Origin of X marks the spot?

[SeekFortuna]

There are a lot of different stories as to the origin of "X Marks The Spot". Was it made popular in the novel Treasure Island or was it actually used in real world examples before that? Thoughts?

 

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[crashbandicoot]

There are a lot of different stories as to the origin of "X Marks The Spot". Was it made popular in the novel Treasure Island or was it actually used in real world examples before that? Thoughts?

It was my understanding it came from old pirate maps of the type that directed you to go East 25 paces,then North 30 paces,turn left and go 10 paces.At that point the map would have an X to indicate you,d arrived,not an actual X on the ground.Thus,X marks the spot.I don,t know if any of that,s true,but in the words of the immortal Mr.Nightlinger,"If it,s not,it oughta be"