oak island vault found

[7] Another twist on the story has all four people involved as teenagers. The Truro Company shifted its resources to excavating a nearby cove known as "Smith's Cove" where they found a flood tunnel system. 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. The results were not long in coming to the diggers found, for the first time in recorded history two discoveries - Aztec gold in the silver pit and a Spanish ship in the center of the swamp. At one point, one of the platforms placed in the original shaft at 98 feet (30m) collapsed and dropped to a lower level. Where did these 17th century coins come from? This appears to be confirmed when they find another piece nearby that matches the first one perfectly. A possible entrance to one of the five stone box drains was discovered at Smith's Cove. 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. Recently the island has been showcased on both the discovery channel, and the history channel. While initially thinking it to be a coin, they quickly realize it has the word "plated" engraved on it. A visitor to the site, Edward White, had himself lowered on a rope into the shaft but was able to bring out only DeMont. B. McCully which retold the story of the stone. Timeline of Oak Island Explorations - Oak Island Treasure [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. All of these attempts were failures in the end, due to the tide which eventually broke through barriers that were put in place. These have such colorful names as "Swamp," "Hatch," "Smith's Cove," "Nolan's Cross," and "Money Pit." List of The Curse of Oak Island episodes - Wikipedia [75] Author and researcher Mark Finnan[76] elaborated on Leary's Oak Island theory, which was also used in the Norwegian book Organisten (The Seven Steps to Mercy) by Erlend Loe and Petter Amundsen and the TV series Sweet Swan of Avon. After uncovering what might be a metal tag from the bottom of a pistol with a name etched on it (that some online researchers believe might have been Samuel Ball's own), Drayton theorizes that all of these artifacts could be the remnants of a military encampment. Samuel Ball owned 36 acres of Oak Island and was said to be one of its wealthiest residents. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. Pulling up a large boulder, Drayton and Lagina find underneath a large copper twopence coin featuring the face of King George III. [80], Another theory holds that the Rosicrucians and their reported leader, Francis Bacon, organized a secret project to make Oak Island the home of its legendary vault with ingenious means to conceal ancient manuscripts and artifacts. Michigan Man Finds 220 Year Old Hidden Treasure On Oak Island Bowdoin, H. L. 1911. In 1795, three teenage boys discovered a strange, man-made hole on Oak Island, a small, wooded island just off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. The island was the subject of an episode of In Search of which was first broadcast on January 18, 1979. 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. It then took another five years before one of the alleged original diggers gave a statement regarding the original story along with subsequent Onslow and Truro Company activities. All Rights Reserved. [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. Where was Chappells Vault? : r/OakIsland - Reddit If he had, perhaps nobody else would have walked the woods on the eastern end of Oak Island for the next ten years. In 1970, a U-Shaped structure was discovered by treasure hunter Dan Blankenship after creating a cofferdam around Smith's Cove. [2] [3] [4] As of November 20, 2022, 166 episodes of The Curse of Oak Island have aired. 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. However, this coin appeared to be of a much smaller size; perhaps two Maravedis rather than eight. The next mention of the stone is in an 1893 Oak Island Treasure Company prospectus. With trace amounts of gold confirmed to be on the island, further investigation might reveal a whole lot more. The site consists of digs by numerous individuals and groups of people. 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]. No treasure was discovered on board which some believe is buried on Oak Island. 1911. 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. Cited and discussed in Harris 1958, 110120; O'Connor 1988, 6366. However, no treasure was ever found and. This caused the coin to be much larger than its twopence counterparts, which led to the coins being commonly known as a cartwheel. The earth was noticeably loose, not as hard-packed as the surrounding soil. find! They continue to scour near the island's shoreline to find even more of Oak Island's hidden treasures. Stories of buried treasure on Oak Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, William Chappell and Gilbert Hedden (19281939), Restall family and Robert Dunfield (19591966). [79] 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. Recent scientific evidence confirms what's really there. Could their be more piratical discoveries to be made? There were the three teenagers who first discovered the site. [5] McGinnis, who believed that the depression was consistent with the Captain Kidd story, sought help with digging. Francis Drake . Its resemblance to a human-made pit has been suggested as partly due to the texture of natural, accumulated debris in sinkholes: "This filling would be softer than the surrounding ground, and give the impression that it had been dug up before". According to an undocumented story, Marie Antoinette instructed her maid (or a lady-in-waiting) to flee with her jewels. As expected, it was near the garden shaft at the Money Pit. Lagina connects it to the Knights Templar, as the design is reminiscent of a carving he saw at a Templar prison he visited in Domme, France in Season 5, Episode 8 "Dan's Breakthrough. The Curse of Oak Island: The map has been pointing to treasure vault Tests conclude that it dates between the early 1600s to 1700s and could be a hinge meant for a very thick door. A depression was also spotted beneath the tree. In "Homecoming," the fifth episode of the sixth season of "The Curse of Oak Island," Gary Drayton, Jack Begley, and Alex Lagina return to the location where they found the gold plated brooch back in the Season 6 premiere "Rick's Big Bang Theory" to see if they can't uncover more of Oak Island's secret treasures. They soon find a lead ingot used for making musket balls, as well as several King George II coins also from the 1700s. [1] Although these items can be considered treasure in their own right, no significant main treasure site has ever been found. After the team takes the chunk of metal to an archeology lab to be studied by Dr. Ian Spooner and Laird Niven, the metal is revealed to be composed of many elements. 25 little known facts about the Curse of Oak Island Both of these shafts were filled with water when an alleged flood tunnel was again breached. In Season 8, water sampling tests conducted in numerous boreholes in the Money Pit provided scientific proof that a dump-truck-load of silver lies buried deep below the spot that started the mystery more than two centuries ago. find some relics and archaeological items. 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. "[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. [26] After Chappell's excavations, Hedden began digging in the summer of 1935, after he purchased the southeastern end of the island. Crooker. Cookies help us deliver our Services. During the 1990s, further exploration stalled because of legal battles between the Triton partners and a lack of financing. This Theory May Explain the 'Curse of Oak Island' Money Pit - Men's Health The stone he saw had no symbols on it. Archaeological and geological counterevidence concerning Oak Island and the Money Pit point to something well short of an Indiana Jones movie. In his book, Snow said that he received the set of symbols from Rev. Tests reveal the wood beams predate the discovery of the Money Pit by more than two decades. Found 160 feet underground, this parchment and leather bookbinding could be clues that support a theory that William Shakespeare's original manuscripts could be buried in the Money Pit. A 13-branched tree is carved into a rock on the north shore of Oak Island. (Formac Publishing 1995, 1997, 2002, 2009), Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, "This 17th-Century Conspiracy May Explain the Oak Island Money Pit", "Oak Island The Reasons for expecting there is Treasure there", "Oak Island Treasure the world's greatest treasure hunt". After cleaning the coin, treasure hunter and professional diver Tony Sampson saw what appeared to be a cross design on one side. Drayton claims the artifact is unlikely to be used by farmers or everyday people, so it seems very possible that this keyplate could be a piece of a treasure chest. In January 1967, Daniel C. Blankenship, David Tobias, Robert Dunfield, and Fred Nolan formed a syndicate for exploration on Oak Island. This type of limestone easily dissolves when exposed to water, forming caves and natural voids. No original documents relating to the Onslow Company have ever been found. 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." Although the pumps were unable to keep water out of the flooded side shaft, boring samples were taken. Certain that they were on the right path, they continued their efforts and uncovered a coin that could be hundreds of years old. [15][16][17], The next major excavation attempt was carried out in 1861 by a company called "The Oak Island Association". Will finds in the Money Pit area and Smith's Cove turn up. Found in the spoils of borehole 8-B in the Money Pit, this leather boot heel dated to as early as 1492 and is believed to have come from the boot of a very prominent individual. A compelling argument that connects the lost treasure of the Knights Templar to the mysterious money pit on Oak Island, Nova Scotia, that has baffled treasure hunters for two centuries * Fascinating occult detective work linking the Cathars, the Scottish Masons, and Renne-le-Chateau to the elusive treasure pit on Oak Island * Draws on new evidence recently unearthed in Italy, France, and . [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. Free shipping for many products! Or had Ball discovered treasure? [56] William Vincent Astor, heir to the Astor family fortune after his father died on the Titanic, was a passive investor in digging for treasure on the island. One of the coins found had the year 1771 clearly printed on its surface, seemingly confirming the centuries old age of the currency. 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. Their third and final discovery was of another small coin, presumably from the 17th century like many of the coins previously found on the island. 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. On January 2, 1864, Historical Society of Nova Scotia secretary John Hunter-Duvar contacted treasure hunter George Cooke. The 'Money Pit' on Oak Island in 1947. As the boys began to dig, they found a. Harris provides no source for the claim that the stone was removed in 1865 or 1866. At 127 feet (39m), a number of artifacts, including an axe, a fluke anchor and a pick, were found. The shaft later collapsed, and the excavation was again abandoned. In 2005, a portion of the island was for sale for US$7 million. 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. [44][45] The Laginas are not 100% sure as to its exact location on the island, but they believe that is located somewhere near the Money Pit. 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. But what exactly are these interesting finds, and what historical secrets could they reveal? 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. Eventually, they reached a hard surface that was seemingly impenetrable. 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! Theories about artifacts present on the island range from pirate treasure to Shakespearean manuscripts to the Holy Grail or the Ark of the Covenant, with the Grail and the Ark having been buried there by the Knights Templar. [3] Byrd advised Franklin D. Roosevelt about the island;[57] the men forged a relationship, forming the United States Antarctic Service (USAS, a federal-government program) with Byrd nominally in command.[58]. In 1795, 16-year-old Daniel McGuiness went on a fishing expedition to Oak Island. In "The 90-Foot Stone," the fifth episode of the second season of "The Curse of Oak Island," the small coin that Gary Drayton and his team had discovered three episodes earlier in "Return to the Money Pit" was inspected. . A. T. Kempton of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but no information was provided as to how or where Kempton obtained them. Found along the stone pathway in the swamp, Oak Island artifact conservator Sandy Campbell believes this gold-colored knob to be far from modern and possibly from a jewel chest. One young boy called Daniel McGinnis found a circular depression. Might it have been part of a barrel that once contained a portion of the Oak Island treasure? With these consistent findings of 17th century artifacts, the pieces add up to fill in the mysterious puzzle of Oak Island. [62] The "platforms" of rotten logs have been attributed to trees, damaged by "blowdowns" (derechos) or wildfires, periodically falling (or washing into) the hollow. [24] Bowdoin later examined the "stone cipher" in Halifax and found it a basalt rock with no symbols. The earliest known story of a treasure found by a settler named Daniel McGinnis appeared in print in 1857. Discovered in the swamp during the first season by the Laginas and their team, this copper coin from 1652 suggests that there was activity on Oak Island long before the 1795 discovery of the Money Pit. [37] The reported five finger (or box) drains at Smith's Cove have recently been thought to be the remains of an early salt works, with no connection between the drains and any flooding of the pit.[38]. [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". While digging near the southern border of the triangle-shaped swamp during Season 8, the Fellowship discovered this piece of wooden ships railing that dated from 660 to 770 A.D., making it the oldest artifact ever found on Oak Island to that point. William Chappell became interested and excavated the pit in 1931 by sinking a 12-by-14-foot (3.7m 4.3m) The wood's color resembles Tyrian blue, a dye used by royalty and church documents. A sample of this material was reportedly sent to the Smithsonian Institution during the early 20th century, where it was concluded that the material was coconut fibre. Freemason Dennis King examines the Masonic aspects of the Oak Island legend in his article, "The Oak Island Legend: The Masonic Angle". According to Daniel Ronnstam, the stone found at 90 feet (27m) contains a dual cipher created by Bacon. 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. The group left the island in November 1909. Explorers have made claims about an elaborate drainage system extending from the ocean beaches to the pit. 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. The alleged excavation was eventually abandoned after workers attempted to recover the treasure from below by digging a tunnel from a second shaft that also flooded. Luckily, Reddit user @Nates94 did some sleuthing of their own, and stated, "The Chappell vault was found 153 feet under the Chappell shaft. With his friends Anthony Vaughn and John Smith, McGinnis dug a reported thirty feet into the ground. Gilbert Hedden, an operator of a steel fabricating company, saw the 1928 article and was fascinated by the engineering problems involved in recovering the reported treasure. Free shipping for many products! All the signs pointed to this being a legitimate historical discovery, the first of many throughout the show. Summary Report of Geological Survey Branch of the Department of Mines. [55] Actor John Wayne also invested in the drilling equipment used on the island and offered his equipment to be used to help solve the mystery. While the Lagina brothers and metal detection expert Gary Draytonhave mostly found mud, wood, and various metal tools, they along with an assortment of science and archaeological experts have made a surprising amount of valuable discoveries hidden throughout the 140 acres of the supposedly cursed Oak Island. First they find a part of a small horseshoe, perhaps made for a mule or a pony. Whats the scoop on the mysterious buried treasure at Oak Island? 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.. It turned out to not be a Maravedi coin at all, but instead something far more interesting. Leather bookbinding was found 160 feet underground along with bits of parchment. It was later identified as a Spanish eight Maravedis copper coin, most likely from the 17th century. It is known that the company operated sometime roughly in the early 1800s. Reginald Vanderbilt Harris (18811986) wrote in his 1958 book, The Oak Island Mystery,[46] "About 18651866 the stone was removed and taken to Halifax. The difference here is that this coin has been cut into a smaller segment. "[66], Templars, Masons, or Incas seeking to squirrel their treasure away from European persecutors or Spanish conquistadors may have created the money pit, according to William S. Money pit or sinkhole? Retired geologist digs up Oak Island's history - CBC Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage silver MINNESOTA SUNSET OAK MAPLE WITCH TREE TRAVEL SHIELD charm 20-23 at the best online prices at eBay! [63], Another pit, similar to the early description of the "money pit", was discovered in the area in 1949 when workmen were digging a well on the shore of Mahone Bay. "A History of The Oak Island Enterprise". Quoted in Furneaux 1972, 110. After running dye tests in the bore hole, the institution concluded that the flooding was caused by a natural interaction between the island's freshwater lens and tidal pressures in the underlying geology (refuting the man-made tunnel theory). Certainly, the Oak Island team would have to investigate further. Creighton used the stone for a beating stone and weight. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The stone was reportedly brought by A. O. Creighton (of the 1866 expedition) from the Smith home to Creighton's bookbindery in Halifax. In this rendering McGinnis first finds the depression in 1795 while on a fishing expedition. Armed with a metal detector, the Oak Island team explored these leftover spoils and soon found a pair of English coins with King Charles II's face on one side and the years "1673" and "1694" inscribed on the other. . Somehow the stone fell into the hands of a bookbinder, which used it as a base upon which to beat leather for many years. This amazing discovery could mean that the Knights Templar visited more of Oak Island than previously thought. Franklin D. Roosevelt, a former US President, whose company Old Gold Salvage group searched in 1909. Sometime during the excavation of this new shaft, the bottom of the original shaft collapsed. But there are plenty of people living who have seen the stone. It is taken to geochemist Tobias Skowronek, who informs them that it was most likely a cloisonn decoration an ancient method of decorating jewelry using small metal strips. The rest of the company is owned by Blankenship. In a nearby wooded location, Drayton and his team made their second discovery of the day. Gary Drayton found these two King Charles II Brtiannia coins from the 17th century. Could this be a coin used by the Knights Templar for banking purposes? Although the pumps could not keep up with the floodwater, tools that had been used by the Onslow and Truro companies were recovered. Oak Island mystery - Wikipedia 1965. In Season 7, Episode 4, "The Lucky Thirteen," Gary Drayton and Charles Barkhouse return to Lot 21 where many prior discoveries have been made to see if they can't find more. In 1965, they tried to seal what was thought to be a storm drain in Smith's Cove and dug a shaft down to 27 feet (8.2m). Thanks to their geologist, Dr. Ian Spooner's electronic slide, they believe they have pinpointed where the gold might be buried on the island. 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. According to Cooke, when he made inquiries in 1864, he discovered that the chimney had been enclosed in wood and surrounded by a staircase; the stone was no longer visible. In "Circles in Wood," the sixth episode of the fourth season of "The Curse of Oak Island," Gary Drayton along with associate producers and fellow treasure hunters Jack Begley and Alex Lagina do some metal detecting on property once owned by former slave-turned-cabbage farmer Samuel Ball. The Curse of Oak Island: More gold found at the Money Pit Furthermore, the number 13 is thought to be significant to the Knights Templar, a group already heavily associated with a lot of the treasures unearthed on Oak Island. Harry W. Marshall (born 1879), the son of an owner of the bookbindery, wrote in 1935 that: One researcher claimed that the cipher translated as "Forty feet below, two million pounds lie buried". The Top 21 Theories About Oak Island | HISTORY Channel Vintage silver MINNESOTA SUNSET OAK MAPLE WITCH TREE TRAVEL - eBay The Chappell vault was found 153 feet under the Chappell shaft. ", Drayton dates the solid lead cross to somewhere between the 1200s and the 1600s. The Real Story of Oak Island's Legendary Money Pit - Popular Mechanics While many discoveries had been made prior, this semi-precious gemstone would be the most valuable treasure the Lagina team had found up to that point. Do these fragments mean they are on the path to more buried treasure? By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. The Curse of Civil War Gold - History

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oak island vault found

oak island vault found