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The Oak Island Treasure Hunt is a uniquely Nova Scotian story that 鈥渂egan鈥� with the discovery of the Money Pit in 1795. What was buried there? People have speculated it was Pirate Treasure, Shakespeare鈥檚 original manuscripts, Inca Gold, The Ark of the Covenant and Holy Grail, the Secrets of Alchemy of Francis Bacon, Crown Jewels, Montezuma, and, of course, Nothing. I will not address these theories, as what I became interested in was scientific evidence found on the Island that dated back to long before 1795. Roman Coins. Coconut Fibre. Carbon-dated sticks in structures that had to be man-made. This is evidence of activity on Oak Island in ancient times, so instead of the various theories of 鈥渨hat is there?鈥�, I asked 鈥渨hich Europeans were there first?鈥�, the land being the ancestral home to Mi鈥檏maw for many Millennia. This took me into the Medieval History of three culprits. First, there is the remarkable 6th Century story of the Irish Monk St. Brendan sailing West across the Atlantic to the 鈥淧romised Land of the Saints鈥�. Second, there are 11th Century Viking-Norse voyages and settlements across the North Atlantic, and then Southwest from their base in L鈥橝nse aux Meadows NFLD. Third, there are the 12th Century and later Knights Templar, which is a wild idea, except not so when you realize how closely they were involved with the Norse. As one critic commented 鈥渟o you are telling me Templars caught a Viking Uber to Oak Island?鈥�. I said, yes, it is possible and fits the evidence. Just follow the grapes and the butternuts.

Biography:  Dr. Doug Symons retired after 35 years as a Psychology Professor at Acadia, publishing 50 or so academic papers on children and parenting. He applied his research background to explaining recent scientific finds on Oak Island. His life-long interest in the Oak Island Treasure Hunt led to writing a book 鈥淥ak Island鈥檚 First Visitors: Irish Monks, Vikings, and Templars鈥�, 2024, Formac Publishing. He has recently appeared on the History Channel shows The Curse of Oak Island and Tales of Oak Island, and is in contact with theorists and authors from around the world.

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