In Britain, the search for the lost royal treasure began

 In England, archaeologists began searching for royal treasures.

Archaeologists from the West Norfolk and Royal Lynn Archaeological Society (WNKLAS) are launching a search for the lost treasure of King John I the Landless. He was born in 1166 in Oxford, England, and was the youngest son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, FOCUS informs.

Despite his royal origins, John's reign, which began in 1199, was full of turmoil, earning him a reputation as one of England's most controversial monarchs. His conflicts with Philip II of France and disputes with the barons turned into mass riots.

This tension culminated in the historic moment at Runnymede, when John reluctantly agreed to the terms of the Magna Carta, the seminal document intended to limit the king's power. However, John's failure to comply with these agreements led to further strife, prompting his barons to offer the crown to Prince Louis of France.

Legend has it that during the retreat across Wash Bay along the east coast, John's precious cargo, including the English crown jewels, was lost in quicksand and eddies. Now a team of archaeologists from WNKLAS hopes to find a lost treasure in Norfolk. Their target site lies near Walpole Marsh in the Fenlands, about 8 km from the modern coast. During the medieval era, this region was a large marshy area prone to periodic flooding.

Using advanced technology such as LiDAR, which uses laser pulses to map the Earth's surface, the researchers pinpointed the excavation site. Despite expectations, the task is difficult. Clive Bond, chairman of WNKLAS, acknowledges the challenges of ever-changing river systems, describing the odds of success as "a million to one". In 1216 John died of dysentery at Newark Castle in Nottinghamshire. His final resting place is marked by a burial in Worcester Cathedral, marking the end of his turbulent reign.