There is a small island off the shores of Nova Scotia, Canada. It might not seem like the most important destination in the area, but we are not joking when we say that Oak Island is the stuff of legends! In fact, it has been the topic of many books, debates, and documentaries. It is considered important thanks to its promise of treasure and wealth to those brave enough to seek it. For almost two centuries, treasure hunters have been trying to get to the bottom of the mystery. The sense of wonder is further expounded by the association of figures like Marie Antoinette, Franklin D. Roosevelt, William Shakespeare, and more. People have died in the name of this quest, but that has not stopped others. Take a look at the Laginas, whose attempts at solving the mystery have been documented on their very own show on the History Channel!
Meet The Two Brothers Trying To Solve A 220 Year Old Mystery
The Three Teenagers
The first journey to Oak Island took place in 1799. Three teens called John Smith, Anthony Vaughn, and Daniel McGinnis went on a fishing trip and came back to land to retrieve supplies. All of a sudden, they found a weird depression in the ground. They felt curious about it after recalling a tale about a Scottish pirate called Captain Kidd, who allegedly buried £2 million worth of treasure. The boys started to dig until they reached 30 feet down. That was when they found a flagstone layer and an oak platform.
The Three Teenagers
The Money Pit
It remains unclear why the teenagers chose to leave and head home after that point. Could they have feared what they were going to find down there? Perhaps they secretly found the treasure already. At any rate, the hole known as “The Money Pitt” was neglected for the next couple of years until the Onslow company gave it a shot. A team went to Oak Island with tools and went in deeper. Once they were 90 feet deep, they saw logs stacked at certain intervals above a large stone that came with mysterious symbols.
The Money Pit
An Enigmatic Stone
No one has managed to translate these symbols even to this day. In 1862, a local paper said that it was “a stone cut square, two feet long and about a foot thick, with several characters cut on it.” Sadly, the stone is now missing. It seems like the message won’t be decoded for a very long time, if ever. Other people thought that it was a reference to how much treasure there was, but this is just speculation.
An Enigmatic Stone
So Much Speculation
It is not shocking to hear a lot of theories about the hidden treasure and “The Money Pitt.” There are folks who think that it is hiding the treasures of Marie Antoinette. Meanwhile, other academics thought that it was hiding manuscripts that proved how Francis Bacon actually wrote Shakespeare’s plays. At any rate, the island has fascinated treasure seekers, historians, and the public for two centuries now.
So Much Speculation
Meet William Chappell
A man called William Chappell was one of the most famous researchers of the island. He learned about it in a newspaper article and was fascinated by the mystery and promise of treasure. This was why he went to Canada in the ‘20s. He kept exploring and found various old tools that made him think that someone had been digging the same spot a long time ago. The realization only made him feel sure that he was going to find something in the site. He felt motivated to keep going after seeing those things.
Meet William Chappell
The Digging Went On
Unfortunately, he ended up running out of money and gave up on digging. After him, it was Gilbert Hedden’s turn to check it out. This rich and powerful man had a steel company and the resources to dig. He talked to journalists and historians, who shared the opinion that Captain Kidd hid his treasure there. Hedden was so convinced of this that he bought part of Oak Island and started a proper excavation!
The Digging Went On
An Ax Down There
They found more clues in the hole but failed to find real treasure below the surface. Chappell found a fluke anchor and a 250-year-old Acadian ax when he was digging. Aside from those, he also saw oil lamp sections and a miner’s pick. They were interesting but did not help him find out more about the alleged treasure in the money pit. But these interesting objects told him that he was on the right track.
An Ax Down There
More Proof Of The Treasure
For the longest time, war and conflicts have pushed people to bury their treasure. Oak Island is remote, which made it ideal for this ordeal. Interestingly, the discovery of the island coincided with the Seven Years War and the French-Indian War. Geographically, this is still one of the furthest destinations if you need to get out of Europe. Historians said that this made a lot of sense from their point of view.
More Proof Of The Treasure
Pirates And Their Treasure
Historians fueled hopes by talking about pirates. They explained that Oak Island was known for this activity during the Golden Age of Piracy. It was full of natural resources, which is important for anyone taking a long journey on the high seas. Thanks to its location, it is also excellent as a hiding place. At the very least, it was possible that there were indeed riches to be found beneath the growth in the area.
Pirates And Their Treasure
A President Of The United States
Did you know that the stories even reached a young Franklin D. Roosevelt? He was an adventurous guy who joined the Old Gold Salvage Group on their quest to look for hidden treasure. In August 1909, the Captain Henry L. Bowdoin expedition arrived in the area. The expedition took place on land and in water as diggers and divers worked hard to look for the hidden treasure. Sadly, they did not find anything. Roosevelt kept following the developments in the area after that and even through his presidency!
A President Of The United States
A Terrible Tragedy
Many treasure hunters gave it a shot and failed. The list includes a pair of father and son, who both died on Oak Island. Robert had been alone in the shaft when he died after the hydrogen sulfide fumes suffocated him. His son sensed that something went wrong, so he went down there and suffered the same fate. A family friend called Graeser and two more men tried to help them. Overall, there were four fatalities here. The tragic event was heartbreaking, but it did not stop others from checking out the money pit.
A Terrible Tragedy
Making A Breakthrough
Up next, the Lagina brothers wanted to check it out for themselves. Rick and Marty Lagina were both determined to look for the hidden treasure regardless of how long it will take. They kept digging for years in the hopes of finding something. Their luck changed for the better all of a sudden one day. It looked like things were finally looking up for them. Was it going to change the course of things?
Making A Breakthrough
Curious From The Beginning
Their curiosity about hidden treasure started when they were both still young. The brothers grew up hearing about Oak Island and decided that they would get to the bottom of things. At the age of ten, Rick made his very first discovery! This was how the brothers ended up starting their careers as treasure hunters. He kept learning skills that the field needed. His goal is to solve the mystery of Oak Island!
Curious From The Beginning
Determined And Industrious
In 2006, the brothers channeled their efforts into this quest. They studied the history of the island and learned as much as they could about the money pit. They even purchased half of the Oak Island Tour company in a show of dedication. It was how they obtained ownership of the land and secured rights to half of the treasures they would uncover. The rest would go to Blankenship Clan.
Determined And Industrious
The Oak Island Curse
Like other famous treasure spots, Oak Island comes with a legend. It is said that the treasure is only going to be unlocked once it claims seven people. Within a span of a hundred years, six people have already died in the quest for buried treasure. Despite this, they had not discovered anything worth noting in the past. Was the curse really going to demand another life before it reveals its secrets?
The Oak Island Curse
A Copper Nugget
After working hard for years, the Lagina brothers had a breakthrough at long last. They found a Spanish copper coin from the 17th century! It was a thrilling find. Once they found this, they felt confident that there must be more of it down there. The expedition earned a new focus, and the entire team was excited about what was going to come next. Were they going to find more coins or something else?
A Copper Nugget
A Surprising Discovery
In the third season of The Curse of Oak Island, the viewers found out something surprising. After draining an area, the two brothers found a Roman sword and various ancient artifacts. This would mean that it was a huge historic discovery if it was indeed a legitimate Roman sword. Did the Romans someone end up in North America so many years ago? Or was this proof of the buried treasure?
A Surprising Discovery
The Discovery Of New Evidence
The money pit was said to come with Roman artifacts, 17th century Spanish coins, and Templar secrets. According to Zen Halpern, who wrote The Templar Mission to Oak Island and Beyond, she duplicated a 17th century French map that indicated there was incredible treasure to be found on the island. She said that words like “valve,” “anchor,” and “hatch” implied this. The theory was that the hidden treasure actually come all the way from Africa instead! What did the Lagina brothers think of this theory?
The Discovery Of New Evidence
Working With A Team
It was not at all easy to uncover the secrets of the mysterious island. The brothers knew that they could not do it on their own, so they formed a team. They reached out to other treasure hunters such as David Blankenship, Craig Tester, and Dan Blankenship. The team was united in their exploration of Oak Island! Many people have tried to find the hidden treasure before they did. Were they going to succeed?
Working With A Team
New Technology Means New Secrets
Their team reached new heights with the addition of another member by the name of Gary Drayton. He is known for his skills in metal detection. In the past, he has published books about various expeditions that he joined. After joining the crew, his expertise quickly became useful. Now in the fifth season, the show followed the brothers as they explore Smiths Cove. They were shocked by what they found there.
New Technology Means New Secrets
The Dedicated Blankenships
Dan Blankenship had 50 years of drilling experience to his name! He has shared his experience and knowledge with David, his son. In the past, the younger man went through a terrible accident three decades ago. Luckily, he did not let it get in the way of his desire to learn more about the island. He remains active and leads a full life. The Blankenship men are truly admirable for their dedication!
The Dedicated Blankenships
His Addiction With Treasure Hunting
Who doesn’t enjoy solving puzzles? David Blankenship was letting the mystery of Oak Island take over his entire life. He just wanted to get the answers to the questions that he had. He moved there from Florida five decades ago and spent his life looking for clues and leads. It was a relief to work with a team.
His Addiction With Treasure Hunting
Getting Help From Technology
As technology advances, the quest for the Oak Island hidden treasure progresses. New tools have let the brothers learn more about this mystery. For one thing, they found a wood-lined shaft in the depths of the money pit. It was thought to have been built in the early 19th century. They reached the conclusion that it was made by the people who made the money pit, the very first hunters to look for the treasure!
Getting Help From Technology
A Curious Artifact
Aside from that, they also found a piece of an ancient binder or book. They hoped that it was going to change the course of their investigation. Could it have come from a manuscript cataloging the treasures in the area? Rick thought that it was going to be important to their exploration of the island.
A Curious Artifact
The Evidence Points to Treasure
After they discovered the binder, they found a piece of parchment! It was made of animal skin and had what looked like medieval markings on it. Using what they knew by that point, they thought that it was the topic of correspondence between William Chappell and Frederick Blair. Was it going to be useful?
The Evidence Points To Treasure
A Salty Issue
They continued to dig and soon learned that it was even deeper than they thought at first. On top of this, the hole somehow refilled itself after it was drained. The brothers chose to use high-tec machine to figure out what was going on. They found out that the nearby beach kept replacing the water!
A Salty Issue
Human Remains
This was not the biggest surprise in store for them just yet. They also found a human bone down there. Based on their investigation, the remains came from a person of Middle Eastern descent. No one knew how on earth it got there. They could not help but think of the Knights Templar theory. Could this serve as proof of that? They did not know, but they were thrilled about the possibilities that came with it.
Human Remains
The Plot Thickens
On the topic of the bone, Marty said, “The evidence suggests that something quite odd did occur on this island prior to 1795. Something happened here prior to 1795 and apparently much earlier, at least 100 years.” What could that have meant? Were they getting somewhere with their investigation? Or were they on the wrong track? They were looking for treasure, but it might not be what they had in mind.
The Plot Thickens
American History Thrown Into Doubt
The next development came as a huge surprise to the whole team. Marty, Rick, and Gary found a lead cross with a square hole. They traced it back to anywhere from 1200 to 1600. But what did any of this mean? A medieval cross would put into question the claim that Christopher Columbus was the first person to reach the shores of America. With this in mind, the treasure hunt became secondary.
American History Thrown Into Doubt
The Knights Templar
Over the years, the Knights Templar have been the subject of research, movies, and books. The order could pretty much travel anywhere that they wanted. The brothers believed that they indeed made their way to Oak Island and hid their treasures in the money pit. The Pope founded the Knights Templar in 1119. The mysterious organization had members who hailed from Europe and the Middle East.
The Knights Templar
The Occult
There was some debate about whether the Knights Templars brought the lead cross there. Zena Halpern, on the other hand, does not think that it is a cross. She believes that it is a symbol of a Phoenician goddess called Tanit. Her research said that the Templars secretly worshipped the deity. This was supported by research that said the Templars was a demon worshipping cult. Could any of these things be true?
The Occult
Heavy Metal
The treasure hunters also believed that the lead hid gold beneath it. Lead was historically used to smuggle the metal since they were just as heavy. Knowing this, anything could be possible. Was the cross truly made of gold? It was exciting for them to think that the cross was made of gold but was wrapped in lead in order to hide it. If this was true, they would finally get what they had originally gone there for.
Heavy Metal
A Real Gem
The brothers were thrilled to finally unearth a precious gem from the money pit. There was a rhodolite garnet, which was a gorgeous pinky purple gemstone. According to their research, it was probably 400 to 500 years old. It is mined in places like North America, India, and Sri Lanka. However, it was most prolific in the African continent, which was why they believed it came from there.
A Real Gem
Marie Antionette
A closer look at the gemstone made the explorers arrive at a new theory about the money pit. The stone might have been owned by Marie Antoinette as part of her buried treasure. Gray Drayton liked this theory and thought that the gem was 500 years old or so. There was a chance that it was even older than that since it had links to Roman and Egyptian religious ceremonies a long time ago.
Marie Antionette
Remaining Hopeful
It feels like there has always been someone digging in Oak Island. The excavations have resulted in the discovery of various interesting artifacts that came from all over the globe. There are various theories about it as well. We have learned about links to the Holy Grail, Marie Antoinette, Captain Kidd, the Knights Templar, and William Shakespeare. The only thing they have in common would be Oak Island!
Remaining Hopeful
Sir Francis Drake
People have always said that pirates traveled to various distances in the hopes of burying treasure. Oak Island is the best destination for something like that. Another theory about the money pit is that it held the treasures of a certain Sir Francis Drake. He was infamous for his sailing skills. Together with his team, he had the skills to turn the money pit into a safe place and then hide their amazing loot over there!
Sir Francis Drake
An Answer In The Tunnel
Doug Crowell, a colleague of one of the Lagina brothers, found out something important. There were six pages that detailed a plan to secure the treasure. A log entry said, “It has been agreed that a deep pit be dug, and treasure securely buried” and “The pit to have a secret entrance by a tunnel from the shore.” The brothers were thrilled by this discovery! Were they talking about the tunnel that refilled the pit?
The Answer In The Tunnel
Boosting The Morale
It must have been demotivating and unsettling to dig and turn for years to no avail. The Lagina brothers worked hard to keep the morale up and encouraged the others to think of the artifacts they previously recovered. They had already found a lot of important and significant things! This is a great way to talk about the positive mood of their operations. The table shows the number of treasures that they found.
Boosting The Morale
A Hint Of Real Treasure
The team continues its expedition and has found something called an “official treasure.” We are talking about a precious stone that they found in the depts of the hole. It motivated and thrilled the entire team! Matty Blake said that it felt as if a “lightning rod has gone off.” When you are excavating, nothing is more motivating than stumbling upon buried treasure. This is what kept them going no matter what!
A Hint Of Real Treasure
Its Weight In Gold
They reached new heights in the most recent season of the show. Marty and Rick made the decision to focus on Smiths Cove with the use of sophisticated engineering. They closed off the area with the help of a steel structure. After digging and exploring for years on end, they finally unearthed a gold coin! This made them all feel more hopeful. It is still under investigation, so we do not know much about it just yet. However, they guessed that came from the early 1700s, which coincides with the suspected timing of the treasure’s burial!
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