The Missing Sanitation Feature of Oak Island: Reinterpreting the "Hatch" as a 17th-Century Latrine System Jerald Lee Harrah Jr.

Abstract For over two centuries, Oak Island has been interpreted primarily through the lens of treasure recovery, often at the expense of basic functional archaeology. This paper proposes a practical reinterpretation of the so-called “hatch” feature identified near the boundary of Lots 4 and 22, adjacent to Lots 5 and 25. Rather than a concealed access point to a vault or treasure system, the feature is best understood as a 17th-century latrine or septic pit. This explanation resolves longstanding inconsistencies in translation, geography, depth, and purpose, while aligning with known military and colonial sanitation practices of the period.