I believe that the stone tablets were being delivered to the Mission that used to be located near the base of the Superstition Mtns off of Peralta Road. Not many people know that this mission existed. It was destroyed by vandals (treasure hunters). I have been all over the Superstition Mtns years ago. Recently, while searching for a different treasure, I ran across numerous monuments and markers that match the stone tablets in a different set of mountains. Some of my pictures can be viewed on my facebook page Stone Tablets Peralta. I don't believe that Peralta had anything to do with the tablets. No where on the tablets is there a mention of gold, silver, treasure or mines. The river is never named. Who ever was delivering the tables already knew the name of the river and was very knowlegable of the area. I have found many signs and symbols within a 2 milie radius all associated with tablets. This includes a river, a heart and a map in the valley below the heart. This area has a lot of history especially with gold and silver. The same can not be said about the Superstitions. I'm not even sure the tablets are a treasure map, yet, I do think they lead to something important to the right person(s). I'm trying to change the conversation. I'm tired of hearing about people getting lost and dying looking for something that may not even exist. I realize that a lot of people are committed to the "Lost Dutchman" story and will never change their minds. But those tired of looking and looking and finding nothing might find a different theory worth persuing. Please comment after you have viewed my pictures. Make sure that you click on the thumbnail picture next to my FB title and look at the skyline for the heart. There are maps in the valley below that I won't publish yet. I have hiked these mountains and the Superstitions extensively and know the history of both.

sincerely, Not Peralta

My Stone Tablet Theory:
My health is not the best and I feel that it's time for my theory to be shared. Here goes!
15 years ago, I began hiking in the nearby mountains looking for clues to a local treasure story. The story was new to me and I was looking forward to a new challenge. The local story covered a wide area so it follows that my hikes also covered a lot of territory. The stone tablets were not even on my mind as they were something I thought was left in my past.
For quite a long time I drove around the area, hiked the mountains and researched the local story, including the people involved. Any good treasure story needs to be backed up with facts and research.
I kept being drawn back to one main area, though I wasn't sure why. Finally, one day I saw, REALLY SAW, the heart on the top of the mountain ridge. I already knew that in the valley below the heart there were 100's of petroglyphs. I went back to the rock carvings for another look, and another and another. What looked to me like a map of a mountain made no sense to me until one day when I was driving north following the river. THEN. I saw the same outline from the map. I was still trying to match the landmarks to the local legend. By this time I had narrowed my area of concentration. I began to look at things differently and the stone tablets began to tickle something in the back of my mind. I went home and got out my photos of the stone tablets.
I thought I had left the stone tablets behind me, but the more I looked, the more I found. Like nothing I had ever seen during the years that I spent living at the base of the Superstition Mtns. I also realized that the maps contain no mention of the name of the river. Nor do they mention treasure, gold, silver or mines. Or anything hidden.
On my next trip into the mountains, I took the tablet pictures with me. I saw the dagger rock not 30 feet off the dirt road hiding in plain sight. On the stone tablets, the dagger rock points to the right. The dagger rock here points to a canyon, that if followed leads to the bacward curved arrow and a 5 made by a rock formation.
Further along the road, after a curve to the left, the priest rock is visible out to the left. The "priest" has his back to the mountain which correspondes to the backwards cross on his arm. The "3" from the "horse" map is closer to the road than the priest rock and is more easily visiable. You can drive to most of these sites on a dirt road. The rock carvings are a short walk from your car.
The mountains are sacred and protected by both the Park Service and patrolled by the local Native Americans. No digging or metal detecting is allowed.
I believe that the stone tablets have a Fransciscan origin (Google: Fransico Garce's & Two Myths of the Mission Indians, the Mohave Account of Origins) of some kind and refer to something spiritual in Nature rather than monetary. Maybe we will never know. I know that this theory will not make everyone happy but I have come to the conclusion that it is time to share what I have found and let people make up their minds for themselves.
I will be posting pictures, directions and area names on my facebook page (Stone Tablets Peralta) shortly. I would like any one who cares to be able to see this and will answer any questions that I can.
Sincerely, NP

I find it interesting that no one has asked me about the local treasure story that I was following that lead to Spirit Mountain and the stone tablet monuments and markers. Part of my research into the local treasure story included the fact that the "Dutchman" was in this area for a while. Many other people have proven that the "Dutchman" came to Arizona from California. I was surprised to learn from historical records in my research that the "Dutchman" was mentioned in the context of the local story that I was following. I was reluctant to put the local story, the "Dutchman" and the stone tablets together. It made no sense until I began to recognize markers resembling the tablets and the "Dutchman's" story and directions. Both his directions and his story matched many of the things that I was seeing and so did the stone tablets. I don't believe in coincidences. As I stated before, and is aknowledged, the stone that the tablets are made from came from NW Arizona. I've been trying to give clues about the "Dutchman" but no one seems to care because everyone is vested in the Superstition Mountain stories and legonds. I have historical documents to back up my cliams. I'll say it again, the stone tablets DON'T lead to the Superstition Mountains.
NP

NP:
Most people who come to this board are looking for information or commenting on topics related to the "History. Legends and Lore of the Superstitions"

If your subject is about some location "OTHER" than the Superstitions, it will most likely be ignored.
You shouldn't be surprised.....
That's why the boards have different titles....

Try posting your ideas in a more relevant topic, such as "The Lost Dutchman Mine" or "Lost Mines and Buried Treasure", where visitors to this site are more likely to find and read them.

Regards:Somehiker