What would you do if you stumbled upon a clue to one of the oldest unsolved mysteries in American history right in your own backyard?
That’s exactly what happened to Robert L. Stupack in the quiet town of Greenbrae, California. What began as a routine Saturday morning in the garden quickly spiraled into a 22-year journey into the dark underbelly of historical cover-ups, forged artifacts, and a centuries-old conspiracy.
In Nova Albion and the Treasure of Sir Francis Drake, Stupack documents his transformation from financial professional to backyard archaeologist, citizen scientist, and whistleblower. By delivering a gripping combination of historical investigation and true crime, this real-life crime documentary and adventure takes the reader step-by-step through one of the most contested mysteries in American archaeology. This is about the origin, disappearance, and alleged forgery of the famous Plate of Brass.
The book centers on a discovery Stupack made near his home. At first, it was looking like an unusual green stone, odd triangular alignments, and other geological clues suggesting something bigger lay beneath. But as more and more of these stones started to surface, with determination and a jackhammer, Stupack began unearthing tunnels, chambers, and artifacts, all pointing to a much larger narrative. His book discusses that Sir Francis Drake’s 1579 landing occurred not at Point Reyes, as traditionally believed, but near his very property.
Then what? Stupack’s takes aim at the institutions long tasked with preserving history. He claims that the Bancroft Library and the Drake Navigators Guild deliberately advanced a false narrative in order to control historical interpretation and prevent access to a buried treasure Drake himself may have left behind.
The most controversial element of the book involves the Plate of Brass, supposedly left by Drake as a marker of his landing. Declared to be the authentioc artifact when it was found and tested in the 1930s and then declared to be a forgery in the 1970s, the plate became the laughingstock of archaeological academia. But Stupack isn’t convinced. He lays out metallurgical evidence and testimonies suggesting that the original plate was authentic and secretly replaced with a fake to hide the truth, possibly to keep treasure hunters, governments, and the public from uncovering what lies beneath Marin County.
Stupack doesn’t shy away from the risks he took, be it physical, emotional, or financial. From escaping rigged booby traps to clashing with officials and skeptics, he brings readers into the reality of chasing a story that no one wanted told.
For readers of true crime, historical thrillers, or anyone curious about what might still lie hidden in the hills of California, Nova Albion and the Treasure of Sir Francis Drake is a page-turner grounded in real investigation. As you read the book, you will discover that not all the stories and history that you have been told contain authenticity. Instead, some were fabricated to hide the truth.
So, read this book to discover the truth. Head to Amazon to download, listen to, or purchase your copy. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1917238312.
“Nova Albion and the Treasure of Sir Francis Drake” is a riveting book that seamlessly narrates the author, Robert L. Stupack’s adventure as he embarks on a quest to find Drake’s lost treasure in his yard. From perilous excavations to daring escapes, it brims with daily encounters with danger, interwoven with a historical fiction account of Sir Francis Drake’s adventures. If you love adventure and treasure, this book will stay with you for a long time.
