An Integrated Hydraulic Well and Drain System Supporting an Early Shipyard Environment Oak Island, Nova Scotia

Abstract This paper presents a unified hydraulic interpretation of Oak Island, Nova Scotia, proposing that its engineered drains, wells, and inland basin functioned collectively as a water-management system designed to support an early maritime shipyard. The system includes shoreline finger drains, subsurface filtration structures, a deep hydraulic well complex, and controlled outflow toward the island’s central swamp. This configuration is consistent with known early-modern shipyard engineering practices, where maintaining buoyancy, water depth, and controlled flow was essential for ship repair and servicing. The hydraulic behavior documented during modern excavations—including extreme flow rates and rapid refilling—supports the conclusion that Oak Island was engineered as a water-storage and distribution system rather than a defensive or obstructive mechanism.