About This Material
The putty layer was found at approximately fifty feet below the surface of the Money Pit by the Onslow Company during their 1803-1804 excavation. The material was ship's putty, a maritime sealant made from chalk mixed with linseed oil, commonly used to caulk the seams of wooden vessels. It had been spread in a thick, continuous layer across a timber platform, covering the full diameter of the shaft.
The quantity was substantial. Fanthorpe records that so much putty was found on this single platform that it was used to glaze the windows of more than twenty local houses. This volume ruled out any natural explanation for its presence; ship's putty does not occur underground, and the amount recovered was consistent with deliberate placement rather than incidental debris. The putty appeared alongside layers of coconut fibre and charcoal at similar depths, forming part of a series of sealing barriers between the oak platforms that lined the shaft at ten-foot intervals.
The use of a specialised maritime material deep within a land-based shaft indicates the original builders had direct experience with ocean-going vessels and access to ship's stores. Putty of this type requires both raw materials (chalk and linseed oil) and knowledge of how to prepare and apply it as a waterproof seal, skills associated with professional shipwrights rather than casual labourers.
Historical Context
Onslow Company
Where It Was Found
Found at Money Pit, 50 ft depth — the original 1795 excavation shaft on Oak Island, Nova Scotia.
