Major Excavation Leads to More Mysteries (Season 12) | The Curse of Oak Island
The Oak Island treasure hunt has taken another dramatic turn as the Lagina brothers and their dedicated team have unearthed what appears to be a hand-hewn wooden tunnel nearly 100 feet underground in the Money Pit area. This unexpected discovery has sparked renewed hope that the team may be closing in on one of history’s greatest hidden treasures.
A Tunnel to the Past?
While excavating their AC-1 shaft, team members, including veteran metal detectorist Gary Drayton and geologist Terry Matheson, encountered a series of old timbers with no iron fasteners—suggesting an early construction, possibly pre-dating known searcher tunnels. “This looks like an older structure,” said Drayton, examining the wood. “It could be really old.”
The discovery raises two key questions: Is this merely a structure built by previous searchers, or does it date back to those who originally buried treasure in the Money Pit? The lack of metal fasteners points to early engineering, possibly from the 1600s or 1700s, leading the team to speculate whether it could be connected to a long-lost hoard of wealth.
An Ancient Artifact Surfaces
As the team sifted through spoils from the dig site, a striking find emerged—a large iron spike. According to Drayton, the artifact could date as far back as the 1600s and may have once been part of a chest or wooden structure. “That’s bloody gorgeous,” he exclaimed upon examining the spike. “This is your typical 1600s spike. I’ve found a lot of these in Europe.”
The find was later analyzed by expert Emma Culligan, who confirmed that the ironwork was hand-forged with high phosphorus and sulfur content, indicating an English origin. She estimated the artifact to date back to at least the mid-1700s, possibly earlier. This discovery has fueled speculation that the tunnel and its contents may be linked to the legend of Sir William Phips.
The Phips Connection
Sir William Phips, an English sea captain, famously salvaged treasure from the wreck of the Spanish galleon Concepción in the late 1600s. Some historians believe that he may have hidden a portion of his recovered riches on Oak Island. A newly uncovered 1688 letter suggests that Captain Andrew Belcher, a high-ranking Freemason and associate of Phips, was in Mahone Bay at the same time Phips returned from his treasure expedition. This has led some to theorize that Phips and Belcher may have concealed stolen treasure on the island.
“If this spike truly dates back to the 1600s, then it fits the Phips theory perfectly,” said Marty Lagina. “It could be evidence that someone was deep in the Money Pit area long before the first known excavation.”
A Step Closer to Aladdin’s Cave?
The team now sets its sights on their next objective—Aladdin’s Cave, a cavern believed to lie 145 feet below ground. With tantalizing evidence of tunnels and ancient artifacts surfacing, anticipation is at an all-time high.
“We’re at the precipice of opening the door to this cave,” said Rick Lagina. “We all have high hopes for what might lie within.”
As the Oak Island mystery deepens, one thing remains certain—the search for treasure is far from over. Will the legendary riches finally be revealed? Only time, and further excavation, will tell.