What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

Welcome to Our Forums. Once you've registered and logged in, you're primed to talk football, among other topics, with the sharpest and most experienced fantasy players on the internet.

The Curse of Oak Island (1 Viewer)

Max Power

Footballguy
On History Channel. Anyone watching? I didn't see a thread.

I've always been fascinated by the story of Oak Island and just happened to catch that the History channel is airing a show about two brothers digging on the island. Episode 1 was great, but 2 and 3 had me ready to turn it off. I gave 4 a chance and now it has me excited again.

I am pretty pumped about episode 5. Long story short, they are using some modern technology and have found something made of metal (probably gold or silver) in the swamp. Next week should be a good reveal to a long standing mystery.

I'd recommend this show to anyone who's heard about history of Oak island before. The "team" they have working on the island aren't very entertaining to watch, but the story line has a ton of potential.

 
Watched the first two eps and thought ep 2 > ep 1. Dating the coconut fiber was huge.

My friend and I talked about Oak Island a ton about 10 years ago.

 
My 7 year old son is fascinated by this show. We watched another show which featured Oak Island for an episode. Can't remember the guys name who hosts but he is a Foerensic Geologist. That show hooked my son into Oak Island and we watch the new episode every Monday after I get home from work. I hope they figure out the mystery. Don't care what they find.

 
Even though the OP did a piss poor job with any links, I would like to thank him for bringing this series to my attention. I have been fascinated with Oak Island for some time, and it looks like this series will finally provide some answers.

 
Loved the Oak Island mystery as a kid. Bummed at the "reality show" 13-episode take on it. Would rather they'd have done a 2-hour special with just the meat of it. Don't care about the drawn-out storylines, flashbacks, ghost stories, teases, etc.

As it is, I scan through the episodes in 10-20 minutes, just watching scenes where stuff actually happens.

 
Loved the Oak Island mystery as a kid. Bummed at the "reality show" 13-episode take on it. Would rather they'd have done a 2-hour special with just the meat of it. Don't care about the drawn-out storylines, flashbacks, ghost stories, teases, etc.

As it is, I scan through the episodes in 10-20 minutes, just watching scenes where stuff actually happens.
I agree for the most part but thought it was gold when self described hermit, Dan Henskee, talked about being taken over by a long dead spirit which caused him to race through the woods into the water or something like that. :lol:

Here's a joke site with some pics of Dan.

 
I read the same old Readers Digest article when I was a kid and was hooked too. It's cool living vicariously through the two brothers on their hunt. Living the dream of kids, young and old. The Norwegian guy was a trip. Thought his theory was insane....until he started finding things. These guys have found more stuff in three episodes than the Hoffman crew has found all season on Gold Rush.

 
These guys have found more stuff in three episodes than the Hoffman crew has found all season on Gold Rush.
:lmao: :lmao:

Agree...The Hoffmans are idiots. I won't hijack the thread completely, but I went from thinking Dakota Fred was a jerk and the Hoffmans were awesome to thinking the Hoffmans are idiots, and Fred is actually a pretty cool, ingenious guy.

Re. Oak Island...I'm guessing that if they found anything REALLY monumental, it'd have been on the news already. My guess is they find a button or a buckle or some other piece of crap from a previous explorer. I think that's the thing...a lot of what they find is just from previous excavations...not so much treasure.

Re. the platforms...I've never heard of any proof of the platforms. I also think the stone with the inscription has been lost. There is a hand-drawn recreation, but the stone itself is gone. Also, I read a few theories that the money pit could in fact be a sink hole, and that what people thought were platforms could in fact have just been trees that were sucked into the hole.

Also, the "swamp," thing is a little confusing to me. I think it's man-made because there's a road that is clearly damming up. They make all this fuss about it being clearly man made, etc...well...yeah...If you build an elevated road between a low spot and the shore (which is where it likely drained before), it's going to back up...just look at all the roadside swamps down south caused by highways. I don't think it was made to hide treasure. Also...the reason they can't get it to drain is that they said they can't pump the water into the ocean, they have to pump it "uphill" and into the grass...well, geniuses, it just drains right back into the swamp if you pump it up hill...I love the show, but I think the treasure is a farce.

(But Bigfoot is definitely real...)

 
These guys have found more stuff in three episodes than the Hoffman crew has found all season on Gold Rush.
:lmao: :lmao:

Agree...The Hoffmans are idiots. I won't hijack the thread completely, but I went from thinking Dakota Fred was a jerk and the Hoffmans were awesome to thinking the Hoffmans are idiots, and Fred is actually a pretty cool, ingenious guy.

Re. Oak Island...I'm guessing that if they found anything REALLY monumental, it'd have been on the news already. My guess is they find a button or a buckle or some other piece of crap from a previous explorer. I think that's the thing...a lot of what they find is just from previous excavations...not so much treasure.

Re. the platforms...I've never heard of any proof of the platforms. I also think the stone with the inscription has been lost. There is a hand-drawn recreation, but the stone itself is gone. Also, I read a few theories that the money pit could in fact be a sink hole, and that what people thought were platforms could in fact have just been trees that were sucked into the hole.

Also, the "swamp," thing is a little confusing to me. I think it's man-made because there's a road that is clearly damming up. They make all this fuss about it being clearly man made, etc...well...yeah...If you build an elevated road between a low spot and the shore (which is where it likely drained before), it's going to back up...just look at all the roadside swamps down south caused by highways. I don't think it was made to hide treasure. Also...the reason they can't get it to drain is that they said they can't pump the water into the ocean, they have to pump it "uphill" and into the grass...well, geniuses, it just drains right back into the swamp if you pump it up hill...I love the show, but I think the treasure is a farce.

(But Bigfoot is definitely real...)
Maybe--I'd be pretty stoked if I found coconut fiber from ~1300-1500 though.

I haven't watched ep 4 yet so I haven't seen their drainage struggles yet.

I love this kind of show--a reality version of Lost. Season 1 finale: some kind of manmade object that dates back 1500 +/- 150.

 
I think the elevated portion damming the swamp was made into a road in modern times to access the smaller islet. It seems like older photos from the 50's don't show it.

 
These guys have found more stuff in three episodes than the Hoffman crew has found all season on Gold Rush.
:lmao: :lmao:

Agree...The Hoffmans are idiots. I won't hijack the thread completely, but I went from thinking Dakota Fred was a jerk and the Hoffmans were awesome to thinking the Hoffmans are idiots, and Fred is actually a pretty cool, ingenious guy.

Re. Oak Island...I'm guessing that if they found anything REALLY monumental, it'd have been on the news already. My guess is they find a button or a buckle or some other piece of crap from a previous explorer. I think that's the thing...a lot of what they find is just from previous excavations...not so much treasure.

Re. the platforms...I've never heard of any proof of the platforms. I also think the stone with the inscription has been lost. There is a hand-drawn recreation, but the stone itself is gone. Also, I read a few theories that the money pit could in fact be a sink hole, and that what people thought were platforms could in fact have just been trees that were sucked into the hole.

Also, the "swamp," thing is a little confusing to me. I think it's man-made because there's a road that is clearly damming up. They make all this fuss about it being clearly man made, etc...well...yeah...If you build an elevated road between a low spot and the shore (which is where it likely drained before), it's going to back up...just look at all the roadside swamps down south caused by highways. I don't think it was made to hide treasure. Also...the reason they can't get it to drain is that they said they can't pump the water into the ocean, they have to pump it "uphill" and into the grass...well, geniuses, it just drains right back into the swamp if you pump it up hill...I love the show, but I think the treasure is a farce.

(But Bigfoot is definitely real...)
Maybe--I'd be pretty stoked if I found coconut fiber from ~1300-1500 though.

I haven't watched ep 4 yet so I haven't seen their drainage struggles yet.

I love this kind of show--a reality version of Lost. Season 1 finale: some kind of manmade object that dates back 1500 +/- 150.
Read this on the wiki article

In 1851, treasure hunters discovered fibres beneath the surface of one beach called Smith's Cove. This led to the theory that the beach had been converted into a giant siphon, feeding water from the ocean into the pit via a manmade tunnel.

A sample of this material was sent to the Smithsonian Institution in the early 20th century, where it was concluded that the material was coconut fibre.[36] The origin of these fibres has been a source of heated debate among Oak Island researchers, since coconut trees do not occur naturally in Canada. Carbon dating was conducted on a sample in the 1960s and returned a date of 1200–1400 CE.[36]

However, this testing method reveals only when the material was harvested, not when it was deposited at the site. Furthermore it is now known that carbon dating is less reliable for marine organisms and objects long immersed in seawater, due to the marine reservoir effect. For marine organisms, typically the dated object appears about 450 years older than its true age. This type of correction was first estimated in 1975, although the exact value would have to be determined for the waters in which it was found.[37]
Were these coconut fibers something new they found or the ones found above?

 
rick6668 said:
chet said:
Fat Nick said:
ericttspikes said:
These guys have found more stuff in three episodes than the Hoffman crew has found all season on Gold Rush.
:lmao: :lmao:

Agree...The Hoffmans are idiots. I won't hijack the thread completely, but I went from thinking Dakota Fred was a jerk and the Hoffmans were awesome to thinking the Hoffmans are idiots, and Fred is actually a pretty cool, ingenious guy.

Re. Oak Island...I'm guessing that if they found anything REALLY monumental, it'd have been on the news already. My guess is they find a button or a buckle or some other piece of crap from a previous explorer. I think that's the thing...a lot of what they find is just from previous excavations...not so much treasure.

Re. the platforms...I've never heard of any proof of the platforms. I also think the stone with the inscription has been lost. There is a hand-drawn recreation, but the stone itself is gone. Also, I read a few theories that the money pit could in fact be a sink hole, and that what people thought were platforms could in fact have just been trees that were sucked into the hole.

Also, the "swamp," thing is a little confusing to me. I think it's man-made because there's a road that is clearly damming up. They make all this fuss about it being clearly man made, etc...well...yeah...If you build an elevated road between a low spot and the shore (which is where it likely drained before), it's going to back up...just look at all the roadside swamps down south caused by highways. I don't think it was made to hide treasure. Also...the reason they can't get it to drain is that they said they can't pump the water into the ocean, they have to pump it "uphill" and into the grass...well, geniuses, it just drains right back into the swamp if you pump it up hill...I love the show, but I think the treasure is a farce.

(But Bigfoot is definitely real...)
Maybe--I'd be pretty stoked if I found coconut fiber from ~1300-1500 though.

I haven't watched ep 4 yet so I haven't seen their drainage struggles yet.

I love this kind of show--a reality version of Lost. Season 1 finale: some kind of manmade object that dates back 1500 +/- 150.
Read this on the wiki article

In 1851, treasure hunters discovered fibres beneath the surface of one beach called Smith's Cove. This led to the theory that the beach had been converted into a giant siphon, feeding water from the ocean into the pit via a manmade tunnel.

A sample of this material was sent to the Smithsonian Institution in the early 20th century, where it was concluded that the material was coconut fibre.[36] The origin of these fibres has been a source of heated debate among Oak Island researchers, since coconut trees do not occur naturally in Canada. Carbon dating was conducted on a sample in the 1960s and returned a date of 1200–1400 CE.[36]

However, this testing method reveals only when the material was harvested, not when it was deposited at the site. Furthermore it is now known that carbon dating is less reliable for marine organisms and objects long immersed in seawater, due to the marine reservoir effect. For marine organisms, typically the dated object appears about 450 years older than its true age. This type of correction was first estimated in 1975, although the exact value would have to be determined for the waters in which it was found.[37]
Were these coconut fibers something new they found or the ones found above?
They dug them up in Smith's cove on the show--presumably this past summer. A professor at Acadia University confirmed they were coconut and a different test dated them to 1240-1500 with a 95% confidence interval.

 
Even though the OP did a piss poor job with any links, I would like to thank him for bringing this series to my attention. I have been fascinated with Oak Island for some time, and it looks like this series will finally provide some answers.
My bad Chet, I thought most of modern civilization knew the story of Oak island. Maybe it was just my excitement that made me overlook it. For I as well, have been fascinated with the story for a long time. A simple Google (youtube) of the island will reveal a great deal.

We have talked about this several times before...

Five Mysteries you want answers to

If You could Solve Three Great Mysteries of the World

Unsolved Mysteries

What mystery do you hope is solved

The coconut fiber was big, but I was already expecting that as it had been previously reported. I was never a big believer in the Shakespeare aspect of the story, but with the "tree of life", it is looking better and better. I can't wait to see what they uncover in the next episode. As a previous poster stated, I'm not sure they uncover anything major, as that would have made the news by now. There has to be something there though.

The last guy with the metal detector in the swamp really sealed the deal for me. There IS something down there. Even if it is something stupid, its still mind-blowing to me. I hope these guys discover something big.

I also hope the History Channel doesn't drag this on too long. Season one is only six episodes. I don't want this to be more than 2 seasons worth. Modern technology should confirm or deny the presence of anything underground on Oak Island.

 
I can't wait to see what they uncover in the next episode. As a previous poster stated, I'm not sure they uncover anything major, as that would have made the news by now. There has to be something there though.
Not if everyone involved had to sign a nondisclosure before filming began. There have been cases of archeological discoveries being held back until a show aired or a documentary was released.

 
There are at least 10 previous digs listed on wiki alone, isn't it possible they're just detecting equipment/tools that were left behind by previous excavations?

 
In Park City for what should be an epic weekend of skiing--1-3 feet expected tonight.

Watching episodes for the second time with a friend--his first time through.

I like this a lot.

 
The drama angle of the show annoys the crap out of me. Maybe I'm old school but I wish this was simply just a documentary and not a reality show.

With that said, I love Oak Island and am glued to the show. What I don't understand is why nobody has used high end technology yet to see if there really is 2000 lbs of "something" down the money pit? The same technology the oil companies use. They seem to waste a lot of time and money

 
The drama angle of the show annoys the crap out of me. Maybe I'm old school but I wish this was simply just a documentary and not a reality show.

With that said, I love Oak Island and am glued to the show. What I don't understand is why nobody has used high end technology yet to see if there really is 2000 lbs of "something" down the money pit? The same technology the oil companies use. They seem to waste a lot of time and money
:goodposting: Every word

 
The drama angle of the show annoys the crap out of me. Maybe I'm old school but I wish this was simply just a documentary and not a reality show.

With that said, I love Oak Island and am glued to the show. What I don't understand is why nobody has used high end technology yet to see if there really is 2000 lbs of "something" down the money pit? The same technology the oil companies use. They seem to waste a lot of time and money
:goodposting: Every word
X 2

The paranormal investigator BS was monumentally bad.

 
Season Finale is tonight at 10e/9c. From the previews and title, they actually find something.

My flight got cancelled so I won't be able to watch it live, but I have to say I am very much looking forward to the show.

 
fruity pebbles said:
Lame finale. Show is gonna bait people to watch all the way through.
They lost me last night. Metal detector hits that aren't really there? What happened to the "wall" they were walking on in the swamp? They just happen to find 1 Spanish coin?

Give me a break. :bs:

 
fruity pebbles said:
Lame finale. Show is gonna bait people to watch all the way through.
They lost me last night. Metal detector hits that aren't really there? What happened to the "wall" they were walking on in the swamp? They just happen to find 1 Spanish coin?

Give me a break. :bs:
Me too. Im done. Im feeling another Gold Rush. Just keep stringing along with the next episode being the one. Also....you really need a diver for 2 feet of water.

 
I'd never heard this story. I think it's an East Coast legend. Anyway, it's still not very clear to me what exactly the theory is. There's a huge pit that was explored hundreds of years ago and the explorers set off some water tunnel booby traps and now it's flooded. But why so they think there's something valuable down there? Who do they think dug the pit? I'm still confused by the back story.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
HTF are we supposed to believe that pirates buried and developed this elaborate trap system when we can't even get to the stuff using modern technology?

 
Me too. Im done. Im feeling another Gold Rush. Just keep stringing along with the next episode being the one. Also....you really need a diver for 2 feet of water.
This had me :lmao:

The way the guy would like fall backwards and just flop into the mud to go back down...seriously man. Get a 3' length of hose and you won't need all that gear. Very fishy that the one thing they found was right on the surface and the guy found it from up top...It seems like a metal coin that had REALLY been in the swamp for centuries would've worked it's way much further down. The show was awful, and I'm sad to say I watched every episode. :wall:

 
fruity pebbles said:
Lame finale. Show is gonna bait people to watch all the way through.
They lost me last night. Metal detector hits that aren't really there? What happened to the "wall" they were walking on in the swamp? They just happen to find 1 Spanish coin?

Give me a break. :bs:
Metal detecting hits that disappear are usually rusty items that fall apart when broken up on retrieval. Or a metal wire loop that gets broken. Both of these can give a decent good signal that disappears when you try to retrieve it.

They said he Spanish coin was a copper coin which I found suspicious given its good condition. MetaldetectorGuys know recovered copper coins are usually total crud. I'll grant that maybe something in that swamp kept it from corroding.

 
fruity pebbles said:
Lame finale. Show is gonna bait people to watch all the way through.
They lost me last night. Metal detector hits that aren't really there? What happened to the "wall" they were walking on in the swamp? They just happen to find 1 Spanish coin?

Give me a break. :bs:
Metal detecting hits that disappear are usually rusty items that fall apart when broken up on retrieval. Or a metal wire loop that gets broken. Both of these can give a decent good signal that disappears when you try to retrieve it.

They said he Spanish coin was a copper coin which I found suspicious given its good condition. MetaldetectorGuys know recovered copper coins are usually total crud. I'll grant that maybe something in that swamp kept it from corroding.
How would the metal detecting "experts" not know that? They made it sound like they've never seen anything like that before and the only explanation was some paranormal phenomenon.

 
fruity pebbles said:
Lame finale. Show is gonna bait people to watch all the way through.
They lost me last night. Metal detector hits that aren't really there? What happened to the "wall" they were walking on in the swamp? They just happen to find 1 Spanish coin?

Give me a break. :bs:
Metal detecting hits that disappear are usually rusty items that fall apart when broken up on retrieval. Or a metal wire loop that gets broken. Both of these can give a decent good signal that disappears when you try to retrieve it.

They said he Spanish coin was a copper coin which I found suspicious given its good condition. MetaldetectorGuys know recovered copper coins are usually total crud. I'll grant that maybe something in that swamp kept it from corroding.
How would the metal detecting "experts" not know that? They made it sound like they've never seen anything like that before and the only explanation was some paranormal phenomenon.
I don't know why they didn't express some doubt, perhaps they edited the doubt out to make for better TV. I think most people who metal detect, and have dug up tons of bad targets that initially sounded good would have given about a 1 in 50 or 1 in 100 chance that the swamp target would turn out to be something good. Could have easily been an old corroded tin can top or discarded trappers wire or loop of metal from a lobster trap that washed in from the ocean during a storm.

 
fruity pebbles said:
Lame finale. Show is gonna bait people to watch all the way through
This is how I feel as well. I'm still intrigued by the island, but this show only had about 15 interesting minutes in the entire season. The "cast" is beyond boring too. I can't even root for them at this point.

 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top