Namaste

Oak island (named for its layers of oak found buried every ten feet) is wrapped with conspiracy theories from its curse of misfortune and death to the concept of aliens concealing the buried treasure.

In Nova Scotia the small island exists and from the 19th century, where rumours of Shakespearean manuscript and religious artefacts were supposedly found, the island became many treasure hunters’ goal. A story was told where a man called Captain Kidd had buried treasure worth 2 million on the island, and in 1799 Daniel McGinnis began exploration following finding a depression within the earth when looking for appropriate farming ground. McGinnis and his team left after digging to 30 ft and feeling an impending sense of superstitious dread. Further exploration has been completed over the past two hundred years but let me summarise some of the facts considered odd by explorers and conspiracy theorists alike along with facts of the islands history:

- the dirt was noticeably loose during excavation, as if previously tampered with

- layers of oak, coconut fibre, putty, metal pieces, spruce and clay were found. Conclusions were drawn that these had been deliberately placed sometime before and did not appear to seem naturally occurring

- At each layer or interval, marks and tools were found (no indication of what type nor what era have been mentioned)

- 1807 a stone was found with inscribed symbols believing to mean ‘2 million 40ft below’ according to translations from Edward Rowe Snow’s true tales of buried treasure

- Areas such as the money pit, Nolan’s cross, smiths close and a triangular shaped swamp are all areas of continued exploration

- 235 ft were excavated at one point and booby traps were found roughly every 25ft including flooding through multiple exits, summaries concluded the routes were dug and not naturally excavated

- 1896 skin parchment was found, possibly ripped with the letter wi or vi inscribed

- 1967 the triton alliance found tools, chests and human remains (not independently confirmed)

- Six men have died over the course of the excavations on oak island, all noted as accidental deaths

- The oak island act has been put in place since 2010 for legal treasure exploration hence why the 2014 ‘curse of oak island’ tv show followed shortly after

As previously mentioned, the three main conspiracy theories of oak island are the mysterious hidden two million, the curse following the explores and if aliens (yes aliens) originally placed and protected the treasure.

The two million has little evidence and minimal treasure of worth has been found. However, due to the booby traps and number of prepared layers for excavating it appears something considered important has been found or if not, will be unearthed. whether that be financially or historically worthwhile is debatable.

The curse exists due to the six men who have passed at the island. One argument exists that any job is hazardous especially one of excavation in those time periods, safety precautions were minimal. However, due to the planned booby traps and constant ‘bad luck’ as claimed by many workers (repeated flooding, many injuries, breaking of equipment) the curse is unsolved.

As for the aliens, many seem conflicted by how it would be possible for any number of humans in the 19th century to have dug over 235ft without any kind of machinery, furthering that by the number of materials gathered in the layers and booby traps created, it appeared to be a heavy labour process that after 200 years with our developed machinery, we have still not unearthed. Considerations to other species’ involvement with higher technologies at that time have been considered. However, many other explanations exist such as a deeper pit previously existing and being filled (less time consuming) or large group work combined with tool use and no interruption from modern quarrels such as lawsuits.