Based on recent research, it is believed that fishing fleets from Scandinavia, Ireland, England had reached the fishing waters off Nova Scotia as early as the 800's, long before Columbus sailed. These fisherman sailed their fishing cogs along a route skirting Iceland and Greenland to N. America using routes originated by Vikings. Is it not possible that they then set up fishing outposts on the coasts to overwinter and also to process their catch? Possibly this is what is being found on Oak Island, and would be consistent with discoveries of 500 year old artifacts and construction ( but so far not a single piece of treasure). Why has this contact with the New World not been reported? It is because the fishermen wanted to keep the knowledge of these rich fishing banks to themselves without government influence ( and taxes). Slipways, attempts to modify beaches and the construction of structures related to fish processing camps would explain most if not all of what has been found so far.