Researchers say a major discovery strongly suggests ancient Roman mariners were in Nova Scotia, Canada in second century AD or earlier — long before Columbus.

 Photo Courtesy of Ancient Artifact Preservation Society

In an upcoming peer-reviewd white paper, supported by academics from the Ancient Artifact Preservation Society (AAPS) presents a body of evidence and new discoveries.

The findings include:

• An ancient tumulus
• Roman styled stone ramps, and a shipwreck
• Roman artifacts such as ceremonial sword
• Roman coins
• Legionnaire whistles, and shield boss
• Unique local DNA makers botanical evidence
• Linguistic evidence
• Stone symbols

Th reserachers conclude that ancient mariners visited North America long before Columbus.

The study centers around the mysterious Oak Island, the site of a 220 year old on-going treasure hunt and the subject of the History Channel’s reality television series The Curse of Oak Island.

“The evidence here suggest that the ancient Romans not only visited Oak Island on a specific mission, but may have had an outpost on the island. What is unfolding here, could make Nova Scotia as significant a historical destination as Stonehenge,” said lead researcher, Hutton Pulitzer.

The peer-reviewed report will be published in 2016.

“This White Paper should engage and enliven the discussion and research into the ancient mariners in the America debate,” Pulitzer added. “However, it should also set a new forensic and technology standard for proving up ancient mariners in America claims and possibly force the reexamination of countless supporting artifacts found in the Americas.”