Oak Island Unearthed

More than two centuries ago, compelling evidence of buried treasure was found on Nova Scotia's Oak Island. Since then, extensive engineering works have been discovered and mysterious objects unearthed in and around the island's "Money Pit." The ongoing search has been featured on a long-running popular television series, but to this day, the island guards its secrets. In this book, historian John Bell presents all the competing theories — about who buried treasure on the island and how the complex structures in the Money Pit that have kept treasure hunters at bay were created. Is the island the former settlement of pre-Columbian Vikings? The location of a lost pirate treasure or royal treasures from England? The hiding spot for rogue captains of Spanish treasure ships? John Bell presents each theory in turn. Bell also provides a detailed illustration of the mysterious work that was done on the island prior to the discovery of the Money Pit in 1795. The illustration shows each element of the Pit's design as it was first built — including elaborate flood tunnels, a cave-in shaft, and more. This book offers a fascinating opportunity to explore many centuries of world history from the perspective of one of the greatest mysteries of all time. The extensive visuals showcase what treasures could have been hidden, and illustrate the lives of the adventurers, renegades, pirates, politicians, and paranormal entities that might be responsible for this puzzle.

“Crooker, who is a good historian and also quite witty, tells a tale of folly and obsession” surrounding the legendary treasure off of Canada’s east coast (Booklist). For over two centuries, the mysterious labyrinth of shafts and tunnels under Oak Island, a tiny island on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, has been the scene of a frantic search by scores of treasure hunters from two continents. They believe that the shafts and intricate man-made flooding system hold the secret to a treasure of untold wealth. Although millions have been spent, bitter feuds have erupted, and men have died, the treasure has remained as elusive as the answers to who built the labyrinth, why and how it was constructed, and the nature of the treasure itself. Until now. In his second book on the Oak Island mystery, William Crooker meticulously sifts through the evidence unearthed by treasure hunters on the island, past and present. Then, armed with some starling new discoveries, he neatly fits the pieces together to offer a plausible solution to the baffling puzzle of Oak Island. “Crooker, an engineer and surveyor, presents both a thorough historical review of the various digs and a look at all the theories about the treasure.” —Library Journal

Your unauthorized guide to the History Channel's TV series "The Curse of Oak Island". Packed with information on the history of the Oak Island treasure hunt; plot summaries and analyses for each episode of "The Curse of Oak Island" from Seasons 1 through 6; and summaries of the various theories regarding the nature of the Oak Island mystery.

For over two centuries, the mysterious labyrinth of shafts and tunnels under Oak Island, a tiny island on Nova Scotia's South Shore, has been the scene of a frantic search by scores of treasure hunters from two continents. They believe that the shafts and intricate man-made flooding system hold the secret to a treasure of untold wealth. Although millions have been spent, bitter feuds have erupted, and men have died, the treasure has remained as elusive as the answers to who built the labyrinth, why and how it was constructed, and the nature of the treasure itself. Until now. In his second book on the Oak Island mystery, William Crooker meticulously sifts through the evidence unearthed by treasure hunters on the island, past and present. Then, armed with some starling new discoveries, he neatly fits the pieces together to offer a plausible solution to the baffling puzzle of Oak Island.

Civil engineers Graham Harris and Les MacPhie have spent over a decade investigating the enigma of Nova Scotia's Oak Island. In this new edition of their book, they set out the previously unknown story of how complex and expensive engineering work was undertaken to create an elaborate flood tunnel on the island. Built to frustrate treasure seekers attempting to get at the valuables buried decades earlier at the bottom of the island's Money Pit, the tunnel has admirably served its purpose. It has ensured that all efforts up to now to recover the treasure have been unsuccessful. Oak Island poses two different challenges for treasure seekers. There is a deep mine shaft, at the bottom of which the treasure lies. The authors offer evidence that this treasure came from the wreck of a Spanish galleon in the seventeenth century. Even more mystifying than the mine shaft is the complex tunnel which links it to the ocean. Harris and MacPhie have determined that the project would have required a labour force of over 100 men to supplement a small force of experienced miners. The work would have taken almost two years to complete. In new chapters written for this edition, they present the evidence they have discovered in British military history records which shows who commanded this force, how it reached Nova Scotia, and when the work was carried out. The new facts and insights offered in this book are a startling and convincing addition to the history of Oak Island.