The hunt continues, and while gold remains elusive, the clues are piling up in Season 12, Episode 20 of The Curse of Oak Island, titled “Just Bead It.” From tantalizing trade beads to theories of Templar and Knights of Malta involvement, this week’s episode pushed deeper—literally and figuratively—into history’s most enduring treasure mystery.
The RP3 Shaft: Digging Into Disaster
The episode opened with Marty and the team targeting the newly excavated RP3 shaft in the Money Pit zone—strategically placed north of RP1 and RP2. The goal: reach 118 feet, the depth of the 1861 Shaft 6 collapse, where early treasure hunters reportedly struck wooden chests, triggering a catastrophic flood.
What the team recovered: massive wooden beams, believed to be remnants of the collapsed tunnel. Though no treasure emerged, Marty Lagina speculated any valuables may have fallen deeper into the solution channel, a natural void beneath the pit—possibly the real hiding spot of whatever lies below.
Swamp Secrets: Nolan’s Theory Resurfaces
Meanwhile, Rick Lagina, Gary Drayton, and Jack Begley investigated the northern swamp zone, chasing Fred Nolan’s old claim of a man-made wall or dam. Decades after Nolan’s controversial theory, the team found aligned boulders, iron pins, and cut timbers—all pointing to deliberate construction.
Surveyor Steve Guptil analyzed the formation and linked it to the labar and dam symbols from Zena Halpern’s alleged 14th-century Templar map. Could the swamp have been artificially created to hide treasure?
Lot 5: Beads, Buttons, and the Knights of Malta
The most surprising revelations came from Lot 5, where archaeologist Moya MacDonald discovered another Venetian trade bead, similar to earlier finds. These beads, potentially from the 17th century or earlier, hint at European presence on Oak Island long before conventional history allows.
Judy Rudabush added fuel to the fire with her bombshell theory: a Knights of Malta connection. Formerly the Knights Hospitaller, they reportedly inherited Templar assets after 1307. A button found on Lot 5 resembles uniforms worn by the Order. Judy also linked Isaac Dazzley—a Knight descendant who settled near Oak Island in the 1630s—to the mystery.
Connecting the Past: A Multigenerational Mystery
Layer by layer, Oak Island’s puzzle grows more intricate. Perhaps it wasn’t just the Templars. Maybe the Knights of Malta protected the treasure. Or perhaps different groups added, moved, or buried parts of the legacy across centuries.
As Marty put it, “We’ve faced days like this before. We just move on.”
What’s Next?
With winter nearing, the team faces key decisions:
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Dig deeper into the RP3 collapse zone and solution channel?
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Explore Malta to pursue the Knights of Malta connection?
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Drain the swamp entirely to expose hidden structures?
Final Word: A Treasure of Legacy
Oak Island continues to offer more questions than answers. But as Rick gazed over the swamp and reflected, “I really had high hopes,” it wasn’t just about treasure—it was about belief, perseverance, and proving that history might still hold secrets worth unearthing.
Stay tuned, treasure hunters. The truth might be buried, but it’s not forgotten.
