New Discoveries at Oak Island as Archaeologists Probe Mysterious Lot 5 Structure
OAK ISLAND, NOVA SCOTIA — A new day of exploration on Oak Island has yielded fresh intrigue as archaeologists and metal-detecting experts uncovered a series of artifacts that may shed light on who once occupied the island centuries before the discovery of the famed Money Pit.
While core-drilling continued in the Money Pit area, the focus shifted nearly half a mile west to Lot 5, where a mysterious rounded stone feature—designated a protected “special place” by Nova Scotia in 2024—is undergoing ongoing investigation. Metal-detection specialist Gary Drayton and longtime team member Peter Fornetti joined archaeologist Fiona Steele to examine spoil piles and undisturbed ground surrounding the structure.
The team first recovered a small lead shot, likely dating to the 17th century—adding to a growing list of early gun-related artifacts previously unearthed on Lot 5. Such finds suggest the area may have been used as a camp long before the Money Pit was first discovered in 1795.
Moments later, the detectors hit a shaped iron object, possibly part of an old hinge or locking mechanism. Its unusual design raised the possibility of a connection to the stone structure nearby, hinting at past occupation or construction activity.
But the most compelling discovery came when the team located a large, deeply buried iron signal, accompanied by fragments of green-tinted historic glass and coarse earthenware pottery—strong indicators of significant, undisturbed activity. Because of the artifact mix and proximity to other important finds—including ornate buttons previously linked to the 17th-century Knights of Malta—archaeologists halted digging to prepare for a controlled excavation.
“This could be another part of the foundation,” Steele noted, suggesting the team may have uncovered an extension of the enigmatic circular feature on Lot 5.
With multiple promising clues emerging within just a few feet of each other, researchers believe the area may hold critical evidence of early European presence—or even clues connected to Oak Island’s enduring treasure legends.
As excavation preparations begin, anticipation grows over what the next layers of Lot 5 may reveal.