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Money Pit Nine Levels of Questions Interview: David Neisen

Ghosts of Bacon Podcast
Ghosts of Bacon Podcast

Welcome to The Oak Island Compendium’s “MONEY PIT NINE LEVELS OF QUESTIONS INTERVIEW” with David Neisen.  David is an Oak Island Researcher, Writer, and Theorist that has written books regarding the botanical side of the Oak Island Mystery. David has agreed to talk with the Compendium and provide some of the insight he has learned from his research.  And without further ado, here is David:

 

1.  How did you become involved in researching the Oak Island Mystery?

 

Unlike many authors and researchers, I became aware of the Oak Island Mystery through introduction to the Cable TV show, Curse of Oak Island.”  I was spending Sundays with a good friend and retired co-worker from the Intel Community, where we watched various media productions on various mysteries, and that show became a staple of our couch potato fascination and amateur sleuthing.  Sometime around Season Five, I took up the Rick Lagina challenge to investigate some of the myriads of oddities which made up this enigmatic story.  Initially, this weekend inquiry was nothing more than a competition between us but became a documentable endeavor when we chose the Oak Island moniker (oak trees) as the topic to solve.

 

2.  How and when did you become interested in Botany, with the concentration on trees?

 

Botany had never been of interest to me, prior to watching the series “Curse of Oak Island.”  Season Six is when I moved from sleuthing from my couch to engaging arborists, botanists and horticulturist, some as far away as Australia.  I had no knowledge with which to form a bias or assumptions, so it was learning - beginning with the tree taxonomic basics.  But I did have a Northern Red Oak on my property and dozens of Live Oak trees, so I was confident those old, lanky canopied trees once pictured on Oak Island were not oaks.


Amazon
Amazon

3.  In 2022, you co-wrote the book “Oak Island Mystery Trees and other Forensic Answers” with Robert Cook & Christopher Boze. What were some of the findings?

 

The twin volumes published in 2022, which includes the “ …Compendium,” Vol. II, were investigations answering nineteen specific questions outlined in the Introduction and listed below.*  Both Robert Cook & Christopher Boze were researchers who had their own “Oak Island” related topics to expose and they authored separate but related chapters in the book. 

 

Chiefly, these volumes document the examination of evidence of both native and foreign tree species to determine the true namesake of the island.  The European Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) was the species identified as those taller trees seen on the eastern drumlin of Oak Island; and further, we postulate the source from where those trees originated (Raasay Isle, Scotland Hebrides). Most of the nineteen questions are related to this determination. 

In addition, we examined the Money Pit and the commentary regarding “oak log platforms,” where we employed soil scientists and a mycologist.  Using exacting lab settings, the rate of rot of those oak log platforms, as described in the Oak Island commentary, allowed the creation of a timetable based on loss of mass, which could be used to create a timeline as to when the Money Pit was refilled.

 

Other than examining the oddity of the foreign plant - red clover, described as covering the depression which would mark the location of the Money Pit and which will come back as an important topic in future Oak Island conversations, the book discusses other terrestrial questions of a logistical and quantitative nature.

 

Most importantly for our current conversation, the books also began an arduous research and examination of the Oak Island mystery fiber – believed to be coconut fiber (coir).  It is this artifact, the largest at 1.54 metric tons, which proves the existence of manmade underground constructs by ancient voyagers, as coined by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in 1996; and not just natural formations.  Much of these published findings disprove popular myths, misconceptions and misunderstandings about where coconuts or coir fiber could have come from, or how it got to Oak Island, and what it was used for during the age of sail.  Yet because no answers were found for the original questions posed… #15)  How did coconut fiber get to Oak Island?  #16)  What does the testing of those coconut fibers from Oak Island tell about their true source and impact on the treasure story?  And, #19)  Using the forensic analysis from this research, can it be postulated When, How, and Who was involved in the Oak Island Saga -and will this lead us to a What?  This led to further research and examination for publications Volumes III and IV, for answers.

 

4.  For people that say, “You’re not an expert in Botany, why should we believe your results?”  What would you like to tell those individuals?

 

Not only am I not an expert in botany, archaeobotany, paleoethnobotany, micro & macro botany, papyrology, micromorphology or even plant physiology, I have a very hard time even spelling those titles!  But my research compiles the professional findings from more than 45 hard science fields and the scientists of those disciplines are listed by name in Volume III, under Acknowledgement, p. 15.  It is their examinations, findings, peer-reviewed publications and expertise that I have gathered, compiled and run through the Forensic Scientific Method modality (also published in Vol. III, App. A); to provide a cogent, verifiable and heavily-cited publication of findings.  Furthermore, I have personally communicated with more than 52 of these experts and sent them a 60-page Survey (titled Oak Island Mystery Fibers) that provided the entire historicity regarding the Oak Island mystery fiber issue and seeking their professional opinion.  Finally, the publications of all Volumes (excluding Vol. I) not only cite sources, but give links to most of those sources, so the reader can be least encumbered to verify and validate for themselves, said findings.


Amazon
Amazon

5.  This year, 2025, you have come out with another book entitled, “Templar Knights on Oak Island:  Missing Lacuna Found,” please tell our readers what you discovered?

 

Since Volume III “- Fibrosity,” published in 2024, was more than 500 pages and priced at above what I could afford, the findings were not making it out into the real world.  Therefore, a brief presentation or ‘Cliff-Notes’ version of Volume III’s findings, with additional historical documentation - at sale for a minimal price, was published as Volume IV.  This publication limits the length of discussion to the crux of the proof that the fiber excavated on Oak Island by searchers was not fiber from Cocos nucifera (the coconut tree).  This refers to no ‘lacuna’ being found within the Oak Island fibers’ microstructure, a crucial botanical element to being identified as coconut fiber.  Furthermore, by scientific means, it has been identified as mesh/sheath leaf/trunk fiber from Phoenix dactylifera (the date palm tree).  This is a critical puzzle piece linking the Oak Island fiber historically to the Order of the Knights Templar during the first Crusade in the Holy Land.


Amazon
Amazon

6.  Can you give us some more details about your theory regarding the Knights Templar on Oak Island?  

 

The evidence shows a provable nexus between Knights Templar agribusiness in Jericho growing sugarcane under plantation canopies of Judean Date Palms during the period of 1116-1187AD, while the radiocarbon dating of the Oak Island mystery fiber was 1185-1330AD.  The Judean Date Palm, which grew exclusively in the Jericho area, extirpated no later than 1330AD and went extinct by 1442AD; indicating no one had access to the volume of trees to harvest the amount of fiber found in Oak Island, other than the Knights Templar.  Furthermore, the Judean Date Palm was a highly revered tree in biblical times, as noted by being a significant decoration inside Solomons’ Temple, including filigree as fiber on the engravings representing the palm fiber, as attested to in the Bible.  There is ample historical and archaeological evidence of the date palms deification in the region as far back as pre-dynastic Egypt and Neo-Assyrian culture, and is revered in Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Hindu religions.  If, as many historians and researchers claim, Templars were searching to establish a New Jerusalem in a new location, the fiber from the Judean Date Palm would be the only symbolic artifact they had access to, other than what they may have taken from under the Temple Mount during their searches, upon their arrival in the Holy Land.  So, does the fiber, found at the entrances to two of three entry points to the underground manmade constructs, symbolize the sanctity and reverence of what is or was below?  Does the spreading of bulk date palm fiber, like goats blood on the doorposts of Jew’s homes prior to the Angel of Death, or like the mezuzah today – marking the doorposts for gods blessing - continue to symbolize a Solomonic presentation?  Yes it does.

7.  What time period do you believe they would have been there and why would they have done any work on the island in your opinion?

 

This is a very difficult question to answer based on the forensic evidence currently culled.  Oak Island has revealed few clues but many radiocarbon datings, which indicate this was not a “One-and-Done” visitation by the Templars, and/or agencies working on their behalf (Freemasons).  We do, however, provide the reader of these Volumes, two specific dates or milestones with which to frame the chronology of Templar activity on Oak Island.

 

1).  Though we have pinned the extirpation and extinction dates of the Judean Date Palm tree stated above, actual crusader and chronicler comments in the Holy Land at that time (listed in Volume IV p. 58), say the palm was disappearing within its only growing area as early as 1210-1240AD, when Jacques de Vitry, writes “The trees are now very rare in the Land of Israel, being found, in number, in Zoar and Jericho only and the fruit is exported, as it always was.”  And in 1280AD, Burchard of Mt. Zion, notes “some date palms at Ginossar (Jordan River area) & Ein Gedi.”  This indicates Templars were limited to ‘’when’ they could have harvested the palm fiber.  Our fiber calculations indicate it would have taken 1,231 date palms to cull the amount of fiber found and excavated on Oak Island (Vol. III, p.39).

 

2).  The date palm fiber was found on the 6th oak platform within the Money Pit, with every platform having been refilled with soil.  Therefore, the palm fiber was placed where it was as the pit was being closed, not opened.  This is the same at Smith’s Cove.  Our mycologist determined (Vol. I, p.231) based on moisture, oxygen and fungus growth, that a 7.5” diameter oak log with bark, at 30’ depth in a pit of that clayey soil matrix, would take 420 years of decomposition to reach only 30% of log mass remaining.  At which time the weight atop the log could problematically cause it to fail and collapse.  Therefore, assuming 1795 was the year the first 3 platforms were excavated, the date of the refilling of the pit was a bit earlier than 1375AD

 

With these two milestones we can deduce the Judean Date Palm fiber was harvested before 1210AD and was placed within the Money Pit prior to 1375AD.  That is a significant spread of time (165 years).  So the fiber was likely stored along with whatever religious relics were removed and was likely moved from one temporary location to another, until it reached the New World where a New Jerusalem could be established.  Many researchers, writers and authors claim to have a date when Templars or Freemasons deposited or removed buried items, and some of those dates are around the 1375AD milestone; whereas wood radiocarbon dating artifacts and swamp manipulation, are closer to the 1210AD milestone.  That is as far as my research has taken to answering this question.

 

Oak Island Treasure Website
Oak Island Treasure Website

8.  What exactly do you believe happened at Smith’s Cove?   Do you believe it’s possible that there was a Tidal Mill there at one point for lumbering?

 

Volumes II & III extensively look at the functional or utilitarian uses of either coconut or date palm fiber.  Theories of salt extraction, desalinization, freshwater or wastewater filtration, flood tunnel usage, erosion control, fish weir, aboiteau function, caulking & careening or rigging operations were just some examined to explain the underground catchment and tunnel entrance construct at Smith’s Cove.  When factoring what was found (only bulk fiber), where it was found, and comparison with other locations, the theory embraced in Volume III & IV is that it was simply used as a symbolic sanctified marking to underground constructs – by the Knights Templar. See #6 above.

 

Tidal mill operations would make much more sense on the western drumlin, as records do show a lumber mill was erected and logs floated to the site for milling.  Since the distance between coast and island was narrow there, and the water depth was a few meters at the most, logging, especially from the mainland would be logically hosted on the western end, but problematic on the eastern end where Smith’s Cove is located and exposed to the open bay.

 

Finally, the island radiocarbon tested unearthed eelgrass excavated from Smith’s Cove during CoOI Season 03/Episode 11.  It radiocarbon dated to 1560 (1470-1650AD).  This confused and frustrated the Fellowship as, if the eelgrass found was from that original filtration system, how could it date so much later than the palm fiber found on top of it?  Science now has an answer.  Bluecarbon sequestration; which is the taking up of ocean carbon into marine plants - would abnormally add carbon to the plant matrix.  And so, when radiocarbon dated, the level of carbon would skew the age dating as the fiber had more carbon than the calibration was calculated, prior to factoring in this newly expressed natural phenomena.  If they have the specimen still, it may be of interest to see it retested.

 

9.  Is the Oak Island team aware of your research and findings? If not, what would you like them to know?

 

Yes.  I have sent the Fellowship multiple copies of all published works, to include the Survey (Oak Island Mystery Fibers) as well as “Templar Knights on Oak Island: Missing Lacuna found,” Volume IV.  Due to restrictions by several NDA’s, I will leave this as my answer.  I am, however, very excited to watch the upcoming thirteenth season of Curse of Oak Island!

 

10.  Are you currently working on any new research on Oak Island? Do you have any plans for any future books?

 

Other than tidying up future performance of some laboratory testing of palm fiber, my interest in Oak Island turns to examining the role of Sir Francis Bacon, a.k.a. Samuel de Champlain, through the messages left in botanical imagery.  I do plan to take the vast amount of research collected in reference to the deification of the date palm, throughout history, and tell its story from the beginning, to when the Knights Templar placed it on Oak Island, and a detailed - why.


11.  What would you like our readers to know about your research that you haven’t discussed so far?

 

First and foremost, the message should be clear that if I can find such historical connections between such enigmatic stories, without a degree in a related field, so can the person sitting on the couch, watching and wondering.  The climb into the researchers’ seat is not that daunting, yet the ride is exhilarating and addictive.  But remember one important rule that I had to learn the hard way as I started out – document your sources and have several sources for every word you put to paper.  If historical topics are your interest, use the Forensic Scientific Methodology to verify and validate your findings.  Make your presentation to the world bullet-proof; for it will always define you.  And remember the dictum… “All truth passes through three stages.  First, it is ridiculed.  Second, it is violently opposed.  Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”  Finally - keep your day job.

 

The Oak Island Compendium would like to thank David for participating in our interview and providing his comprehensive answers to our questions. You can access David’s books on Amazon, where they can be purchased at the following links.





 We hope you enjoyed our interview with David. Season 13 of “The Curse of Oak Island” begins November 4, 2025, in the United States. The Compendium will continue to provide weekly analyses of the episodes starting on November 5th. Please watch for the anticipated Addendum to the “THE MYSTERY OF NOLAN’S CROSS: PLURA LATENT, QUAM PATENT: MORE IS HIDDEN THAN REVEALED”, Coming Soon.


Good day from the Compendium!


Daniel and Charlotte

 

The Oak Island Compendium © 2025

 
 
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