About This Artifact
A small cylindrical metal object, approximately one quarter inch in diameter and three quarters of an inch long, recovered during the deepening of Borehole 10 in the Money Pit area. The hole had been drilled to 167 feet by contractor W. Bowmaster on 29 October 1969, after which Warnock Hersey International Limited advanced it at Dan Blankenship's request and cored the anhydrite bedrock from 237.5 to 242.5 feet on 1 and 2 November 1969. The object was ejected along with the anhydrite core when the corebarrel was emptied. The drilling log records its position as either at the top of the core or at 197.5 feet depth, and states that there was no indication whether it formed part of the corebarrel or other Warnock Hersey drilling equipment, while allowing that it may be. The log notes that the object passed into Dan Blankenship's possession. No metallurgical analysis of the piece appears in the published record, and the log leaves both readings open: equipment debris, or an object from the ground.
Historical Context
Sources: Warnock Hersey International Limited, borehole log for Borehole 10, Oak Island Investigation (client Carr, Donald & Associates), date of boring November 1-2, 1969, log continuation page covering 237.5-242.5 ft; transmitted with the Warnock Hersey letter of November 5, 1969 (Boreholes 8, 9 and 10). In: Warnock Hersey Report Oak Island 1969 compilation.
Where It Was Found
Found at Borehole 10, Money Pit area; ejected with anhydrite core, top of core or 197.5 ft per log — the original 1795 excavation shaft on Oak Island, Nova Scotia.
