Oak Island Mystery Intensifies: Lagina Team Uncovers Templar Links in Portugal
In a quest that blends history, mystery, and modern exploration, Rick Lagina and his team from the hit series The Curse of Oak Island have ventured across the Atlantic to Portugal, uncovering tantalizing connections between the infamous Money Pit on Nova Scotia’s Oak Island and the ancient Knights Templar. What began as the discovery of a Templar cannon in Portugal has evolved into a compelling investigation that challenges long-held assumptions about the island’s buried secrets.
The expedition kicked off with a visit to a military museum in Lisbon, where the team presented replicas of stone shots recovered from Oak Island’s depths. Portuguese military history experts examined the artifacts and confirmed their resemblance to ammunition used in medieval Portugal, particularly on ships and fortifications. “These stone projectiles were common in our naval defenses,” one specialist noted, even showcasing a cannon capable of firing similar rounds. This revelation has sparked fresh questions: How did these items end up in the Money Pit, and could they link to the traces of silver and gold detected on the island? The team hypothesizes that wooden tunnels beneath Oak Island might tie into this Portuguese provenance, potentially indicating a transatlantic Templar operation.
From Lisbon, the group traveled to the historic region of Cra—believed to be a nod to areas like Sintra—where they explored a palace once managed by the Templar Knights. The site, steeped in medieval lore, is thought to hold clues to the order’s influence in the area. But the real intrigue unfolded at Quinta da Regaleira, a sprawling estate in Sintra originally owned by Antonio Augusto de Carvalho Monteiro, a prominent Freemason. This property, rumored to host secret Masonic and Templar rituals, features an “initiation well” eerily similar to Oak Island’s Money Pit. With nine levels and a 13-foot circumference, the well mirrors early descriptions of the pit, leading the team to speculate it could be a replica of an ancient treasure vault. “The parallels are uncanny,” Lagina remarked during the visit. “It strengthens our belief that Oak Island is part of a larger, hidden history.”
To understand these links, one must delve into the Templars’ storied past. Founded in 12th-century Jerusalem as a monastic military order, the Knights Templar protected Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. Confined to the Temple Mount and Solomon’s Temple for 70 years, they fueled conspiracy theories about discovering lost artifacts like the Holy Grail or the Ark of the Covenant—secrets allegedly guarded by their descendants to this day. By the mid-12th century, the Templars expanded to Portugal, aiding the Christian Reconquest and building advanced fortresses like the castle in Tomar in 1160, inspired by Holy Land designs.
The order’s dissolution in 1312 by Pope Clement V did little to erase their legacy in Portugal. Instead, King Dinis rebranded them as the Order of Christ, preserving their wealth and crusading ethos, which later influenced the Age of Discoveries. Could this enduring network explain Oak Island’s anomalies?
Back on Oak Island, the Lagina brothers operate under a government-issued treasure trove license, entitling them to 90% of any finds, with the province claiming the rest. Yet, experts warn that a major discovery could attract claimants citing historical ties, domicile, or lineage. “Multiple parties might stake claims,” says a legal analyst familiar with such cases. “The brothers and the government have the strongest positions, but only time will tell.”
The island’s allure dates back to 1795, when Daniel McGinnis and friends unearthed a depression hinting at pirate booty from the Golden Age of Piracy (1660–1730). Figures like Blackbeard roamed these waters, preying on colonial ships until the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht curbed their reign. Early diggers faced flooding from the island’s glacial tumulus and high water table, birthing the “curse” legend. Over 225 years, searches expanded beyond the Money Pit, with theories ranging from pirate gold to Templar relics.
Geologists, however, offer a sobering counterpoint: The pit may be a natural sinkhole formed by dissolving bedrock and underground caverns. Still, the Laginas’ Portuguese findings have reignited debate, suggesting human ingenuity at play.
As the team tunnels deeper on Oak Island, their Portuguese sojourn has only amplified the mystery. Is the island a Templar stronghold, a Masonic vault, or merely a geological quirk? The curse endures, drawing treasure hunters and historians alike. For now, the Laginas press on, convinced that Oak Island guards a chapter of untold history.
