In the latest developments from the legendary Oak Island, the team led by Rick Lagina alongside metal detection expert Gary Drayton and archaeologist Fiona Steel has intensified their investigation into a mysterious stone foundation on Lot 5, situated on the island’s western edge. This site, under careful examination for the past two years, is rapidly emerging as a potential key to the centuries-old treasure mystery.
Among the most significant discoveries are iron tools linked to Sir William Phips, a 17th-century English privateer who, according to historical accounts, collaborated with high-ranking Freemason Andrew Belcher to secretly bury a vast fortune of Spanish silver and gold possibly right here on Oak Island.
Using advanced metal detection, Drayton has pinpointed metallic anomalies consistent with copper, lead, or even gold beneath the expanding stone feature. The team believes they may be closing in on something monumental. “We’re not just chasing metal here,” Drayton said. “We’re chasing history.”
Copper Button Sparks 17th-Century Connections
Another intriguing artifact from Lot 5 is an ornate copper button with floral engravings, believed to be from the late 1600s. Archaeologist Emma Culligan employed x-ray fluorescence mapping to analyze its composition and craftsmanship. Her early evaluation suggests the button may have adorned a nobleman’s jacket or cuff—possibly belonging to someone closely connected to Phips himself.
Jack Begley, Craig Tester, and researcher El Nan are now working to trace its origins, hoping it provides a link between the stone structure, the buried treasure, and the mysterious figures who once walked this land.
Templar and Viking Theories Strengthen with Newfoundland Visit
Meanwhile, Marty Lagina and a separate research team have traveled to L’Anse aux Meadows, the only confirmed Viking settlement in North America. With help from Parks Canada and archaeologist Kevin Smith, they are investigating possible connections between Norse explorers and the Knights Templar.
The team believes the Norse, who arrived from Greenland over 1,000 years ago, may have ventured as far south as Oak Island supported by the discovery of butternuts, Viking-style artifacts, and medieval tools containing bog iron, a hallmark of Norse metallurgy.
Emma Culligan has confirmed that x-ray scans on a recently found iron arrowhead show pre-1700s composition, supporting the idea that early European settlers, possibly Viking descendants, reached Oak Island long before recorded history suggests.
Money Pit Drilling Nears Breakthrough
Back on Oak Island, in the heart of the infamous Money Pit zone, the team has made astonishing progress. A newly discovered tunnel, buried nearly 110 feet below borehole 8.755.6, lies only 11 feet southwest of where a mysterious 9-foot-tall cavity was unearthed last week.
Core samples reveal wood fragments dating back to the 17th century prompting speculation that this could be part of the original deposit tunnel used by whoever buried the treasure. The team is also investigating sonic drilling results and analyzing valuable metals found in the area.
The collapse of an ancient tunnel near the site adds urgency to the operation, as the crew rushes to stabilize and excavate further before potential cave-ins hinder progress.
Smith’s Cove, Lot 4 Yield Artifacts of War and Wealth
Elsewhere on the island, artifacts continue to surface. A distinctively pitted lead musket ball and a silver object with high aluminum content were recovered from Lot 4. While the silver appears more recent, the lead shot analyzed by Culligan may date to the 1600s, reinforcing the presence of early European military activity.
Additional relics, including the “starburst button” and a decorative scallop disc, have been cataloged, both dating before the 18th century. These findings support theories that Oak Island has been host to multiple waves of European activity some of which may have been covert operations tied to hidden treasure.
