OSINT is like Oak Island
The OSINT Analyst's Compass: Hunting for Hidden Information.
We often picture dusty maps, X's, and a chest of gold. But for me, the true prize isn't the gold itself—it's the human story buried beneath the earth.
This post isn't about finding wealth; it's about the historical and investigative process that transforms a shiny object into an unforgettable chapter of history.
- The Treasure's Provenance (OSINT Target): Who previously possessed the treasure? Where did the treasure come from? How much treasure was there?
- The Hiding Event (OSINT Methodology): Who is responsible for hiding the treasure? What clues were left to help locate the treasure?
- The Investigation (OSINT Tools): Were there secret codes, ciphers or steganography involved? Has any part of the treasure ever been discovered?
As I learn the answers to these questions, my mind begins to create the events, using my imagination, along with the facts which have been obtained. It's not only the lost treasure that I find fascinating, but the history surrounding the treasure.
I find "The Curse of Oak Island" compelling not for the money pit, but for the show’s dedicated process of historical validation—sifting through ancient deeds, maps, and even oral histories. It’s a masterclass in relentless historical investigation.
This structured curiosity is precisely why I believe working as an Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Analyst is the modern equivalent of the great treasure hunt. In both fields, the process is the same: gathering essential, often incomplete public information to solve a deep-seated mystery. Here is how the worlds align:
| Treasure Hunting | OSINT Analysis |
| The Lost Treasure | The Target Information (The Goal) |
| Old Maps & Legends | Public Records, Archives, & Data Sets |
| The Clues/Ciphers | Metadata, Timelines, & Geo-location |
| Past Expeditions/Records | Prior Investigations, Reports, & Research |
| The Final Discovery | The Final Report/Answer to the Scope |
The Unlikely Landowner: Samuel Ball
Samuel Ball, a formerly enslaved person, came to own nine lots on Oak Island, making him the island's biggest landowner for a time. For more than 150 years, there have been rumors that the young men who discovered the Money Pit, along with Ball, actually found treasure there, which would explain their apparent sudden wealth in the early 1800s.
This is the essence of OSINT—the pursuit of hidden human context that shifts the entire narrative. Whether you're holding a faded map or staring at an open browser window, the true excitement of the search is the same: the thrilling process of connecting dots across time to reveal a story that would otherwise be lost forever.
What is your favorite historical mystery that you would love to solve with the tools of OSINT? Share your thoughts with me via email