What if you uncover a 400-year-old mystery buried beneath your backyard? Not only that, but you’ve discovered a web of deceit, theft, and historical manipulation that extends to some of California’s most prestigious institutions. What do you do?
That’s exactly what happened to Robert L. Stupack, the author of Nova Albion and the Treasure of Sir Francis Drake, a compelling blend of investigative journalism, historical analysis, and true crime. Set in the scenic community of Greenbrae Ridge in Marin County, Stupack’s real-life journey began with the accidental discovery of a strange rock after a rain shower. Little did he know that this event would alter the course of his life.
What Stupack didn’t expect was that this accidental find would lead him into a dangerous investigation that spanned over 22 years. To the controversial Plate of Brass left by Sir Francis Drake during his 1579 expedition. Once celebrated and displayed by the Bancroft Library, the plate was suddenly declared a forgery, an abrupt reversal that sparked suspicion in Stupack’s mind.
According to the book, the forgery story may not be a simple case of mistaken authenticity. Stupack makes strong claims that the original plate was stolen and replaced. He also argues that the people responsible, possibly those connected to the Bancroft Library and a man named Robert Power, created the false story to hide their theft.
His claims are not just based on gut feeling. For example, the book outlines discrepancies in the metal composition tests, changes in public statements, and internal inconsistencies among the “experts” who discredited the plate. He also explores how the replacement plate’s properties do not align with 16th-century technology, raising even more questions.
However, this was not merely an academic mystery. Stupack paid dearly for his pursuit. He spent years excavating tunnels under his home, narrowly surviving what he claims were built-in death traps: false floors, collapsing chambers, flooding tunnels, and quicksand triggers. His home became a battleground between the past and the present, and his life was constantly on the line.
Alongside these physical dangers were the emotional and social costs. Stupack faced skepticism, isolation, and ridicule from experts and neighbors. But as a former financial executive turned citizen-scientist, he applied both analytical thinking and unwavering grit to uncover what may be one of the greatest real-life mysteries of modern times.
At its core, Nova Albion and the Treasure of Sir Francis Drake isn’t just a story about buried treasure. It’s a chilling look at what happens when truth is buried for profit, and how far people will go to rewrite history.
Could a stolen artifact and a 400-year-old treasure still be hidden beneath Marin County soil?
What secrets are still waiting to be unearthed?
For more information and insight, please read Nova Albion and the Treasure of Sir Francis Drake.
Order your copy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1917238312.
