It was only in 1886 that the shocking message that was engraved on the stone was decoded. It was all thanks to a professor from Halifax. It read, “forty feet below, two million pounds lie buried.” No one had a clue what was meant by “pounds,” but you do have to admit that it sounds ominous.
Or maybe it wasn’t? Maybe this meant that there was a treasure lying beneath, just waiting to be discovered?
A Strange Revelation
In 1796, another young boy discovered a strange depression on the ground of Oak Island. Eight years later, the Onslow Company launched a team to search the area. Why it took them so long to start the search, we will never know, still, better late than never.
After locating the strange markings, the explorers dug deep until they hit something solid. They found a buried stone tablet with an odd inscription.
The Inscription
After finding the stone with the inscription, there was only one thing left to do, try and decipher what was on it, of course! Experts set to work, attempting to interpret and understand the transcription. There was just one problem, they just couldn't. They most likely just didn't have the tools and knowledge to do so.
It wouldn't be until almost 100 years later, 90, to be exact, that the transcription would finally be translated.
Was the Treasure Shakespeare's?
But wait, let's talk about the treasure's origins first. Plenty of theories have surfaced. Some people, oddly, traced the source of the treasure back to William Shakespeare. Many of those who doubt the bard was real, believe his literary works were actually written by Francis Bacon. So some treasure hunters hypothesized that Bacon may have built a pit to bury his manuscripts and his earnings.
While this theory is attractive, today it is already widely believed that Shakespeare was, well, himself and not Francis Bacon or anyone else for that matter.
Marie Antoinette's Island
Another theory suggests that the hidden treasure of Oak Island actually belongs to one infamous royal lady - Marie Antoinette. The story goes that Marie sent her maid all the way to Nova Scotia in order to hide her wealth and her jewelry on the island. Rumor has it that even the French Navy was involved in the oppression but it was never confirmed.
One fact that supports this theory though, is that when Marie was arrested at Varennes, there were no pieces of jewelry or gold on her.