After years of digging, decoding, and dead ends, the team behind The Curse of Oak Island may have finally unearthed the most important chapter in the island’s secretive history — and it points directly to one of the most mysterious and powerful religious orders in the world: The Knights of Malta.
In a stunning twist during Season 12, Episode 20, Rick Lagina and the team uncovered tangible evidence linking the legendary order of warrior monks to the island, shifting the treasure hunt from speculation to serious historical revelation.
THE BUTTON THAT BROKE THE CASE
On Lot 5, the site of ongoing excavations, archaeologists discovered what at first appeared to be an ordinary artifact: a button. But this wasn’t just any button — it bore a unique starburst pattern, strikingly similar to those worn on Knights of Malta military uniforms.
“That’s not just a uniform detail,” one crew member noted. “That’s a calling card.”
THE MALTA CONNECTION: FROM JERUSALEM TO NOVA SCOTIA
The Knights of Malta, originally known as the Knights Hospitaller, once fought alongside the famed Templars in the Holy Land. After the fall of Jerusalem and the Templars’ disbandment in 1307, the Knights Hospitaller carried on the mission — and, many believe, the secrets.
Historian Judy Rudabush brought forth game-changing evidence tying the order to Nova Scotia through Isaac Doners, a known Knight of Malta who settled near Oak Island in the 1630s. His lineage traces back to Grand Masters of the Order — placing powerful players of secret history within walking distance of the mystery.
BEADS, BOTTLES & A HIDDEN BASE?
Lot 5 didn’t stop at buttons. Researchers also uncovered:
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Venetian blue trade beads, dating back to the 1600s
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Glassware and pottery, consistent with Mediterranean origins
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Structures and foundations, showing multiple phases of occupation
The Knights of Malta, known for their global trade and cryptic operations, often used such trade items as calling cards. These artifacts now serve as potential proof of presence.
THE WALL IN THE SWAMP: FRED NOLAN’S THEORY PROVEN
Meanwhile, on the north side of the swamp, Rick Lagina and Tom Nolan made another groundbreaking discovery: a series of boulders aligned at the same elevation, with a clearly axe-cut timber lodged between them. This appears to validate Fred Nolan’s long-standing claim that something manmade — perhaps a dam or wall — exists beneath the murk.
A RELAY OF SECRETS: NOT JUST TEMPLARS ANYMORE
Could this be the missing link? For years, Oak Island theories centered on the Knights Templar, but this episode suggests a longer relay. The idea: The Templars passed their treasure and secrets to the Knights of Malta, who then brought them to Oak Island.
With layered constructions, coded symbols, and deliberate placement of objects, Lot 5 may have served as a staging ground — a carefully planned outpost in the New World.
THE NEXT STEP: A JOURNEY TO MALTA
With the discovery of links to the Knights of Malta growing stronger by the week, the team is preparing for a potential research trip to Malta itself. “There could be a lot of information there,” said Rick Lagina. And with it, the answers Oak Island fans have been waiting for.
THE CURSE, REWRITTEN
The Curse of Oak Island is no longer just a hunt for gold. It’s a mission to uncover lost history — and perhaps the final legacy of one of the most secretive brotherhoods the world has ever known.
“We’re not chasing myths anymore,” said Rick. “We’re uncovering a legacy.”
🪙 DID YOU KNOW?
The Knights of Malta carved entire underground cities into solid limestone in Europe. Could similar handiwork lie beneath Oak Island?
