Having just watched the season 9 episode 19 of The Curse of Oak Island, I’d like to share with you some of my thoughts on the episode. The episode covers the history of the Knights Templar, a possible flood tunnel system on Oak Island, and a speculative theory as to how they might have been involved with the island.
A history of the Knights Templar
Templars were warrior monks who were part of the Crusader armies. They were renowned for their bravery in battle. They also were very wealthy. They earned their revenues by transporting material to the Holy Land. Their profits were used to support charitable deeds across the West.
The Knights Templar were founded after the First Crusade (1096-1099). They were an order of devout Christians, who combined martial prowess with monastic life. They served as a protector of Christian holy sites in the Middle East. They also developed an extensive banking system. They had a network of properties stretching from Britain to Syria.
They were first recognized by the Pope in 1129. They benefited from tribute from cities conquered in the Levant, as well as from the land controlled by their own castles. The Templars also created subsidiary centres in most states of western Europe. They had their own cash reserves and paid out fixed sums to account holders.
The Templars were accused of a number of forbidden practices. Some of the charges included blasphemy, sodomy, and denying that Christ was God. The order also denied that Christ was slain on the cross. It was also said that initiation into the Templar brotherhood involved trampling on a crucifix.
The Templars were attacked by French king Philip IV in 1307. In 1314, they were burned at Jacques de Molay. The French king wanted to destroy the order, and Pope Clement V abetted the king. The Pope issued the Omne Datum Optimum, which made the knights accountable to the Pope.
Templars also benefited from tribute from other weaker states in the Levant. They were allowed to own ships, which transported materials to the East. They also received burial rights from local churches, which provided a lucrative sideline. They also received money from pilgrims who deposited their money at their Commanderie.
The order also had a number of non-military personnel. They included craftsmen, labourers, and non-knights. They also had a hierarchy based on social status and family backgrounds. In addition to their military equipment, they also used squires, baggage carriers, and other soldiers.
A speculative theory about how they might have been involved with Oak Island
Throughout the years, Oak Island has been the subject of dozens of theories and speculations. These include the possibility that the island contains the Holy Grail, a pirate ship, or even a lost city.
The Money Pit theory claims that Marie Antoinette’s jewels were hidden in the pit. Others believe that the Ark of the Covenant, a mythical treasure buried by Mesoamericans, could also be hidden on the island. Some even believe that the island could be home to the crown jewels of France.
Other theories include the Knights Templar, who were a Christian sect active in Europe during the Middle Ages. Their treasures may have been hidden in Oak Island, which is said to be cursed.
The Curse of Oak Island is a television series starring Rick Lagina, a Canadian who lives in New York City and has been searching for the island’s treasure for years. Marty and Alex remain skeptical about the possibility of finding a treasure chest. The series has featured a skeleton and a 16th or 17th century pick axe.
In the fourth season of the show, the team was confronted with tantalizing evidence. For instance, they discovered a corner plate from a Spanish galleon. They also discovered a button from a late 1700s British uniform.
Another theory involves Captain Kidd, a pirate who buried a treasure on the island. He was known for claiming that he and Satan were the only people who could find the treasure.
A fourth season of the show ended with an expert’s opinion about the possibility of finding the treasure. One of the theories posited by the experts was that the pirate ship may have been buried in quicksand on Oak Island. This would make the treasure a precarious situation.
Another theory is that the sunken ship was a secret ammo dump. Several companies have dug on the island in recent decades. One company, the Onslow Company, dug down dozens of feet. However, water flooded into the subterranean layers.
In December 2003, Dan Blankenship promised to reveal more findings. However, he never did. This led to a court-appointed liquidator concluding that the treasure was not worth what was being offered for sale. The fate of the island is now up to the buyer.
Carbon dated bone fragments on Oak Island
During an excavation at H-8, a human bone fragment is discovered. A spike is recovered as well. This discovery comes as no surprise. In fact, this is the latest in a long line of artifacts to be found on Oak Island.
Other discoveries include a small rectangular depression on Lot 26 and a sharpened piece of wood. These are all signs that ancient settlers were here.
A few hundred years later, a French noble family known as the Rochefoucaulds arrived. They were the first to build a home on the island and were a big influence on its inhabitants. Later in 1804 boring operations on the island recovered three links from an old watch chain.
Another item that caught the eye of the COOI team was the Inscribed Stone, a large boulder shaped like a cross. It’s overall dimensions are 360′ wide and 867′ tall.
Aside from the Inscribed Stone, there have been other noteworthy discoveries on Oak Island. Several thin brass artifacts have been found.
Another noteworthy discovery is a small cofferdam or temporary pond made of inflatable bladders. It’s laid in Smith’s Cove.
Aside from being a temporary pond, this cofferdam also holds a surprising amount of artifacts. In fact, it contains the most intriguing of the items found in the coffer.
An intriguing rumor has also been circulating that a submerged wreck is lurking near the island. This is a hypothesis that has been floated by side-scan sonar experts.
It’s also been suggested that an Ark of the Covenant may have been located on the island. This theory has been backed by DNA sequencing. One possible candidate is the Knights Templar. Another is that the Holy Grail is buried on the island.
While no one can say for sure what happened on Oak Island, the discoveries are intriguing. Many of them have led to nowhere. The Curse of Oak Island has been a source of excitement for the searchers for decades. However, the main prize has yet to be discovered.
Among the other items uncovered are broken china artifacts and ivory artifacts. These have been analyzed and tested for origin. However, the most interesting discovery is probably a Middle Eastern bone fragment that dates back to the 1680s. This is a particularly interesting find since it could be an indication of hidden treasure on Oak Island.
A flood tunnel system on Oak Island
Among the many mysteries of Oak Island, there is one that has puzzled many: the existence of a flood tunnel system. This system has been rumored to protect the island’s most prized treasure. This is a mystery that has spawned a number of investigations and searches.
In the 19th century, military engineers thought that flood tunnels could be dug beneath the island. They hoped to build a secret ammo dump or dry dock, and would be able to access the island’s most prized treasure. However, no such tunnels were ever discovered.
This is one of the mysteries of Oak Island that has spawned a number or searches and investigations. Some speculate that the island was home to the Holy Grail, and that the system that floods the pit is its protection. Others argue that the structures found on the island were built hundreds of years ago.
The eastern bedrock of Oak Island is limestone and gypsum. These rocks tend to erode and form natural tunnels. However, there is no way to know if the tunnels were dug by human or natural means.
It is also thought that the structures on the island were built by the Micmac people, who lived in the area before Europeans arrived. These people built structures that are remarkably similar to those found on the island. Some of these structures may have been built by Vikings that visited the New World.
Another mystery involves the fact that the island’s sea levels were much lower when it was an island. At this time, sea levels around Nova Scotia were 1.5 meters lower than they are today. This would have made it difficult to float a ship in a triangular swamp.
The claim that the island’s flood tunnel system is real is based on a 19th-century assumption, and a lack of direct observation. However, the fact that the eastern bedrock is limestone and gypsum suggests that the tunnels could have been dug by soft rocks that erode in groundwater. This would require a lot of resources to dig.
The only way to prove the existence of a flood tunnel system on Oak Island is to find one. However, it would take many resources and a lot of tunneling experience to dig one.