Popular Oak Island Mystery Theories
Some would suggest it would be easier to ask, "what hasn't been suggested", regarding what lies buried on Oak Island! Many of the theories put forward have a direct connection to some form of treasure and others suggest artefacts of a historical nature. Some people believe there are simple or natural explanations and other people’s ideas could be considered, well, a bit of a reach.
To each their own, but as "believers" of the Oak Island Mystery we humbly suggest that "great purpose, begets great effort". Meaning that any theory of what might be (or had been) sequestered away on Oak island had to be worthy and important enough to justify all the work which had been undertaken.
Part of the challenge in considering whether a theory might “fit” the circumstances it to see whether the timeline works. That in itself is a difficult task because no one has yet been able to successfully fix a date as to when the work on Oak Island took place. It is reasonable to say that even a well-trained crew would have required several months to complete the Money Pit, the flood tunnels, and to install whatever was to be hidden away below the surface. Also, one might be safe to conclude that they wanted to do their work without the benefit of prying eyes and nosey neighbours.
It would be misleading to think that all was quiet in the area of the Money Pit until Halifax was founded in 1749. Even an incomplete, early Nova Scotia timeline, shows that the area was known and being frequented by various parties:
| 1398 | A compelling case for Prince Henry Sinclair to be in the area after sailing from the Orkneys with a dozen ships and 300 men. (Also, a possible Templar connection and rumour that he was the man who inspired the Glooscap legend) |
| 1490 | Bristol fishermen claimed to be fishing the Grand Banks |
| 1497 | John Cabot makes his discoveries |
| 1521 | Portuguese explorer Joao Alvares Fagudes was said to have visited Nova Scotia around the year 1521 and erected a cross near Advocate. He may have also established a colony in the Cape Breton area. |
| 1534 | Jacques Cartier crosses but didn't sail Nova Scotia's coast |
| 1604 | The first settlement at Port Royal by DeMonts and Champlain (they also named LaHave on their crossing). |
| 1632 | Isaac de Razilly settles LaHave and builds Fort Sainte Marie de Grace. Many settlers moved to Port Royal following Razilly's death in 1636 but the fort was still a trading post when LaHave was attacked in 1652. |
| 1690 | LaHave was reported to be a haven for pirates for approximately 20 years. |
| 1717 | The great fortress of Louisbourg began construction which lasted for 20 years, becoming one of the largest ports on the Atlantic coast. |
| 1749 | Halifax is founded |
| 1753 | Lunenburg is settled |
| 1754 | Mahone Bay is settled |
| 1759 | Chester is settled |
| 1795 | The Oak Island Money Pit is discovered |
While populations were sparse, and there were long windows of time punctuated by bursts of activity, it is fair to say that there was seafaring traffic passing by or using Nova Scotia’s shores for at least 300 years before the Oak Island Money Pit was discovered.
Let's consider a few of the possibilities (below). They are in no particular order and present the briefest of introductions. These theories should not be considered as fully substantiated facts. There have been many cases, when presenting a theory about Oak Island, where the theory’s author has taken liberties to coerce a possibility into a fact. Readers are encouraged to do their due diligence in further researching these ideas.
