Oak Island Breakthrough: Ancient Chain Unearthed, Hints at Knights of Malta Treasure
In a thrilling escalation of the enduring Oak Island enigma, metal detectorist Gary Drayton and team member Scott Barlow have uncovered a potentially game-changing artifact on Lot 8: a hand-forged iron chain that experts date back to the 1600s—or possibly even the 1500s. The discovery, made amid a flurry of digs in an area already rich with historical clues, has reignited speculation about buried treasure, ancient knights, and the island’s infamous Money Pit.
The duo’s search began near the site of a previously found musket flintlock, using metal detectors to flag promising signals. “You got to dig through the trash to get to the treasure,” Drayton quipped after unearthing a modern shotgun shell. Undeterred, they pressed on, recovering a lead splash that could be a folded bale seal—similar to one found nearby, potentially dating back seven centuries.
The real excitement came with the chain: a segment of oval-linked iron, discovered just 20 yards from a massive, curiously placed boulder. “It’s obviously hand-forged,” Drayton noted, highlighting its weight and age. Barlow added, “These could be the missing links,” suggesting the chain might have been used with oxen to haul the 50,000-pound boulder into position, as evidenced by recent ox shoe finds in the area.
Back in the team’s lab, archaeometallurgist Emma Culligan delivered the verdict via CT scan and compositional analysis. “It’s a very pure iron, averaging at 99%,” she explained, pointing to traces of phosphorus consistent with pre-1800s ironworking. “I’d say comfortably 1600s, but technically it could go back to the 1500s.” The scan revealed no modern welding, confirming its antique origins, while wear patterns indicated heavy use—perhaps in moving the boulder.
Team leader Rick Lagina connected the dots to historical figures. “Those dates certainly align with the Knights of Malta,” he said, referencing Isaac de Razilly, a 17th-century French naval officer linked to the order, who reportedly lost two treasure chests in the region. “We know they were in Fort Point,” Lagina emphasized, fueling theories that the chain ties into Oak Island’s legendary vaults.
The boulder itself remains a focal point of intrigue. Positioned atop a ring of smaller stones, it shows signs of human manipulation. “We don’t know what’s underneath that boulder yet,” Drayton mused. “Maybe this chain was used to lower something down there. There might be some other chain there, but a different color—maybe gold?”
The find bolsters the team’s “heat map” of discoveries, organizing artifacts by age to pinpoint search areas. “It’s an important facet to helping solve the Oak Island mystery,” Lagina stated. With multiple relics clustering on Lot 8—including the flintlock and bale seals—the team is committed to further excavation. “We’ve got to get out back and find some more,” he urged.
As the Curse of Oak Island saga continues, this chain adds another layer to a puzzle that has captivated treasure hunters for over two centuries. Could it lead to de Razilly’s lost chests or something even grander? Only more digging will tell. In Drayton’s words: “This could be the missing link we’ve been searching for to find the treasure.”