Oak Island Money Pit: A More Than 200-Year-Old Enigmatic Treasure Chest

On the southern coast of Nova Scotia in eastern Canada, Oak Island is a privately-owned island sprawling across 140 acres. It is widely known for its mysterious and alleged hidden treasure chest particularly for a location called ‘money pit’. Several theories have been introduced through the centuries to demonstrate the legendary nature of Oak Island’s money pit since its discovery in the 18th century. (3.1)

Despite the innumerable failed attempts to unravel the mystery of Oak Island, the efforts continue until today hoping that the treasure quest will be found one day. Interestingly enough, the History Channel also debuted a TV series on it named “The Curse Of Oak Island” in 2014.

The Accidental Discovery of the Money Pit on Oak Island

Source = Oakislandmoneypit

It was in 1795 when a teenager named Daniel McGinnis stumbled across a circular depression in the ground while wandering on Oak Island. This accidentally discovered circular depression was called Money Pit. He along with his two friends named John Smith and Anthony Vaughan thought of investigating the hole and began digging it.

Around two feet from the surface, the three boys encountered a layer of flagstones. Continuing the digging, they struck a layer of oak logs at 10 feet depth. At 20 feet and 30 feet depth, they found two more layers of oak logs.

Source = Ancient-origins

8 years later, McGinnis and his friends returned to the site with the Onslow Company, a company established for excavation of the Money Pit. The digging took place up to a depth of 90 feet. And just like previous diggings, a layer of oak logs was found at each after every 10 feet.

Discovery of an Enigmatic Tablet That Read “Forty Feet Below, Two Million Pounds Are Buried”

Source = Ancient-origins

Apart from a layer of oak logs, a charcoal layer, putty, and coconut fiber were found respectively at 40, 50, and 60 feet depths. However, the most baffling finding ever made was at 90 feet. It was a stone with an inscription written in form of symbols that are deciphered as,

“Forty feet below, two million pounds are buried”.(3.2)

After the removal of the layer of oak logs, water began entering the pit which flooded until a depth of 33 feet the next day. Attempts were made to pump the water out but they failed. The next year, a shaft was dug parallel to Money Pit to create a tunnel into the pit at 100 feet. However, they didn’t succeed as the problem of flooding happened again.

Revived Hope of Discovering Casks or Chests of Gold Coins at the Money Pit

Source = Ancient-origins

For about half a century, the quest for Money Pit treasure was ditched. In 1849, it was restarted by the Truro Company. The problem of flooding occurred yet again. So the company thought of determining what was buried in the pit before excavating any further. 

In order to do this, drilling core samples were acquired which comprised of a layer of spruce, oak, and metal pieces. This was followed by another layer of the same. From these findings, they ended up with a conclusion that 2 casks or chests of gold coins are waiting to be discovered in the Oak Island Money Pit.