Oak Island Team Launches New Borehole in “Garden Shaft” Quest — Hints of Gold Beneath the Surface

The centuries-long mystery of Oak Island deepens once again as Rick and Marty Lagina’s team embarks on a new phase of exploration that could finally bring them face-to-face with the treasure long rumored to lie beneath Nova Scotia’s most enigmatic island.

In the latest episode of The Curse of Oak Island, titled “Sheer Mystery,” the team focuses on a bold new drilling operation known as the Garden Shaft Project. The newly designated borehole D-0.5 N-27, located near the heart of the Money Pit area, may lead directly to a tunnel believed to lie 100 feet below ground—a tunnel some experts suspect could be lined with precious metals.

“This could be the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for,” Rick Lagina said at the site. “If the reports are right, this tunnel might take us straight to the center of Oak Island’s mystery.”

Dumas Miners Return to the Depths

With long-awaited government permits finally secured, Dumas Mining Company has returned to the island to continue deep-shaft work paused last winter. Their immediate goal is to extend the Garden Shaft to a depth of at least 98 feet, reaching the same layer where metal-detection expert Gary Drayton previously identified non-ferrous metals—potentially gold—just out of reach before freezing weather halted progress.

Under the watchful eye of engineer Peter Fornetti and geologist Dr. Ian Spooner, the team monitors every inch of drill core extracted from the borehole. Fragments of wood recovered from multiple depths suggest man-made construction, possibly part of an ancient tunnel network.

“Whenever we find wood this deep, it means something,” Rick remarked. “It’s a sign of human work—maybe a tunnel, maybe a chamber.”

Archaeology on Lot 5 Uncovers More Mysteries

Meanwhile, on Lot 5, archaeologist Helen Sheldon has uncovered what she calls a “deliberately concealed” feature—possibly a buried foundation or hidden chamber. Blacksmith expert Carmen Legge and archaeologist Laird Niven have joined efforts to analyze the structure, which may link to the Garden Shaft or even predate the Money Pit entirely.

Metal-detection sweeps led by Gary Drayton and Peter Fornetti yielded further clues: a cribbing spike and a possible medieval-era artifact, both suggesting long-term human activity centuries before modern exploration began.

“These aren’t just scraps of metal,” said Drayton. “They’re pieces of a story that’s been buried for hundreds of years.”

Ancient Artifacts Add Fuel to the Templar Theory

At the research center, the team examined several newly recovered items—including Roman coins and a lead barter token dating to the 14th century—raising eyebrows among historians.

Historian Doug Crowell speculated that such finds could represent “evidence of pre-Columbian European presence” in Nova Scotia, while Drayton pointed out that the craftsmanship was “exceptional, almost waiting for us to find it.”

Marty Lagina added, “This token gives us a direct link to the medieval era. Could it tie back to the Knights Templar? It’s a question we can’t ignore.”

Preparing for the Next Big Push

With artifacts catalogued and permits secured, the Laginas now prepare for what they call Phase Three: Deep Extraction, expanding both the borehole network and the Garden Shaft.

The team believes the tunnel below D-0.5 N-27 may lead toward a hidden chamber—possibly the long-sought “Baby Blob,” a subterranean void first detected in sonar scans. If true, this could mark the most significant breakthrough in Oak Island’s history.

“Deepening the Garden Shaft isn’t just a construction project,” said Marty Lagina. “It’s a step closer to uncovering a secret that’s been protected for generations.”

A Mystery That Refuses to Rest

As the episode ends, the drills continue humming into the night, drawing the team ever closer to the unknown. With each foot of progress, the sense of anticipation grows.

For more than two centuries, Oak Island has guarded its secrets beneath layers of clay, wood, and legend. But this season, as the Garden Shaft descends toward the mysterious tunnel below, the Lagina brothers believe the truth may finally be within reach.

“Oak Island has kept its secrets long enough,” Rick said quietly. “It’s time we bring them to light.”