Ancient Secrets Stir on Lot 5: Uncovered Artifacts Point to a Forgotten Order Before the Templars
In a thrilling development that has treasure hunters and historians buzzing, the team from the hit History Channel series The Curse of Oak Island has uncovered more tantalizing clues on the island’s mysterious Lot 5, pushing the timeline of European presence in North America further back than ever imagined. Led by brothers Rick and Marty Lagina, along with metal-detecting expert Gary Drayton, the expedition’s latest finds include a peculiar lead artifact and what were initially thought to be parts of a horse bridle—but lab analysis revealed them to be fragments of 17th-century shears, potentially linking to early transatlantic voyages.
The discoveries come amid ongoing excavations on Lot 5, a shoreline plot long suspected of harboring secrets tied to the island’s legendary Money Pit, where tales of buried treasure have persisted since its discovery in 1795. “There’s no place like Rome,” quipped Drayton during the dig, alluding to six ancient Roman coins previously found nearby—artifacts that coin expert Sandy Campbell dates between 1,500 and 2,000 years old, though they circulated in Europe until the 1400s. These coins, unearthed east of the current search area, have fueled speculation about pre-Columbian European visitors, possibly Romans or medieval explorers.
During a recent metal-detecting sweep near the middle of Lot 5, Drayton and Rick Lagina hit paydirt with a “little squeaker” signal. “Oh, come on, got to be in there,” Drayton exclaimed as he unearthed an elongated, heavy lead piece. Described as “really interesting” and potentially matching a medieval lead cross recovered earlier from the same vicinity, the artifact was bagged for further analysis. “You never know—it could be a match to an older piece of lead we’ve recovered,” Drayton noted, hinting at connections to the Roman coins and broader theories of ancient activity on the North Atlantic island.
Moments later, the duo spotted another anomaly: two fractured iron pieces from the same hole. Initially mistaken for the handle of old scissors, Rick suggested they might form part of a horse bridle, or “tack,” given their crude, raw iron construction. Consulting archaeologist Laird Niven on-site, the team leaned toward the bridle theory. “That is really neat,” Niven said, envisioning it as a cheek piece for a horse’s harness. With no historical records of Lot 5 being used for farming or grazing before 1795, such an item could indicate medieval or earlier inhabitants—perhaps tied to the stone structures along the shoreline.
But the plot thickened at the Oak Island Research Lab, where Niven and archaeologist Emma Culligan delivered their verdict just a day later. Cross-sectional analysis showed the pieces didn’t connect as one object; instead, they were handles from scissors or shears. Metallurgical tests revealed slight chlorine and sodium content, indicating prolonged saltwater exposure, with minimal impurities suggesting pre-blast furnace iron from the 1700s or late 1600s. Stylistically, they matched mid-17th-century designs from a historical reference book, likely of British origin.
“This certainly raises the interest in the item,” Niven told the team, including Rick Lagina and researcher Peter Fornetti. While not directly proving a link to the Money Pit, the shears add to a growing cache of 1600s-era artifacts on Lot 5, predating known settlements by over a century. “Every artifact we find tells a story,” Niven emphasized, “and with finds like these, even though they’re quite puzzling in the moment, the next find might help explain it.”
Rick Lagina reflected on the broader implications: “The work on Lot 5 has been exciting, interesting, dramatic, and there has been an extensive amount of finds that show this place, this story, this mystery goes further back in time than we had even thought.” He highlighted Lot 5’s enigmas alongside the Money Pit as the island’s most challenging puzzles, with “enormous” discoveries accumulating.
Experts remain divided on the artifacts’ origins. Some, like Campbell, argue the Roman coins could represent circulated currency from medieval Europe, possibly brought by Templar Knights or Portuguese explorers. Skeptics point to potential later deposits by settlers or collectors. Yet, as Drayton put it with his signature enthusiasm, “Giddy up!”—the team plans more metal detecting in the area, fingers crossed for breakthroughs.
As The Curse of Oak Island enters its 13th season, these finds underscore the enduring allure of the 140-acre isle, where over two centuries of searches have yielded everything from coconut fibers to cryptic stones, but no definitive treasure. Could Lot 5 hold the key to unlocking the island’s secrets? Only time—and more digging—will tell.
