wealth Elephant - In the ancient kingdom of Siam, the albino elephant was a sacred elephant that had to be tended to with much care
Emerald Clover - One leaf for faith, one leaf for hope, one leaf for love, and one leaf for luck
Jade Pig - In Chinese culture, jade and pigs were symbols of good fortune
Bloodstone Bonbonniere - With its distinctive red spots, the bloodstone was commonly used to stop bleeding and bring change
Albatross Pendant - When sailors saw this bird at sea, they took it as a sign that fortune was on their side
Dreamcatcher - The symbol of the Spider Woman, who watched over the Ojibwe children during the darkest hours
Rare weapons - From all over the world
Portuguese Blunderbuss - This fire-breathing weapon, often referred to as dragon, could be loaded with various types of ammunition, including gravel and sand
Flintlock Pistols - This finely ornamented pair of weapons most probably belonged to a rich Dutchman
Musketeer Rapier - Who knows how this outdated old-world weapon found its way to the West Indies?
Ottoman Saber - This one-handed curved weapon favored by the Turks originated from the famous Mongol blades
German Axe-Pistol - This seventeenth century weapon combined two very functional melee favorites for maximal damage
Snuff bottles - Crafted in the Orient
Elderly Man - Carved from a bone, this snuff bottle represents the face of a happy tobacco-sniffing old man
Red Carp - A red colored snuff bottle engraved with swimming carp fish. A symbol of success and prosperity
Fish Flower - A turquoise snuff bottle to store one's ration of powdered tobacco
Twin Relief - These two hand-carved Chinese snuff bottles feature the finest coral, lapis and turquoise beadings
Ivory Solace - This Chinese snuff bottle is engraved with a scene from the life of Confucius
Tibetan Silver - This ancient snuff bottle worn around the neck would preserve one's tobacco from the cold and heat
Alcohol - Drunk on plunder
Old Cognac - Somewhere in the world, a parched French captain must be miserable...
Wine Crate - This precious loot will turn a thirsty pirate into the most sophisticated drunk
Ale Cask - A healthy ration of pale ale. A light yet excellent drink, recommended for the whole family
Jamaican Rum - The pirate classic drink. The Caribbean's signature alcohol
Vintage Bordeaux - This old precious bottle must have been saved for a very special occasion
Whiskey - A product of the Old Bushmills Distillery in Ireland, the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world
Mayan Genesis - The Creation Myth
Hunahpu - The first of the Hero Twins, the youthful hunter of birds
Xbalanque - The second of the Hero Twins, nicknamed the Jaguar Sun
Vucub-Caquix - The false sun-moon demon bird, defeated by the Hero Twins after severing Hunahpu's arm
Buluc Chabtan - The God of war, violent death, and human sacrifice
The Hunter God of Death - The were-animal, the shape-shifter, hunter of heads, of deer... of humans
Howler Monkey God - The Mayan Deity of the Arts, patron of the scribes and artisans
Lords of the Night 1 - The 9-day cycle
God 1 - The Powerful Lord of the Center, representing energy and enthusiasm
God 2 - The sacrificial knife, symbol of responsibility and personal sacrifice
God 3 - The God of Sun, symbol of the need for respect and recognition
God 4 - The God of Maize and Subsistence, representing protection and communication
God 5 - The God of Death, symbol of sensitivity and touchiness
God 6 - The Goddess of Jade Water, representing independence and the longing for recognition
Lords of the Night 2 - The character archetypes
God 7 - The Goddess of Confession, representing refinement and sexuality
God 8 - The Jaguar God, symbol of liveliness and the need for conversation
God 9 - The God of Rain, representing independence and self-sufficiency
Dresden Codex - The oldest book written in the Americas played a key role in deciphering Mayan hieroglyphs
Madrid Codex - Discovered during the Spanish conquest, this codex provides precious almanacs and astronomical tables
Mayan Calendar - The cyclical nature of time perceived by the Mayas, cornerstone of their life-death imagery
Lords of Light - Deities of the Earth
Cantzicnal - Son of Itzamna and Ixchel, the God of the Northern Sky represents the cold north wind
Hosanek - The God of the Southern Sky stands like a pillar supporting the heavens and reveals the golden hue of the corn
Hobnil - Standing in the Far East, Hobnil supports the eastern sky and glows with the warm red of the rising sun
Saccimi - The Pillar God of the Western Sky is represented by the color black, the shade of the sky after the sun has set
Stone tablet - This tablet represents a Bacab, any of the four Mayan deities of the interior of the earth
Itzamna - The creator deity, residing in the sky. The invisible high god
Vikings artefacts - First explorers
Drinking Horn - A very common Viking accessory, made from the horns of goats or cattle
Viking Shield - The unique way of holding the shield allowed Vikings to use it as an offensive and defensive tool
Viking Helmet - An expensive addition to the Viking's fighting gear, making it a rare find
Viking Sword - Rarer than the battle axe, this prestigious weapon was the prerogative of chieftains and kings
Sacred Runes - Odin's gift to humanity. Runes can be used for casting spells or blessing people and places
Bracelet - Who was supposed to wear this wonderful piece of craftsmanship?
Mayan Weapons - Classic headbreakers
Hul'che - A wooden shaft used to throw darts or arrows at great speed
Short Spear- A powerful throwing weapon used by hunters and warriors alike
Club - The short handle of this finely-carved spear gave its wielder maximum strength on impact
Obsidian Axe - The blade of this short axe was so strong it could crack a man's head with one single blow
Obsidian Dagger - Carved from one block of solid obsidian, this knife was truly unbreakable
Blowgun - The length and small diameter of this traditional blowgun allowed for great precision
Chess Pieces - Ancient gameplay
Pawn - The isolated pawn casts gloom over the entire chessboard
Knight - Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward. They may be beaten, but they may start a winning game
Bishop - The future belongs to he who has the bishops
Rook - Chess is, above all, a fight
Queen - When you see a good move, look for a better one
King - Life is more than just chess. Though a king dies, life goes on
Animal Kingdom - Holy figures
Egyptian Cat - Seen as a blessing for killing mice, vermin, and snakes, cats became associated with protection and progress
Chinese Dragon - A powerful animal figure symbolizing the power of nature, the control over water, and the luck bestowed on the worthy souls
Mayan Turtle - A sacred symbol of the Earth, associated with the myth of creation and perpetual rebirth of the sun
Roman Eagle - A symbol of strength and power, the eagle was the emblem of the Roman legions
Greek Horse - The famous Trojan Horse, symbol of man's trickery and intelligence
The Zodiac - The Sun's path
Aries - Depicted as a man with a ram's head by the Egyptian, Aries represented fertility and creativity
Taurus - One of the earliest constellations, with the giant star Aldebaran as the bull's bloodshot eye
Gemini - Castor and Pollux are its two brightest stars, the Great Twins united by Zeus in immortality
Cancer - The dimmest of the zodiacal constellations, the Dark Sign is black and deprived of eyes
Leo - Identified by the Greeks as the Nemean Lion killed by hero Heracles as one of the twelve labors
Virgo - Associated with fertility, abundance or the goddess of wheat and agriculture
The Zodiac - The Moon's path
Libra - With its stars representing the scales of justice, this constellation is the symbol of truth and civility
Scorpio - Sent by Apollo to attack the huntsman Orion and kill him, the Scorpion was later raised to heavens by Zeus
Sagittarius - The constellation resembles a stick figure archer pointing its bow towards the Scorpion's heart
Capricorn - Represented as a hybrid of a goat and a fish since the 21st century BC, when the winter solstice occurred under Capricorn
Aquarius - The water bearer, holder of the spring rains and the destructive floods of the ancient times
Pisces - Two fish tied by a cord, Aphrodite and Eros leaping into the sea to escape the monster Typhon
Headdresses - Gorgeous adornments
Warrior Headdress - Designed to impress enemies and imbue the warrior with the strength of mythological animals
Priest Headdress - The symbol of the priest's status, the human link between gods and men
Tucan Headdress - This richly decorated headdress was worn by an influent Mayan nobleman
Great Tree Headdress - This headdress associated its bearer with the Great Tree, the central pole holding up the sky
Sacred Bird Headdress - This headdress is a tribute to the Celestial Bird, a figure of the Mayan Creation myth
Crocodile Headdress - The headdress is an homage to the crocodile, the original animal, symbolizing new beginnings and new potential
Independence Day - Revolutionary war artifacts
War Drum - The drums were an important part of the battlefield communications system, with various drum rolls used to sign different commands from officers to troops
Cocked hat - Troops with flintlock muskets tended to knock each other's wide brimmed hats off when they drilled in close formation, so they sewed the brims to the crown
Engraved Powder Horn - Probably used on board ship for priming the cannon with fine powder
American Gunsmith - An American gunsmith assembled this pistol utilizing parts from a Model 1733 French dragoon pistol
Revolutionary Grenade - Grenades of this type played an important part in the biggest naval battle of the Revolutionary War
Grand Union Flag - The first emblem of the United States Navy after the Declaration of Independence
Miniature Globe – The entire living world in the palm of your hand
Bronze Compass – This apparently mundane tool is encased in precious metal
Antique Compass – One of man’s oldest tools, used to mark distances and establish one’s position on a map
Nocturnal – Used to tell time by the celestial clock. One ring was set to the date and the arm aligned with the correct stars
Legendary Spyglass – This precious tools is rumoured to have belonged to a merciless French pirate
Ancient Map – The extraordinary travels of William Dampier, the first man to circumnavigate the world three times
Halloween - Esoteric stuff
Thinking Skull – Traces of stone chips were found in the skin around the neck, suggesting that the victim was killed with antiquated tools, probably for sacrifice
Torture Doll – The Slaves brought from Africa brought their own form of image magic known as Bocio
Snake in a Jar – Snakes are considered to be the holders of intuitive knowledge - knowing that which cannot be spoken
Sacrificial Wooden Stake - Used for the purposes of mastering divine magnetism, by giving the sacrificed life energy to the gods
Shrunken Head – Reduce the head of his enemy allows to lock in his mind and thus to prevent his revenge
Spirit Bottles – In many instances the spirits trapped within the typical Voodoo Spirit Botttle are benevolent and are easily encouraged to act on behalf of their keepers, either in bringing luck or love or in keeping evil far away
Christmas - Celebration items
Alcool Cups – Set of British Royal Navy Rum or Grog Measures – 1 Quart, 1 Pint and 2 ½ Pint Measures
Music Instrument – Sailors have a long tradition of entertaining themselves with song, and Christmas carols were very popular at the time
Silver Cutlery – Old silver plates, forks and spoons used by pirates for celebrations
Treasure Coins – Pirates consistently had access to better food than most sailors, plenty of liquor, and exotic spices because of their richness. Pirates were often warmly welcomed by business associates who enjoyed partying with these charming rogues
Wooden Harpoon – For pirates, the hunt would be part of the excitement of the holiday. They also had the right to feast for Christmas!
Bell of the Whydah – A ship’s bell is used to indicate the time aboard a ship and hence to regulate the sailor’s duty watches
Chinese New Year - Chinese pirates' treasure
Red Flag – The Red Flag was one of the most powerful pirate fleets in all of China, controlled by the famous and powerful female pirate Ching Shih.
Magnetic Compass – First invented as a device for divination as early as the Chinese Han Dynasty, the magnetic compass was later adopted for navigation by the Song Dynasty Chinese during the 11th century.
Dao Sword – Chinese pirates mostly fought with traditional Chinese weapons as dao, jian, qiang and gun.
Traditional Clothes – This kind of clothes was worn by most people and pirates themselves at this period.
Dragon Seal – Ivory dragon seal with carved decoration, dated from pirates' age.
Antique Chinese Pot – Painted pottery pot with raised reliefs of dragons and phoenixes.
Reference
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