The mystery of Oak Island has taken yet another intriguing turn as the team excavating the TOT-1 shaft has unearthed what experts believe could be a centuries-old mining tool—potentially dating back to the 1500s.
The discovery came as Jack Begley and geologist Terry Matheson monitored the dig near the historic Chappell Shaft. After reaching over 160 feet in depth—deeper than previous treasure hunters have ventured—Marty Lagina and metal detection expert Gary Drayton recovered a heavily corroded but clearly hand-wrought piece of iron from the spoils.
“This could be a really old tool, mate,” said Drayton, noting the telltale striations and curved design. “I bet that’s a tip of an old pickax.”
A Link to the Knights of Malta?
The item was quickly taken to the Oak Island lab for further analysis by blacksmithing expert Carmen Legge and chemist Emma Culligan. Legge confirmed the object as the fragment of a “very heavy, old pickax” consistent with tunneling tools from the 1500s to early 1600s. Culligan’s analysis supported this timeframe, noting chemical impurities indicative of primitive metallurgy.
“The only time I see mining tools this shape and size is from the 1500s,” Legge stated, reinforcing the theory that the artifact predates the official discovery of the Money Pit by nearly 300 years.
Compounding the intrigue is the team’s recent trip to Malta, where they explored 16th-century tunnels bearing striking similarities to the original design of the Money Pit. Historian Matthew Balzan suggested that the Knights of Malta, known for their vast underground works, may have used similar tools—raising the possibility of a connection between the island’s mysterious past and the storied Catholic order.
Digging Through History
As excavation progresses through what is believed to be the remains of the 1931 Chappell Shaft, the team has encountered massive quantities of old wood, suggesting they are indeed breaching historic territory.
With the shaft now approaching depths of 171 feet and materials prepared to push beyond 200 feet, anticipation is mounting. “Tomorrow could be the day,” said Oak Island team member Adam.
“We’re into the solution channel,” added Rick Lagina. “There’s reason to hope.”
Clue or Confirmation?
“This thing could tell a story,” Marty Lagina said, holding the iron fragment. “We’re well out of any searcher area at that point, so what is this doing that deep?”
While it may not be the treasure itself, the discovery could serve as irrefutable evidence of pre-1795 activity in the Money Pit area—long before its first recorded discovery. It’s a development the team hopes will lead them closer to uncovering who was here, what they were hiding, and why.
“This represents something very early,” said Rick. “It’s going to take all of us to solve this mystery. But I think we may be close to treasure.”
