A 19th century excavation. At one point, one of the platforms placed in the original shaft at 98 feet (30m) collapsed and dropped to a lower level. Article in October issue, cited in Crooker 1978, 8586. 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. Next, they find a brooch with an ornate rope and leaf design. The Curse of Oak Island: MYSTERIOUS WOODEN VAULT UNEARTHED (Season 4) | History HISTORY 11.3M subscribers Subscribe 4.2K 492K views 2 years ago Love The Curse Of Oak Island? Could their be more piratical discoveries to be made? The immediate suspicion was that another money pit had been found. The explosion was first mentioned in an 1863 novel titled Rambles Among the Blue-noses, while mention of a death came five years later. [3] It wasn't until decades later that publishers began to pay attention to such activity and investigated the stories involved. Part 3 is devoted to the secret. Archaeological and geological counterevidence concerning Oak Island and the Money Pit point to something well short of an Indiana Jones movie. [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. Certainly, the Oak Island team would have to investigate further. This led to the theory that the beach had been converted into a siphon, feeding seawater into the pit through a man-made tunnel. [29] On August 17, Restall was overcome by hydrogen sulfide fumes. Once the new source of metal has been x-rayed and studied, it is revealed to be composed of 0.2 percent gold, an even larger percentage of gold than the previous find. This decorative keyhole plate was found during a metal detection excursion on a lot owned by Tom Nolan, the son of Fred Nolan. He died just eight years after salvaging the Concepcion, and the treasure was theoretically never recovered. [24] The second accidental death occurred on March 26, 1897, when a worker named Maynard Kaiser fell to his death. The story goes that Union. In Season 4, Episode 8 "The Mystery of Samuel Ball" metal detection expert Gary Drayton and Oak Island historian Charles Barkhouse continue to dig around on Samuel Ball's property and unearth a multitude of interesting finds. These have such colorful names as "Swamp," "Hatch," "Smith's Cove," "Nolan's Cross," and "Money Pit." In the Season 5 finale "Amazing Discoveries," Drayton has the jewelry examined by a gemologist and discovers that it's actually a hand-cut rhodolite garnet set in silver, dated to be from around the 1500 or 1600s. At this point, the "vault" is more of a name than an actual location. [59][60][61][62] A number of sinkholes and caves, to which the "booby traps" are attributed, exist on the mainland near the island. This cap badge is yet another exciting find potentially expanding the diversity of 17th century Oak Island visitors to include the Spanish, the British, and now the French. In "The Curse of Oak Island" Season 1 finale "The Find," while searching through a swamp, metal detection expert Steve Zazulyk ran across a coin with the number "8" engraved on it. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Secret Treasure of Oak Island: The Amazing True Story of a Centuries at the best online prices at eBay! As the team uncovered more and more of this stone feature in Season 8, they realized it was leading them away from the swampinto the uplands and straight towards the Money Pit. The Oak Island Money Pit has been sought by many people and corporations for over 200 years. Michigan native Kevin Dykstra is obsessed with a deathbed confession made by a lighthouse keeper in the 1890s about a national treasure dating back to the Civil War. It's likely the wood was stained a vegetable dye and may be a fragment of bookbinding that the parchment was once part of. By this time, saltwater was undermining the walls of the original shaft, which some workers refused to enter. Gary Drayton's discovery of a gold-plated military officer's button joins other military finds as evidence that Oak Island's subterranean structures and anomalies could be the work of 18th-century British military. These pottery pieces and even more artifacts have been specifically found along the stone pathway the team is attempting to explore. French Carey. This object has an identical lead isotope of the Lead Cross, which means both come from the pre-15th century ore deposits. Might it have been part of a barrel that once contained a portion of the Oak Island treasure? [4] According to the most widely held discovery story, Daniel McGinnis found a depression in the ground around 1799 while he was looking for a location for a farm. After having it examined by antiques appraiser Dr. Lori Vanderame, it seems most likely that this circular object was actually a gold-plated button from a 17th or 18th century British military uniform. Could this keyhole be a part of a chest similar to Captain Anderson's sea chest? His first discovery was made near Oak Island's shoreline. No treasure was discovered on board which some believe is buried on Oak Island. [7] Another twist on the story has all four people involved as teenagers. Another pirate theory involved Edward Teach (Blackbeard), who said that he buried his treasure "where none but Satan and myself can find it. But what exactly are these interesting finds, and what historical secrets could they reveal? p. 5, "History, Hoax, and Hype The Oak Island Legend", Death Trap Defies Treasure Seekers for Two Centuries, "The Oak Island Legend: The Masonic Angle", "Oak Island mystery: Its history is the real treasure", Learn how and when to remove this template message, Extraordinary Story of a Hidden Treasure Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2492, 14 March 1867 From the New York Herald, 'The Toilers of the Isle' first half of the previous 'From a correspondent of the N.Y. Times' The Daily British Colonist and Victoria Chronicle 5 November 1866, 'The Toilers of the Isle' second half of the previous 'From a correspondent of the N.Y. Times' The Daily British Colonist and Victoria Chronicle 6 November 1866, Oak Island Treasure Company Prospectus 1893. When testing the water from the Garden Shaft earlier this season, they found traces of gold in the water. Cookies help us deliver our Services. This caused the coin to be much larger than its twopence counterparts, which led to the coins being commonly known as a cartwheel. Shards of pottery were discovered at an astounding 192 feet underground. I wish the show would give this kind of history.". This could be a clue that supports a theory that Sir Francis Bacon once visited the island to bury William Shakespeare's original manuscripts. History of the Oak Island Treasure Hunt The treasure hunt began in 1795, when a 16-year-old boy, Daniel McInnes, paddled over to the deserted island and found, in the interior of the island, evidence of tree-felling . They soon find a lead ingot used for making musket balls, as well as several King George II coins also from the 1700s. However, Skowronek provides an even bigger revelation when he tells the team that the lead isotopes are identical to the ones found in the lead cross. As well as an intensification of borehole drilling in the . This new shaft was parallel to and connected with the original shaft as it was used to pump water out of the original shaft to a depth of 103 feet (31m). While out on a fishing expedition, the story goes, three teenaged boys - Daniel McGinnis, Anthony Vaughn and John Smith, had discovered a depression in the ground after they came ashore to restock on supplies. The first confirmed gold found on Oak Island, this brooch dates back as early as the 14th century. It was claimed that one of the samples brought a tiny piece of sheepskin parchment to the surface. Staten Island, New York, United States . Oak Island Mystery says that one of the long-running theories is that Phips who spent a good amount of time around Quebec and Port Royal had built a treasure vault on Oak Island to hide the treasure that he didn't want to share. What at first appeared to be the discovery of a small Spanish Maravedi coin, could instead be a significant lead towards a vast Knights Templar fortune buried somewhere on Oak Island. The effect caused the next two platforms to drop as well, with any treasure now resting some 119 feet (36m) below ground along with an estimated 10,000 board feet (24m3) of lumber. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. 163-foot (50m) shaft southwest of what he believed was the site of the 1897 shaft (which was thought, without evidence, to be near the original pit). A reminder of the Spanish maravedi coin found in the Season 1 finale "The Find," the Lagina Brothers and their team wonder if they will soon find even more Spanish treasure hidden somewhere on Oak Island. Testing showed that the material in the lead is from Southern France and dates back to the 1300s or 1400s. The maid fled to London with the jewels, and perhaps artwork, documents and other treasures, secreted on her person and/or in her luggage. While investigating the stone wharf in the swamp, Rick Lagina and Doug Crowell discovered this ancient trade weight, which was traditionally used to measure and distribute precious metals. Whats the scoop on the mysterious buried treasure at Oak Island? The Freemasons are suspected of being descended. According to Blankenship and Tobias, cameras lowered down the shaft into a cave recorded possible chests, human remains, wooden cribbing and tools; however, the images were unclear and none of the claims have been independently confirmed. While metal detecting on Lot 15 between the Swamp and Money Pit, Gary Drayton and Jack Begley made this find that could be as much as 1300 years old or older. It was then taken to the home of J.B. McCulley in Truro, where it was exhibited to hundreds of friends of the McCulleys who became interested in a later treasure company. Stories of buried treasure on Oak Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, William Chappell and Gilbert Hedden (19281939), Restall family and Robert Dunfield (19591966). [83] According to Fell's theory, Coptic migrants sailed from North Africa to Oak Island and constructed the pit. Here are the top 25 discoveries on the island. July 24, 2011 -- There are more than 700 curious tunnel networks in Bavaria, but their purpose remains a mystery. The original story by early settlers involves a dying sailor from the crew of Captain Kidd (d. 1701), in which he states that treasure worth 2million had been buried on the island. The symbols associated with the "Forty feet below" translation first appeared in 1949's True Tales of Buried Treasure by explorer and historian Edward Rowe Snow. [18][19] Another shaft was dug in the spring of 1862, one which was 107 feet (33m) deep. After cleaning the coin, treasure hunter and professional diver Tony Sampson saw what appeared to be a cross design on one side. He is excited to discover the show's first appearance of buried gold. but you gotta hand it to the Langinas, they have ramped up their attempts to tear up every square inch of ground on that island these past few years. In this rendering McGinnis first finds the depression in 1795 while on a fishing expedition. It was announced in April 2006 that brothers Rick and Marty Lagina of Michigan had purchased 50 percent of Oak Island Tours from David Tobias for an undisclosed sum. They continue to scour near the island's shoreline to find even more of Oak Island's hidden treasures. Creighton used the stone for a beating stone and weight. Lagina proceeds to dig up a jeweled brooch, their second such find after the garnet brooch found in last season's "Seeing Red.". The Mystery Pit of Oak Island. This week's discoveries suggest that the Oak Island mystery could date earlier, and be more profound, than anyone could have suspected. The Truro Company shifted its resources to excavating a nearby cove known as "Smith's Cove" where they found a flood tunnel system. 1965. The wood's color resembles Tyrian blue, a dye used by royalty and church documents. In the following Season 6 episode, "Gold Rush," the brooch is taken to gemologist Charles Lewton-Brain who says that the gem is actually leaded glass, though a threaded technique used on the brooch dates the jewelry to the 14th century or earlier. 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. At 127 feet (39m), a number of artifacts, including an axe, a fluke anchor and a pick, were found. Dunfield dug the pit area to a depth of 134 feet (41m) and a width of 100 feet (30m) by using a 70-ton digging crane with a clam bucket. In the course of their thorough search, Drayton and John eventually come across a large coin that Drayton suspects might have come from the 17th century much like a lot of the coins he has come across in the show's extensive nine season history. Gary Drayton and Jack Begley are joined by geophysicist Mike West, who uses a metal detection device that penetrates deeper than Drayton's usual handheld metal detector, in "Depth Perception," the third episode of the sixth season of "The Curse of Oak Island.". [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. [12] When efforts failed to shut off the flood system, one final shaft was dug 118 feet (36m) deep with the branched-off tunnel going under the original shaft. Luckily, Reddit user @Nates94 did some sleuthing of their own, and stated, "The Chappell vault was found 153 feet under the Chappell shaft. [27] Further excavations were made in 1935 and 1936, none of which was successful.[28]. Or will the team of archaeologists leave the site empty-handed? Rick and Marty Lagina have spent countless hours digging over the years and have discovered some "top pocket finds." The Spanish considered Sir Francis Drake a pirate, entertaining an idea that he was buried on Oak Island in a vault with gold treasure. With trace amounts of gold confirmed to be on the island, further investigation might reveal a whole lot more. Summary Report of Geological Survey Branch of the Department of Mines. On appeal, Triton lost again in 1989 and Nolan's damages were reduced. The Chappell family was convinced there was something underground. In "The Eight-Pointed Star," the third episode of the second season of "The Curse of Oak Island," treasure hunter Gary Drayton made another double discovery while metal detecting along the shoreline of Oak Island. He further connects it to Templar graffiti from a similar timeframe. Map What's Been Found on Oak Island Treasure hunters have been intrigued by the legend of Oak Island for more than 200 years. Rick and Marty Lagina have led the charge for nine seasons now on their. Pic credit: History. In 1928, a New York newspaper published a feature story about Oak Island. Sometime during the excavation of this new shaft, the bottom of the original shaft collapsed. This section follows Nickell, section "Man-made or Natural?". As the boys began to dig, they found a. With these consistent findings of 17th century artifacts, the pieces add up to fill in the mysterious puzzle of Oak Island. [5] McGinnis, who believed that the depression was consistent with the Captain Kidd story, sought help with digging. Two years later, Nolan's ownership of the lots was confirmed, but he was ordered to pay damages for interfering with Triton's tourist business. Who went to such lengths to obtain an old Knights Templars diary, and why'o A Mafia godfather with a deadly agenda escapes from a Guatemalan prison and plots revenge on those who put him there.o A Cardinal decodes pages of ancient symbols to learn the secret of Oak Island and its enigmatic Money Pit.In 1795 three teenage boys dug in an old pit . Reginald Vanderbilt Harris (18811986) wrote in his 1958 book, The Oak Island Mystery,[46] "About 18651866 the stone was removed and taken to Halifax. Hot on the trail of the legendary Chappell Vault, the team gleans thrilling new information from the most notorious treasure hunting operation in the history of Oak Island. Recent scientific evidence confirms what's really there. The pit was re-excavated back down to the 86-foot (26m) level, but ended up flooding again. [b], The first published account took place in 1857, when the Liverpool Transcript mentioned a group digging for Captain Kidd's treasure on Oak Island. Considered one of the biggest finds, this lead cross was discovered at Smith's Cove. Although the group found the remains of an 1850 cofferdam, no evidence of anything else was found. No other human-made object has been recovered on Oak Island at that depth. Its design suggests an ancient metalwork technique called cloisonne. According to an undocumented story, Marie Antoinette instructed her maid (or a lady-in-waiting) to flee with her jewels. Since the beginning of the season, geologist Terry Matheson, project manager Scott Barlow, and historian Charles Barkhouse have been borehole drilling in the Money Pit area, hoping to get a hit.. After examining it, Dr. Vanderame says it came from the same time period. Collier's Magazine, August 18. The Lagina Brothers and Gary Drayton continue their search for buried treasure by exploring the Dunfield Spoils in "The Curse of Oak Island" Season 5, Episode 3 "Obstruction.". [20] Dunfield's lease ended in August 1966. Nobody, however, ever seriously pretended to translate the inscription."[49]. In 1939, he informed King George VI about developments on the island. Probably the very first account of any sign of treasure on Oak Island was at the end of the 18th Century. [6] The three men reportedly abandoned the excavation at 30 feet (9.1m) due to "superstitious dread". The original pit was re-excavated to a depth of 88 feet (27m), and two more shafts were dug. [24] Drayton soon digs up what appears to be a handmade decorative keyhole plate. [7] This platform was hit twice; each time metal was brought to the surface, along with various other items such as wood and coconut fibre. Restall, his son, Graeser and Hiltz all died. That is quickly followed up by a more incredible find: A piece of ammunition called grapeshot. According to Joe Nickell, there is no treasure; the pit is a natural phenomenon, probably a sinkhole connected to limestone passages or caverns. Very little verified information is known about early treasure-related activities on Oak Island; thus, the following accounts are word of mouth stories going back to the late eighteenth century. The 'Money Pit' on Oak Island in 1947. Not much was found. If he had, perhaps nobody else would have walked the woods on the eastern end of Oak Island for the next ten years. Gary owns Little Mash Island, a tiny spit of land a few hundred yards . When a plan to shut off the alleged flood tunnels from Smith's Cove didn't work, the company decided to shift focus to the original main shaft. Drayton and Barkhouse initially find a dandy button, generally found on clothing from the 1700s. The Truth About The Chappell Vault On The Curse Of Oak Island. Further excavation uncovers more evidence that the stone structure in the swamp could be a roadway, and analysis of the serpent mound has it dating back to the Templars. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. 7 29 comments Best Add a Comment Thewatchfuleye1 4 yr. ago I'll believe it when I see it. This artifact supports the theory that the Knights Templar may have been on the island. 1911. Oak Island is in Nova Scotia, and the mystery in question is a legend that there's big treasure buried there. Curse Of Oak Island doesn't find tunnels underground On the new episode of The Curse of Oak Island, the team has found some gold. Somehow the stone fell into the hands of a bookbinder, which used it as a base upon which to beat leather for many years. On August 19, 1911, Collier's magazine published a firsthand account by Captain H. L. Bowdoin of the stone (which was then in use at Creighton's bookbindery in Halifax). In the 15th episode of the fifth season, "Steel Trapped," Gary Drayton and the Lagina Brothers take their metal detecting skills to the property of former treasure hunter Fred Nolan, now maintained by his son Tom Nolan. Recently the island has been showcased on both the discovery channel, and the history channel. After finding a 17th century spike and a metal hook, they dig up their biggest find: A long bolt with an arrow-shaped tip. A retired geologist has taken decades of experience in the oil business to dig into the history of Nova Scotia's Oak Island. The most interesting result is that about 0.07 percent of the metal registers as AU, more commonly known as gold. It turned out to not be a Maravedi coin at all, but instead something far more interesting. In fact, they find a couple. Bedrock lies at a depth of 38 to 45 metres (125 to 148 feet) in the pit area. It certainly seemed like the Lagina brothers were on the right track to uncover the legendary buried treasure of Oak Island. [81][self-published source], Author Joy Steele suggests that the money pit is actually a tar kiln dating to the historical period when "Oak Island served as a tar-making location as part of the British naval stores industry". This seems even more likely when the Lagina Brothers retrieve a large metal hinge with drill holes in it from the same location. "[41] Mitchell was the superintendent of works for the Oak Island Association, which was formed on April 3, 1861, and ceased operation by March 29, 1865. [74] Leary's The Second Cryptographic Shakespeare, published in 1990, identified ciphers in Shakespeare's plays and poems which pointed to Bacon's authorship. In 1965, Robert Dunfield attempted to find the legendary Oak Island treasure and dug a 100 foot wide by 140 foot deep hole in order to find it. In 1795, 16-year-old Daniel McGuiness went on a fishing expedition to Oak Island. The Chappell vault was found 153 feet under the Chappell shaft. Roosevelt continued to follow it until his death in 1945. One young boy called Daniel McGinnis found a circular depression. This distinctive cross could be the symbol of the Knights Templar who, in the 13th century, had instituted one of the first international banking systems. Fell is not considered to be credible by most mainstream academics. One can only wonder what would have happened if young Daniel McGinnis had chosen to go exploring somewhere else on that fateful day in the summer of 1795. By this time, there were many shafts, bore holes, and tunnels under Oak Island made by previous treasure hunters. It was later identified as a Spanish eight Maravedis copper coin, most likely from the 17th century. [10] The last major company of the unpublished era was called The Truro Company, which was allegedly formed in 1849 by investors. After initially digging up a musket ball used in 17th century guns, they soon find what appears to be a maravedi, similar to what was found in the Season 1 finale "The Find." From the account I have read from his son that was written in the 1970s he believed the drill may have gone off course in an unknown direction. A generation later, with the inscription nearly worn away, the stone found its way to a bookstore in Halifax, and what happened to it after that I was unable to learn. [15][16][17], The next major excavation attempt was carried out in 1861 by a company called "The Oak Island Association". But what would a British naval officer be doing visiting the home of a simple cabbage farmer? [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. The legend of Oak Island starts in 1799. [54], Australian-American actor Errol Flynn invested in an Oak Island treasure dig. Their team continues to dig near the site to hopefully uncover more of the stone pathway and even more of Oak Island's many secrets. Since the 19th century, many attempts have been made by explorers from different parts of the globe to locate cryptic artifacts and treasures. While metal detecting on Lot 21 in 2019, Gary Drayton and Dan Henskee unearthed two iron objects that blacksmithing expert Carmen Legge believes to be swages or tunneling tools used to sharpen rock drills. A stunning structure uncovered in Smith's Cove perplexes the Brotherhood like never before and at the Money Pit, the team finds evidence they may have discovered the legendary box believed to contain the Oak Island Treasure - the elusive Chappel Vault. [1] The tenth season premiered on November 15, 2022. One of the "best" accounts of what happened with the Truro Company later appeared in the "1893 Oak Island Treasure Company Investment Prospectus". Although the pumps were unable to keep water out of the flooded side shaft, boring samples were taken. Treasure hunter Gary Clayton met with Rick and Marty in Season 4: Episode 13 ("One of Seven"). Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [3][8][9], In about 1802, a group known as the Onslow Company allegedly sailed from central Nova Scotia to Oak Island to recover what they believed to be hidden treasure. Not much was found. 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'. Discovered while metal detecting on Lot 8, this gemstone brooch dates back as early as the 16th century and is considered the first piece of valuable treasure found by the Laginas and their team. The flag was flown on ships owned by George Washington. Cookies help us deliver our Services. DeMille lived on Oak Island for a summer and had firsthand knowledge of the area. Could this coin be a piece of a much larger buried treasure? "While in Creighton's possession some lad had cut his initials 'J.M.' Samples of human bone dating back to the 17th century were found during a dig in the Money Pit. Were these 18th century campers on the search for buried treasure or leaving behind treasure of their own? Among those who worked to remove the stone was Jefferson W. The original shaft, in a location unknown today, was dug by early explorers and known as "the money pit". [25], Captain Henry L. Bowdoin arrived on Oak Island in August 1909 representing the Old Gold Salvage group, one of whose members was Franklin D. Roosevelt. This specific style of coin was only minted in 1797 and was made of copper instead of the usual silver. 1897 - 2nd Fatality is recorded. After first finding a 17th century military button like the one found in Season 2, Episode 2"Return to the Money Pit,"the stakes are significantly raised when they uncover a brooch and what at first appears to be a multifaceted ruby. 17. "[64], According to the earliest theory, the pit held a pirate treasure buried by Captain Kidd;[4][65] Kidd and Henry Avery reportedly took treasure together, and Oak Island was their community bank. [17], In his 1872 novel, The Treasure of the Seas,[42] James DeMille describes being a summer resident of Chester Basin during the later 1860s. Treasure hunters have been intrigued by the legend of Oak Island for more than 200 years. The crew of "The Curse of Oak Island" have managed to find some relics and archaeological items, but have yet to come across anything of true historical significance that would upend what we know of pre-Columbus America. Atlantic Advocate. [4] According to later accounts, oak platforms were discovered every 10 feet (3.0m); however, the earliest accounts simply mention "marks" of some type at these intervals. The original shaft was inspected by mining engineers who declared it unsafe, and the company abandoned their efforts when their money ran out. The drains were covered by coconut fibers and eelgrass to filter sand and debris that could clog the drains. Then logs of spruce and oak were unearthed at irregular intervals, and some of the wood was charred. Fans themselves have been wondering about the elusive vault, including Reddit user @SeaWaltz4653who asked where it may have been and how deep it may have been located.
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