Ancient Tunnels, Roman Artifacts, and a Missing Diver — Oak Island Unleashes New Secrets

What began as a hunt for pirate gold has now evolved into something far stranger — and far older. The latest chapter in the ongoing saga of The Curse of Oak Island sees the crew diving into literal and metaphorical depths as ancient structures, lost artifacts, and near-death experiences reshape the entire narrative of North America’s most famous treasure site.

In the northern triangle of Oak Island’s eerie marsh, a fragment of worked wood unearthed three feet down leads archaeologist Jack Begley, alongside Fiona Steel and her assistant Todd Len, to investigate a peculiar stone circle near the water’s edge. What they uncover may redefine the age and purpose of human activity on the island.

Meanwhile, mortar samples match materials buried over 100 feet deep in the notorious Money Pit, and coins dating from the 14th to 18th centuries are found mingled with Roman-era objects — relics that shouldn’t exist here. Or so history would claim.

10X: A Shaft of Secrets and Shadows

Then came the dive.

The infamous Borehole 10X — 235 feet deep and barely 27 inches wide at its narrowest point — has long been regarded as the most treacherous and mysterious shaft on the island. Searchers have long whispered that it might lead to a hidden vault or an ancient stronghold.

Divers Harvey Morash and Michael Garts, brought in by the Lagina brothers, knew the risks. But when communication from below was suddenly cut off, panic gripped the surface crew. No voices. No response. Just silence.

After minutes that felt like hours, a faint light broke through the murky waters. Harvey emerged, shaken. Inside the tunnel, visibility was reduced to zero, the path blocked by silt clouds and collapsed structures. The mission was aborted — but the danger was now real. And still, they believe something lies just beyond reach.

Romans, Templars, or Something Else Entirely?

At the heart of the island’s newest mystery is Lot 5, where metal detection expert Gary Drayton and Jack Begley sift through 10 tons of spoil and unearth hammered silver, musket balls, and buttons believed to be from 17th-century armaments. But the bombshell? A lead cross that some scholars believe to be Roman — or even Phoenician.

A recent lab study linked the lead’s origin to southern France, once part of the Roman Empire, reigniting debates about pre-Columbian transatlantic contact. Adding to the fire: stone platforms beneath Smith’s Cove that bear uncanny resemblance to Roman aqueduct engineering.

Dr. Ian Spooner, after testing core samples from a circular formation dubbed the “Eye of the Swamp,” dated it to 1680–1700. He theorizes this enigmatic structure could have been built by Sir William Phips, a 17th-century English governor and treasure hunter, or even earlier Masonic groups operating in secret.

The Sword, The Cross, and The Ancient Ship

If the rumors are true, a Roman-style sword, a series of lead crosses, and a possible ancient wreck in Mahone Bay might tie together centuries of whispers. Sonar scans show a buried structure predating Columbus — possibly 1400s or earlier — and researchers are scrambling to determine its origin.

One of the most contentious artifacts remains the “90-foot Stone”, its coded inscriptions still untranslated. Some believe it contains Phoenician or Roman numerals, while others insist it’s a cipher only Freemasons could crack.

Gold Rush Meets Oak Island: Peter’s Gamble in the Yukon

While Nova Scotia hunts for ancient treasure, a modern gold rush unfolds thousands of miles west in the Yukon. Miner Peter Dunlop is hanging by a financial thread — pouring millions into his operation and seeing little return.

Desperate, he turns to mining experts Freddy Dodge and Juan Ibarra. Armed with centrifugal concentrators and high-frequency screens, they prepare a 6-hour test run on Peter’s plant.

As water, gravity, and vibration flow across the finishing table, coarse tailings separate. Suddenly, flecks of gold appear. It’s not a jackpot — but it’s enough for Freddy to hand Peter a small vial. “This bottle’s your down payment,” he says. “Make it count.”

High Stakes, Higher Pressure

Back on Oak Island, as Rick and Marty Lagina resume work on the Garden Shaft, new boreholes are punched through. Air bubbles rising from the ground suggest manmade tunnels sealed long ago. Could the infamous curse — requiring seven deaths before the treasure is found — be stirring once more?

The search continues with Rick, Alex Lagina, Billy Gerhardt, and others focusing on the swamp’s cobblestone pathway, while Drayton and Begley dig through the Stone Foundation. Among their finds: a hammered coin, 17th-century ammunition, and buttons linked to known historical figures.

As historian Charles Barkhouse directs deeper drilling, anticipation builds. But even after hundreds of years, Oak Island refuses to give up its secrets easily.

The Hunt Goes On

With advanced sonar, core sampling, carbon dating, and deep-water diving, the Curse of Oak Island team continues to peel back layers of mystery. But beneath every answer lies another question.

Why are Roman coins, Templar symbols, and pre-Columbian engineering found here? Who built the tunnels — and why go to such lengths to protect what lies below?

Oak Island is not just a mystery. It is a mirror — one that reflects the obsessions, hopes, and ambitions of those who dare to dig.