Treasure hunting has always made up the history of many cultures and people. But what is the history behind treasure hunting?
Johannes Dillinger, Professor of Early Modern History at Oxford Brookes investigates the roles played by treasure in British and European society.
Answering questions such as; How can you find treasure? If you do, is it really yours? And what is a treasure hunt like?
Professor Dillinger specialises in legends, magic and witchcraft, which led to the main themes explored in this exhibit.
He looks at the ties of magic to treasure hunting, and how treasures are almost always guarded by demons and ghosts, and how treasure hunters will conjure up said demons, and even communicate with ghosts to locate treasures.
The exhibition is located in the John Henry Brookes Building Library, in special collections and is open to the public until the 30th of November 2026.
