New Artifacts and Underground Anomalies Intensify Search on Oak Island in Season 11

The latest developments on The Curse of Oak Island have added fresh momentum to one of North America’s most enduring treasure investigations. In the ninth episode of Season 11, the team led by brothers Rick and Marty Lagina confronted persistent flooding in the Garden Shaft—only to uncover a series of discoveries that may deepen, rather than resolve, the island’s long-running mystery.

Flooding Leads to Unexpected Find

Efforts began with a practical objective: sealing water seepage in the Garden Shaft using urethane injections. Heavy rainfall in Nova Scotia had once again filled the Money Pit area with water, threatening access to key underground targets.

During routine work by Dumas Contracting Ltd., however, the team identified a 65-foot-deep void containing wooden fragments. The discovery prompted immediate speculation that the shaft could intersect with previously undocumented tunnels or chambers associated with early searcher activity—or something older.

Rick Lagina described the moment as a reminder of “where the journey started,” referencing the original empirical evidence that first drew the team to the island. The find suggested possible structural work at significant depth, raising questions about how earlier builders could have engineered such systems without modern equipment.

Lot 5 Yields Historical Clues

Elsewhere on the island, archaeologists including Helen Sheldon and Moya MacDonald continued excavations on Lot 5. Their work uncovered a barrel strap with a green patina, consistent with aged copper, along with what appeared to be the top of a keg. The material composition suggests resistance to corrosion—often associated with maritime or storage use.

Metal-detecting expert Gary Drayton also recovered a small ring and a decorative metal clasp, later examined by blacksmith Carmen Legge. Legge identified one artifact as a chest clasp likely dating to the 17th century, while another simple nail hinted at historical activity connected to storage or transport.

In a separate area of Lot 5, the team identified a large rectangular stone feature and additional dowel-like fasteners similar to those previously found at Smith’s Cove. These elements have fueled theories that the site may have functioned as a staging area related to the Money Pit operations.

Boreholes and “Aladdin’s Cave”

Drilling at borehole L-135 revealed a cavern approximately 141 feet below the surface. Using a 360-degree low-light camera system, the team explored what has been dubbed “Aladdin’s Cave.” Preliminary scans detected traces of gold, silver and organic material.

While the readings remain inconclusive, sonar mapping suggested the presence of a possible hallway or offset tunnel—an alignment some researchers believe could connect to the fabled flood tunnel system.

Historian Terry Matheson and engineer teams continue analyzing the structure, while advanced scanning technology tracks the stone road extending from the swamp toward the Money Pit.

Maritime Links and Historical Theories

Several discoveries this season have reinforced maritime connections. Fragments of wood believed to be part of a small boat—possibly from the late 17th century—were found in the swamp. Dr. Ian Spooner suggested the fragment may be part of a longboat used for unloading cargo.

Additional artifacts include copper sheathing, an iron eyebolt, a British Navy button, and pieces of indigenous pottery. A lead bag seal bearing English symbols was also analyzed at the University of New Brunswick, prompting renewed discussion of 17th-century trade routes.

Researcher Scott Clarke presented theories connecting Oak Island to the 1641 wreck of the Concepción and the later salvage efforts of William Phips. Historical maps and letters discussed in the War Room meeting referenced potential silver deposits and 1680s-era activity in Nova Scotia.

While some theories point toward Knights Templar symbolism—including compass markings on an 18th-century map—others emphasize documented colonial and naval operations.

Coins from Across Centuries

One of the most striking finds this season has been a collection of ancient coins recovered on Lot 5. Numismatic expert Sandy Campbell identified a Tudor-period British coin from the 16th century, a Roman coin dating between 100 and 300 AD, and another possibly originating from India between the 6th and 8th centuries.

A smaller Roman coin, potentially over 2,000 years old, may be the oldest artifact yet discovered on the island. The geographical diversity of these coins has intensified debate over how such items arrived on Oak Island.

Big Tools, Bigger Questions

To investigate deeper anomalies, the team deployed a 22.5-ton hammer grab capable of reaching 170 feet. Excavations at the TF1 shaft revealed wooden remains between 70 and 90 feet deep, along with metal fragments containing elevated gold concentrations.

Though the long-rumored “chapel vault” has not been located, Craig Tester confirmed the presence of structural wood and metallic traces that suggest significant historical disturbance below ground.

An Ongoing Investigation

After more than a decade of excavation, Oak Island continues to produce artifacts that both clarify and complicate its narrative. From flood tunnels and stone roads to coins spanning millennia, each discovery adds empirical evidence to a puzzle that has endured since 1795.

For Rick and Marty Lagina, the mission remains rooted in verifiable data rather than speculation. Yet as artifacts accumulate—from chest clasps to Roman coins—the central question persists: who worked this island centuries ago, and for what purpose?

Season 11 may not have delivered definitive answers, but it has reinforced one certainty: the story of Oak Island is far from complete.