Editing Oak Island (section)

== Oak Island mystery ==
{{Main|Oak Island mystery}}

Oak Island has been a subject for treasure hunters ever since the late 1700s, with rumours that [[William Kidd|Captain Kidd]]'s treasure was buried there. While there is little evidence to support what went on during the early excavations, stories began to be published and documented as early as 1856. Since that time there have been many theories that extend beyond that of Captain Kidd which include stories of religious artifacts, manuscripts, and [[Marie Antoinette]]'s jewels. The "treasure" has also been prone to criticism by those who have dismissed search areas as natural phenomena.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/secrets_of_oak_island/ |title=The Secrets of Oak Island |last=Nickell |first=Joe |author-link=Joe Nickell |journal=[[Skeptical Inquirer]] |date=March 2000 |volume=24 |issue=2 |access-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103221316/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/secrets_of_oak_island |archive-date=2016-11-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Areas of interest on the island with regard to treasure hunters include a location known as the "Money Pit", which is allegedly the original searchers’ spot. Located on the east side of Oak Island, the Money Pit is—or was—a shaft more than {{convert|100|ft}} deep. According to island lore, it first drew the attention of a local teenager in 1795, who noticed an indentation in the ground and, with some friends, started to dig—only to find a man-made shaft featuring wooden platforms every {{convert|10|ft}} down to the {{convert|90|ft|adj=on}} level of depth.

There is also a formation of boulders called "Nolan's Cross", named after a former treasure hunter, and a triangle-shaped swamp. Lastly, there has been activity on a beach at a place called "Smith's Cove". Various objects including non-native [[Coir|coconut fibre]] have been found there.<ref name="Treasure"/> More recent archaeological discoveries in the Smith's Cove area have included an allegedly pre-15th-century lead cross and various wooden earthworks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/the-curse-of-oak-island-breakthrough-lead-cross-is-pre-15th-century-and-could-have-knights-templar-connection/|title=The Curse of Oak Island breakthrough: Lead cross is pre-15th century and could have Knights Templar connection|date=2018-12-19|website=Monsters and Critics|access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/the-curse-of-oak-island-recap-team-discover-a-second-mysterious-structure-at-smiths-cove/|title=The Curse of Oak Island recap: Team discover a second mysterious structure at Smith's Cove|date=2019-01-23|website=Monsters and Critics|access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref>

More than fifty books have been published recounting the island's history and exploring competing theories.<ref>{{cite book |last=Conlin |first=Dan |author-link=Dan Conlin |title=Pirates of the Atlantic: Robbery, Murder and Mayhem off the Canadian East Coast |location=Halifax |publisher=Formac Publishing Company Limited |date=16 October 2009 |page=86 |isbn=9780887807411 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P4IgnwEACAAJ&pg=PA86}}</ref> Several works of [[fiction]] have also been based upon the Money Pit, including ''[[Eric Walters|The Money Pit Mystery]]'', ''[[Riptide (novel)|Riptide]]'', ''[[The Hand of Robin Squires]]'', and ''Betrayed: The Legend of Oak Island''. In January 2014, the [[History (U.S. TV network)|History Channel]] began airing a reality TV show called ''[[The Curse of Oak Island]]'' about a group of modern treasure hunters. These hunters include brothers Rick and Marty Lagina of the "Michigan Group".<ref>{{cite book |first=J Douglas |last=Kenyon |title=Missing Connections: Challenging the Consensus |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IVNOBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA57 |publisher=[[Atlantis Rising]] |date=1 February 2016 |page=57 |isbn=9780990690429}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://mynorth.com/2016/06/rick-marty-lagina-last-treasure-hunters/ |title=Rick and Marty Lagina: The Last Treasure Hunters |first=Lou |last=Blouin |date=27 June 2016 |access-date=28 August 2018 |work=[[MyNorth]] |publisher=Prism Publications}}</ref> The series has documented finds such as centuries-old coins, an antique [[brooch]], and a lead cross that was allegedly made between 1200 and 1600 A.D.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/do-they-ever-find-anything-oak-island|title=Do They Ever Find Anything on Oak Island? Plus, How to Visit|author=Amber Garrett|work=distractify.com|access-date=May 8, 2019}}</ref> It has been said that [https://www.ambassatours.com/post/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-oak-island#:~:text=According%20to%20legend%2C%20seven%20people,radar%20to%20explore%20Oak%20Island. seven] people must die before the treasure is found. Up until this point, six have lost their lives in search of the hidden riches, (Ambassatours, 2025). 

=== History ===
Oak Island was initially named [https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/04/the-history-of-the-oak-island-money-pit/151722 “Smith’s Island”] in honor of early settler Edward Smith, (Milligan, 2024).  In 1778, it was renamed [https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/04/the-history-of-the-oak-island-money-pit/151722 Gloucester Isle,] and shortly thereafter, it acquired the name Oak Island, attributed to the presence of red oak trees on the island, (Milligan, 2024). The earliest documented human activity dates to the [https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/oak-island#:~:text=The%20earliest%20European%20inhabitants%20of,to%20residents%20of%20nearby%20areas. 1750s,] when French fishermen frequented the area, (Ungarvsky, 2025).  To encourage further colonization, the government of Nova Scotia offered land grants for settlement. Four families from Massachusetts accepted these grants, becoming the first officially recorded settlers on Oak Island.