THE LOST DUTCHMAN GOLD MINE, THE PERALTA STONE MAPS- WHO CREATED THEM? By Mitch Waite
There is a heated debate among the Lost Dutchman experts as to whether or not the maps are authentic. Many believe the stone maps were a creation to perpetuate the Lost Dutchman Legend and was carved by an old cowboy, stonemason. One of the biggest concerns is the fineness of the milling of the surfaces on the two trail maps. Another argument is the horse is too finely done.
On the authentication side, there are way too many landmarks that match the maps. Not just major landmarks that anyone would know about (such as Weaver’s Needle, but others as well). Who ever made the maps had a very in-depth knowledge of the Superstition Mountains, and was willing to create the landmarks which are manmade in the proper places within the mountains. This is a very good indication they are authentic.
It appears the maps were made by the Jesuits and then updated by the Peralta’s many years later. Evidence of Peralta updating the maps is the date inscribed on the base of the Priest’s Alter depicted on the Priest Map. It is very faint, but the date of 1847 can be seen. This is the date when the Peralta’s made their last effort to collect the riches before that part of Arizona became US Territory. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo made the land north of the Gila River part of the Arizona Territory belonging to the United States on 2 February, 1848. From that date on, they would only be able to return in clandestine operations.
This implies the Jesuits were the original creators of the Peralta Stone Maps. The Jesuits were sponsored by the King of Spain to collect riches of the new world while they Christianized the local natives. The King found out through special audits, the Jesuits were skimming some of riches for the creations of artifacts for the church. The Jesuits were ordered to ship what they were holding to the King. However, they refused and moved all precious artifacts north into Indian Territory for safe keeping from the King. The Monarch basically fired the Jesuits and placed Pedro de Peralta as Governor of New Mexico in 1609. Thus, the legend of the Church Treasure was born.
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