Furthermore, they unearthed a bizarre stone inscribed with symbols. The earliest known story of a treasure found by a settler named Daniel McGinnis appeared in print in 1857. Join . Its hard to ascertain whether the person traveled from near or far, though, assuming this is the reason they ended up on Oak Island. on one corner, but apart from this there was no evidence of any inscription either cut or painted on the stone.". . [24] The second accidental death occurred on March 26, 1897, when a worker named Maynard Kaiser fell to his death. The Blankenships had actually been involved with searching for treasure on Oak Island long before the Lagina brothers. [36], Although one expedition claimed to have found a flood tunnel lined with flat stones at 90 feet (27m),[6] geologist Robert Dunfield wrote that he carefully examined the walls of the re-excavated pit and was unable to locate any evidence of a tunnel. The team then went to Domme Prison in France, where Templar knights were once imprisoned. [34] The act, which became effective on January 1, 2011, allows treasure hunting to continue on the island under the terms of a licence issued by the Minister of Natural Resources. Mr. McDonald, who was a carpenter by trade, also told of taking down a partition in Smith's house, in order that he with others might examine the characters cut on the stone used in the fireplace in the house. He was doubtful that symbols could have worn off the rock, given its hardness. Another pirate theory involved Edward Teach (Blackbeard), who said that he buried his treasure "where none but Satan and myself can find it. They just had to keep searching. John Godwin wrote that given the apparent size and complexity of the pit, it was probably dug by French Army engineers hiding the treasury of the Fortress of Louisbourg after British forces captured the fortress during the Seven Years' War.[69]. Restall, his son, Graeser and Hiltz all died. When they got there, they found no one, but they noticed a dip in the ground near an oak tree. [4] This would be followed by a more complete account by a justice of the peace in Chester, Nova Scotia, in 1861, which was also published in The Transcript. When the business was closed in 1919, the stone was left behind. [82] According to Fell's theory, Coptic migrants sailed from North Africa to Oak Island and constructed the pit. [31], In June 1996, Robert S. Young of Upper Tantallon, Nova Scotia, purchased 4 acres (1.6ha) of the island known as Lot Five from Fred Nolan. Recently the island has been showcased on both the discovery channel, and the history channel. However, the siblings dont plan on taking someones life just to see if the legend is true. Oak Island lies on a glacial tumulus system and is underlain by a series of water-filled anhydrite cavities which may be responsible for the repeated flooding of the pit. 1965. Then logs of spruce and oak were unearthed at irregular intervals, and some of the wood was charred. [7][14] The accounts based on the Liverpool Transcript articles also ran in the Novascotian, the British Colonist, and is mentioned in an 1895 book called A History Of Lunenburg County. The island was the subject of an episode of In Search of which was first broadcast on January 18, 1979. - May 10, 2022. "A History of The Oak Island Enterprise". This includes in season six when they spent time focusing on Smiths Cove. But dig deeper, and you'll find that it has had over 50 books written about it, raised the interest of important historical figures and served as the topic of countless documentaries. It All Started With Three Boys. [78] Steven Sora speculated that the pit could have been dug by exiled Knights Templar and might be the final resting place of the Holy Grail or the Ark of the Covenant. Digging deeper than ever before, the Laginas and their team find evidence of previously unknown structures in the Money Pit. Howlett, A. His experience with coastal mining meant digging a pit that extended beyond the seabed was within his capabilities. The artificial swamp that changed the hunt for treasure on Oak Island Dr. Sponer, took a slightly different approach in relation to searching for the exact location of the money pit. [27] Further excavations were made in 1935 and 1936, none of which was successful.[28]. Its possible, although other reasons have been put forward over the years. [52], Franklin D. Roosevelt, stirred by family stories originating from his sailing and trading grandfather (and Oak Island financier) Warren Delano Jr., began following the mystery in late 1909 and early 1910. While the Lagina brothers and metal detection expert Gary Drayton have mostly found mud, wood, and various metal tools, they along with an assortment of science and archaeological experts . The explosion was first mentioned in an 1863 novel titled Rambles Among the Blue-noses, while mention of a death came five years later. [35] Exploration by the Lagina brothers has been documented in a reality television show airing on the History channel starting in 2014. The boys dug around 30 feet before deciding to give up. Unfortunately, if the Oak Island treasure is real, theres no guarantee of when the Lagina brothers will find it. Williams efforts paved the way for the Lagina brothers. The immediate suspicion was that another money pit had been found. This article needs additional citations for verification. Fans of "Curse of Oak Island" subreddit Recommended more than four years ago, and the Backing. This was apparently several years later when the Onslow Company decided to explore what was hidden below 30 feet. [7][11] The diggers then faced a dilemma when the pit flooded with 60 feet (18m) of water for unknown reasons. Lasting for almost two centuries, they had significant political and financial power in both Europe and the Middle East. History/YouTube. For one, they could see that there were logs stacked at ten-foot intervals. The characters in the novel find that the stone had been removed from the chimney when they arrived on the island;[43] until then, no one had been able to decode the mysterious symbols reportedly on the stone, which an inn landlord describes as 'rather faint, and irregular' he also says that 'men who don't believe in Kidd's treasure say that it isn't an inscription at all it's only some accidental scratches'. Rick Lagina was apparently just ten when he unearthed his first treasure, and hes been fascinated with searching for secrets ever since. [77], In his book, Oak Island Secrets,[76] Mark Finnan noted that many Masonic markings were found on Oak Island, and the shaft (or pit) and its mysterious contents seemed to replicate aspects of a Masonic initiation rite involving a hidden vault with a sacred treasure. Many years after his death, the stone was removed from the fireplace and taken to Halifax, where the local savants were unable to translate the inscription. Zena Halpern didnt just write about a connection between Oak Island and the Knights Templar because she felt like it. "While in Creighton's possession some lad had cut his initials 'J.M.' Was the treasure found on Oak Island? William Chappell reportedly got involved in the Oak Island excavations around the 1920s. Crooker. [7][39] Offering a secondhand description of its discovery during the early 1800s excavation, McCully wrote: "Some [layers] were charcoal, some putty, and one at 80 feet was a stone cut square, two feet long and about a foot thick, with several characters cut on it." Part of what attracted the Lagina brothers to Oak Island is the alleged curse here. Others claim that the cross on Oak Island wasnt there because of any religious beliefs. The stone he saw had no symbols on it. One question that some people ask about Oak Island is why this is supposedly the home of buried treasure. The first one missed its intended target of an alleged flood tunnel, while the other intersected the original shaft via a branched-off tunnel at around 105 feet (32m) deep. Furthermore, between 1690 and 1730, it was allegedly quite common for pirates to visit Oak Island. A. T. Kempton of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but no information was provided as to how or where Kempton obtained them. There might sometimes be drama on The Curse of Oak Island, but that doesnt include people losing their lives. [5] McGinnis, who believed that the depression was consistent with the Captain Kidd story, sought help with digging. [24] Bowdoin later examined the "stone cipher" in Halifax and found it a basalt rock with no symbols. Regardless of whats hidden somewhere on the island, though, the general consensus seems to be that there is something of value there. company. There will be a new episode of "The Curse of Oak Island" tonight, November 23, airing on History. The Lagina brothers believed that it potentially offered a further connection to the fate of the Knights Templar. This isnt all that the Lagina brothers have discovered during their many years trying to uncover the truth of Oak Island. After digging down, they found a wooden platform and stopped, but the story grew, and others came to dig. [4][13] However, the first published account of what had taken place on the Island did not appear until October 16, 1862, when Anthony Vaughan's memories were recorded by The Transcript for posterity. Another popular theory is that the alleged treasure could have been buried by pirates. [54], Australian-American actor Errol Flynn invested in an Oak Island treasure dig. According to him, the evidence indicates that something strange occurred before the mystery of Oak Island began at the end of the 1700s. [3] It wasn't until decades later that publishers began to pay attention to such activity and investigated the stories involved. Robert Restall, his 18-year-old son, and work partner Karle Graeser, came to Oak Island in 1959 after signing a contract with one of the property owners. Templar Cross A lead cross was discovered near Smith's Cove. Harris provides no source for the claim that the stone was removed in 1865 or 1866. Hedden made six trips to Oak Island and collected books and articles about the island. Later treasure hunters claimed that coconut fibres were discovered beneath the surface of a beach, Smith's Cove, in 1851. Six have perished in the search for billions in gold . One of the popular theories is that it contains manuscripts that would confirm that William Shakespeare was a fraud. On appeal, Triton lost again in 1989 and Nolan's damages were reduced. According to an undocumented story, Marie Antoinette instructed her maid (or a lady-in-waiting) to flee with her jewels. Michigan Brothers Finally Unearth 220-Year-Old Secret Hidden In Oak Island By Hannah Pennington, Published on Jul 28, 2022 They say that big things come in small packages. Theres long been suggestion of an association between the two, with historical sources claiming the knights wanted to leave treasure in the Money Pit. The striking red beacon that crowns Ponce Inlet has become a symbol of the town. Buried treasure was officially found on Oak Island which officially solves the 400 year old mystery. The Oak Island Treasure is at Mercy Point. Both of these shafts were filled with water when an alleged flood tunnel was again breached. The Lagina brothers will likely be hoping to find something big soon, especially with the risk that viewers might eventually lose interest if they dont uncover the truth of Oak Island. [22] Exploratory holes that were drilled turned up bits of wood, more coconut fiber, soft clay, and blue mud. The Oak Island logic being here that: the coconut fibres prove the finger drains; the finger drains prove the flood tunnels; the flood tunnels prove a significant effort to prevent unauthorised recovery of the treasure; the significant effort disproves the Captain Kidd Origin Story and proves a very valuable treasure was deposited. A discovery might appear to be significant, but when examined by an expert, this can quickly be disproven. Sure, theyd likely been left behind by people digging in the area, but where were they digging to? MacDonald." People would have switched channels after a while, forcing the siblings to either fake their discoveries or admit defeat. A TEAM of treasure hunters could be on the verge of unearthing the "world's largest treasure hoard" said to be worth 15billion.The team, known . The theory goes that someone fled to Oak Island during a conflict and buried their treasure here as a result. Drayton has previously shared some of his methods in the books that hes written, where hes talked about how best to find things in different environments. The Curse of Oak Island wouldnt have managed nine seasons if the Lagina brothers never found anything. Oak Island has seen many visitors over the years as people have tried to solve its mystery and unearth the alleged treasure. However, that doesnt mean theyre the only ones interested in what might be hiding somewhere in this area. The mystery of Oak Island is something thats long fascinated some people, including some of the United States most notable historical figures. The Lagina brothers certainly seemed to confirm that when they unearthed what appeared to be a human bone fragment. With the Lagina brothers now the primary treasure hunters on Oak Island, its up to them to discover what all those who came before them couldnt. Nobody, however, ever seriously pretended to translate the inscription."[49]. He estimates that something went down at least 100 years before this stuff, suggesting the 17th century or earlier. TaraSubramaniam November 21, 2021. Gary Dreyton, an expert in metal discovery, found in the swamp a . However, you have to be careful when dealing with ancient structures like this because theres a risk they might collapse. Oak Island treasure found | News, Videos & Articles Oak Island Treasure Found B.C. Best Restaurants With The Best Views In Washington, D.C. (DigitalGlobe/Getty Images) A retired geologist has taken decades of experience. Water was coming in from the beach, prompting concerns that anything hidden deep in the Money Pit could have been destroyed by all the seawater. Over the years, this has included Craig Tester and Dan and David Blankenship. However, thats not to say that theyve continually come up empty-handed in all that time. Since the 19th century, explorers have tried to locate the loot. In 2005, a portion of the island was for sale for US$7 million. Her book discusses the mystery of Oak Island and the fate of the Knights Templar, the truth of which have both long evaded historians. By Brandon Shoaff / Nov. 26, 2021 2:10 pm EST. In 1928, a New York newspaper published a feature story about Oak Island. This reportedly prompted Dan to give up his contracting job and start hunting treasure. The Lagina brothers are the ones searching for treasure on Oak Island at the moment. [citation needed] Young died on October 28, 2020, and the land passed to his estate. Fans of "Curse of Oak Island" subreddit Recommended more than four years ago, and the Backing . They couldnt confirm that, though. Center Road Developments, in conjunction with Allan Kostrzewa and Brian Urbach (members of the Michigan group), had purchased Lot 25 from David Tobias for a reported $230,000 one year before Tobias sold the rest of his share. It turned out that this was because of the Money Pits proximity to the coastline. The theory was that this parchment was included in interactions between William Chappell and Frederick Blair. "Scanned copy of the original Reader's Digest article", "For Sale: Island with Mysterious Money Pit", "Appendix: Woods Hole Explores Oak Island", "A Solution To The Mystery Of The Oak Island Five Finger Drains", "Canadian Newspapers on Microfilm 2013 Catalog", Oak Island Treasure Company ([microform): capital, sixty thousand dollars, shares only five dollars each, full paid and non-assessable. The Mystery Of The Oak Island Treasure And Money Pit Inside The Enduring Hunt For The Mysterious Oak Island Treasure Published June 17, 2021 Updated November 27, 2021 For more than 200 years, treasure hunters have flocked to Oak Island in search of pirate gold which is said to be buried in the "Money Pit" on the Nova Scotia isle. [18][20][21], In 1866, a group known as The Oak Island Eldorado Company or more commonly The Halifax Company was formed to find the treasure. According to an account written in 1862, after the Onslow Company had excavated to 8090 feet (2427 metres), the pit flooded with seawater up to the 33-foot (10m) level; attempts to remove the water were unsuccessful. However, that doesnt mean their interest in finding the alleged treasure buried here hasnt been years in the making. The rest of the company is owned by Blankenship. Although the Blankenships might not be involved with The Curse of Oak Island anymore, theres no denying that they brought a lot to the show. THE hunt for treasure on Oak Island has captured the nation's imagination.Known as the Money Pit, the small island off Canada's Nova Scotia coastline . [24] The group left the island in November 1909. Rick and Marty Lagina have led the charge for nine seasons now on their. Collier's Magazine, August 18. The Curse of Oak Island Season 8, Episode 21 airs tonight, and it's all happening in the swamp, as the team uncovers more evidence of an ancient ship buried in the strange marshy land. Mallory Dwortz | mdwortz@mlive.com. Cited and discussed in Harris 1958, 110120; O'Connor 1988, 6366. "Southern Vancouver Island is a significant area for sure," says Newell. For instance, the wood-lined shaft that was constructed in 1805 by those seeking the islands treasure. They were eager to uncover what secrets lay beneath, with McGinnis reportedly motivated by a certain rumor. oak island 2021 A small object a great discovery. Gary was particularly helpful in seasons five and six when the Lagina brothers explored Smiths Cove. Solving the mystery of Oak Island. The pit was re-excavated back down to the 86-foot (26m) level, but ended up flooding again. As of writing this article, six men have died looking for the treasure.