Are British Soldiers Responsible for the Mysterious Origin of the Oak Island Money Pit?
The Oak Island Money Pit is arguably one of the most peculiar mysteries in the last 300 years. Hidden away on a tiny island off the coast of Nova Scotia, the pit was discovered in 1795 by a curious teenage boy named Daniel McGinnis. Since its discovery, countless historians and treasure hunters have been determined to unveil its mysteries.
Oak Island Conspiracies
The true nature of the pit has yet to be determined. Amid the uncertainty of its origin, several different theories have been birthed ranging from plausible to amusingly fantastical. The mystery surrounding the construction of the pit is shrouded with tales of the Holy Grail, famous pirates, ancient civilizations, and wars.
Who Built the Money Pit?
Based on how the money pit was intricately booby-trapped with flood tunnels, geologists have surmised that the pit was most likely man-made. I think it’s safe to assume that the only logical reason for anyone to go to such great lengths to secure an obscure hole in the ground, would be to deter others from unearthing the items inside.
The most feasible theory behind the construction of the money pit is that it was built by English soldiers during England’s occupation of the region in the 18th century. During the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763), the British military forces battled against the thirteen colonies, which now make up the United States, in an effort to claim their lands.
It’s theorized that rogue British officers stored the spoils of war in the money pit along with a massive share of the treasures plundered during the 1762 Battle of Havana.
It doesn’t come as a surprise that the British could have potentially constructed the money pit. The English have had a history of constructing tunnels beneath bodies of water and would therefore have the capabilities to design the flood tunnels within the Oak Island Money Pit.
Evidence of British Presence at Oak Island
Over the years, treasure hunters have unearthed artifacts on Oak Island that support the theory that the pit could have been built by the British.
In 1931, a pickaxe was discovered 127 feet underground; it was later identified as being a Cornish pickaxe. Cornwall, in southwest England, is famous for its historic underground mines. This strongly suggests the English had a part to play in the construction of the pit. Additionally, three British coins were discovered on the island; one of the coins bore the date 1771.
Some telling items found on Oak Island included: a dandy button believed to have belonged to a British military officer, a copper coin with the face of King George II, and a lead ingot similar to the ones used by British soldiers to craft musket balls.
The most indicative discovery on Oak Island was the human bones carbon dated from 1678 to 1764 which were believed to have belonged to a European.
While it’s possible to dismiss claims that the pit is the source of the Holy Grail or the hiding place of William Shakespeare’s true identity, the theory that it houses Spanish treasure plundered after the siege of Havana is highly plausible. Perhaps someday the treasure will be unearthed, and its true origin revealed
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