# What are the stone and timber structures at Smith's Cove? · Oak Island money pit > Four answers have been proposed. The structures are wharves, slipways and coffer dams left by nineteenth- and twentieth-century searchers and… leads… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/oak-island/questions/QST0D52X3KR6V71/what-are-the-stone-and-timber-structures-at-smiths-cove Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:19+00:00 --- **0** # What are the stone and timber structures at Smith's Cove? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [Are the "flood tunnels" man-made?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/oak-island/questions/QST0D52X3443MBJ/are-the-flood-tunnels-man-made)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the structures are wharves, slipways and coffer dams left by nineteenth- and twentieth-century searchers and…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. The structures are wharves, slipways and coffer dams left by nineteenth- and twentieth-century searchers and… leads, with evidence 1 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters The cove's "finger drains", coconut-fibre layer and the timber structures exposed since 2017 are the only features on the island with a physical form that could be surveyed and dated⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D52WRW07XRG/oak-island-mystery)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D52WS3T0R69/the-curse-of-oak-island). ## Answers 4 [**The structures are wharves, slipways and coffer dams left by nineteenth- and twentieth-century searchers and…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/oak-island/answers/ANS0D52XEKA43SN/the-structures-are-wharves-slipways-and-coffer-dams-left-by) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/oak-island/answers/ANS0D52XFAR04VE/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The drains are the intake of an engineered flood system built before 1795.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/oak-island/answers/ANS0D52XDC87X7Q/the-drains-are-the-intake-of-an-engineered-flood-system) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed [**The drains are the remains of an early salt works or similar shore industry.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/oak-island/answers/ANS0D52XE3P6GGW/the-drains-are-the-remains-of-an-early-salt-works-or-similar) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible ## History 1. 1862[McCully puts forward: the drains are the intake of an engineered flood system built before 1795.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D52WP62302N/the-oak-island-diggings) 1. 2006[Joltes puts forward: the structures are wharves, slipways and coffer dams left by nineteenth- and twentieth-century searchers and…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D52WPXG04KS/history-hoax-and-hype-the-oak-island-legend) 1. 2014[Prometheus Entertainment / History (A+E Networks): television has reported timber dates for the 'slipway' in the 1700s.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D52WS3T0R69/the-curse-of-oak-island)Against: The structures are wharves, slipways and coffer dams left by nineteenth- and twentieth-century searchers and… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/oak-island/questions/QST0D52X3KR6V71/what-are-the-stone-and-timber-structures-at-smiths-cove%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/oak-island/questions/QST0D52X3KR6V71/what-are-the-stone-and-timber-structures-at-smiths-cove%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/oak-island/questions/QST0D52X3KR6V71/what-are-the-stone-and-timber-structures-at-smiths-cove%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/oak-island/questions/QST0D52X3KR6V71/what-are-the-stone-and-timber-structures-at-smiths-cove%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/oak-island/questions/QST0D52X3KR6V71/what-are-the-stone-and-timber-structures-at-smiths-cove%23add-source) Where it fits Oak Island money pit [**Are the "flood tunnels" man-made?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/oak-island/questions/QST0D52X3443MBJ/are-the-flood-tunnels-man-made)Key question · most likely the pit floods because it is dug below sea level into permeable, cavernous rock; no tunnel exists **What are the stone and timber structures at Smith's Cove?** You're here · the structures are wharves, slipways and coffer dams left by nineteenth- and twentieth-century searchers and… [ Ask a question under this one ]