Much of our past is buried underground.

A metal detecting hobby is a fun way to uncover it.

I first learned about fascinating metal detector contraptions in 1968 when I joined the Tamaqua Area Coin Club.

I was mesmerized as a few club members presented a demonstration. Following beeps of the detector, they found hidden coins during one of our monthly meetings held on the second floor of Tamaqua American Legion headquarters.

So 40 years ago I bought a White’s metal detector and started dabbling. It was my first taste of the fun of the hunt.

Nothing serious. I simply wanted to learn more about the skills needed to do it right.

I quickly became a typical amateur prospector.

But I didn’t stick with it. Maybe a year.

In that time I found a nice variety of old coins, dog tags, jewelry and souvenir items.

One, for example, was a bronze 100-year anniversary token from Minersville National Bank.

I figured that if I found jewelry, it’d be satisfying to track down the owner and return it.

I learned it was easy to find jewelry but next to impossible to find the owner.

And I never actually discovered anything too valuable, really. Never stumbled on the Lost Treasure of the Incas.

But maybe there’s still hope.

An internet news story about Pennsylvania’s lost fortunes caught my attention.

According to experts, there are at least two possible treasures that might be hidden in our region.

The Lost Treasure of Blue Mountain is a legend about notorious pirate captain Elias Thorn.

He is said to have amassed a fortune in gold, jewels and artifacts as he raided merchant ships in the early 18th century.

They say he hid the stash from rival pirates and the British in 1723 by concealing it inside a hidden cave along the Blue Mountain range.

He then vanished under mysterious circumstances. His treasure would possibly be worth $100 million today, according to reports.

If that’s not enough, there might be another treasure hidden in our area.

The Molly Maguires’ Hidden Cache is estimated at more than $15 million, according to legend.

The alleged Mollies, as many know, were said to be a secretive group of Irish coal miners of Carbon and Schuylkill counties during the 19th century.

Historical accounts say they fought oppression, harsh working conditions and unfair labor practices.

Supposedly, the Mollies hid a cache of stolen gold and valuables during their reputed reign of terror.

The loot was accumulated through robberies and secret contributions to fund the society, according to the tale.

They say agent James McParland, the Pinkerton detective who successfully infiltrated the group, learned a few details about the treasure and its possible location.

The stash was supposedly buried in or near an abandoned coal mine in the 1860s just before law enforcement closed in on the group.

If true, it’s been hidden since then.

Both the Lost Treasure of Blue Mountain and the Molly Maguires’ Hidden Cache are stories of old money and valuables waiting to be found.

These tales are enough to pique anyone’s curiosity.

So over the past year, I dug out the old metal detector, stored away for nearly 40 years.

It needed cleaning and fresh batteries. But I fired it up and it tested just fine.

So as soon as the weather breaks, I’m ready to embark on an Indiana Jones adventure. The fun is in the hunt.

Anyone want to come along?