Oak Island, Nova Scotia – A startling discovery beneath the swamp on Oak Island has uncovered a buried road that may change historians’ understanding of the infamous Money Pit. Recent excavations have revealed a sand and cobblestone pathway lined with eight-sided wooden stakes, suggesting the route was intentionally constructed centuries ago, possibly as early as the 13th century.
The team, including Peter Fernetti, Gary Drayton, Billy Ghart, Craig Tester, and Rick Lagina, has been meticulously uncovering sections of the road. Cobblestones were found under layers of sand, with iron ox shoes embedded beneath the surface, indicating centuries of heavy cargo transport. The trajectory of the sand road bends toward a Portuguese-style stone road in the southeast corner of the swamp, which leads uphill directly toward the Money Pit.
“This isn’t just a crude trail; it’s engineered,” said Peter Fernetti. “The alignment is deliberate, the stakes are consistent, and the construction suggests it was planned with a known endpoint.” The findings imply that Lot 5 on the shore, where recent digs have uncovered a 14th-century foundation and artifacts, was likely connected to the Money Pit by this route. Oxen could have been used to haul cargo inland, solving a logistical mystery that has baffled treasure hunters for over two centuries.
Archaeoastronomy expert Professor Adriano Gaspani has analyzed similar eight-sided stakes from the northern swamp, linking them to the early 13th century and potentially to the Knights Templar. Combined with the Portuguese-style stone road dated roughly 500 years ago, the new sand road discovery suggests a medieval infrastructure that predates the 1762 survey by Charles Morris, a high-ranking Freemason who divided Oak Island into lots.
The implications are profound. If confirmed, the road may have guided the construction and transport of treasures or materials well before European surveys, suggesting a continuity of activity that spans centuries. The team plans to cut a cross-section along the modern Center Road to see if older layers lie beneath, which could confirm the timeline and origin of the buried path.
“This is the missing link,” said Rick Lagina. “It explains how cargo could have moved from the shore to the high ground where the Money Pit sits. Every layer, every stake, every artifact tells a story that challenges what we thought we knew about Oak Island.”
Excitement is building as the investigation continues, with fans and researchers alike eager to see whether this buried road will finally reveal the long-sought secrets of the Money Pit. The team remains cautious, adhering to permit boundaries, but each day brings them closer to uncovering the history hidden just beneath the surface.
