The relentless search for Oak Island’s fabled treasure has reached an electrifying stage as new discoveries fuel speculation that the Money Pit may finally yield its secrets.
STRAP FROM A TREASURE CHEST?
Deep within the RP-1 Shaft, at over 70 feet below ground, Gary Drayton and Terry Matheson have unearthed what could be a game-changing artifact—a wrought iron strap that bears a striking resemblance to those historically used on treasure chests. The find, which appears to have overlapping straps and a rivet, has left the team buzzing with excitement.
“We’re on a treasure hunt, we’re looking for treasure chests, and we sure know they used to have iron straps around them,” said Drayton, expressing optimism about the discovery.
With this latest piece of evidence, some team members speculate a possible connection between the Money Pit and Lot 5, where a similar artifact was previously found. The strap is set to undergo further analysis to determine its exact origins.
ANOTHER LINK TO HISTORY – 17TH-CENTURY IRON PIN
In a separate analysis, archaeometallurgist Emma Culligan has examined a well-preserved iron pin found on Lot 5. Using advanced scanning techniques, Culligan confirmed that the artifact is hand-wrought and contains a notably pure composition, dating it between the late 1600s and mid-1700s.
The significance of this date cannot be overstated. The artifact aligns with the timeline of Sir William Phips, a 17th-century English treasure hunter known for salvaging the Spanish galleon Concepción and whose name has long been linked to Oak Island’s treasure legend. Speculation grows that Phips—or one of his Masonic associates—may have hidden part of the missing riches on the island.
“Everything suggests an earlier date,” Culligan confirmed. “I would suggest comparing the metallurgy of this find to known samples from the Phips collection.”
SINKING DEEPER INTO THE MONEY PIT—ARE THEY CLOSING IN?
Meanwhile, deeper excavation efforts in the RP-1 Shaft have uncovered an unexpected structure—what is believed to be remnants of the legendary Shaft Six tunnel at approximately 105 feet underground. This tunnel was originally constructed in 1861 by early treasure seekers before it collapsed, burying whatever secrets it may have held.
Excavation efforts have already yielded a significant amount of fractured wood, believed to be original cribbing from the Money Pit. Some of the recovered beams exhibit adze-cut marks, a strong indication of early hand craftsmanship.
“The wood we’re seeing is fractured, and it represents a collapse feature,” explained Rick Lagina. “That is exactly what we’re looking for.”
The team is now working to determine whether the excavation site is merely debris from past digs or if they are, at long last, approaching the treasure itself.
ONE MORE DAY TO HISTORY?
As the sun set over Oak Island, the team called a halt to the day’s dig, eager to push deeper at sunrise. Vanessa Lucido, overseeing the excavation, believes they need to continue drilling beyond 111 feet to reach the true prize.
“Let’s start tomorrow off with a bang,” Rick Lagina encouraged the team. “Let’s find that one thing.”
The quest for Oak Island’s treasure remains as thrilling as ever, and with each discovery, the mystery only deepens. Could they be on the brink of unearthing a vast cache of Spanish silver, gold, or something even more profound?
As history has shown, Oak Island has a way of keeping its secrets—but perhaps, after 230 years, the ultimate revelation is just one more day away.
