Marty Lagina Just Found Something Weird After The 200 Year Old Tunnel Collapsed

Rick, Marty, and our intrepid team of treasure hunters are back at it again, uncovering astonishing clues that could reshape the very fabric of Oak Island’s history. From ancient artifacts to cryptic symbols, every step brings us closer to unraveling the island’s secrets.

But the trip is not at all simple. We have to find our way through dangerous caves and figure out complicated codes, while being asked a lot of questions that make us question everything we thought we knew about Oak Island. What is hiding below the surface? Who were these mysterious people who left these enticing clues? And maybe most importantly, what amazing riches are hidden there for brave people who are willing to find them? Let’s find out.

Rick and Ian arriving at the site on a new morning on Oak Island, the Legas and their partners are eager to investigate what they believe to be another breakthrough discovery in the mysterious triangle-shaped swamp.

Today, they’ve enlisted the help of geoscientist Dr. Ian Spooner, whose previous efforts on the island have convinced them that the swamp is man-made and was deliberately constructed as far back as 8 centuries ago.

Rick meets Gary Drayton, the metal detection expert, and points out the huge boulders in the area sitting atop what appears to be the so-called paved area. One week ago, after draining the area, Rick and members of the team, along with fellow Oak Island landowner Tom Nolan, discovered a strange circle of boulders. These boulders have traces of blue clay on them, similar to that reportedly found deep in the money pit by searchers in 1804.

What’s intriguing is that the largest of these stones appears nearly identical to the massive boulders that make up the megalithic formation on the island known as Nolan’s Cross.

Under the supervision of Steve Guptell, surveyor Ian ventures into the pit and discovers swamp mud indicating the presence of sticks. He observes that it doesn’t appear much different from the paved area.

Over the past 5 weeks, Rick, Marty, and the team have been uncovering a massive stone-paved feature beneath the muck and mud of the swamp, which Dr. Spooner concluded was man-made. The formation of boulders near the so-called eye of the swamp could also be part of this stone-paved area.

Meanwhile, Lear Nan arrives and Ian explains that while he’s seen boulder pavements before, they typically have soil or sediment embedded from thousands of years of wind. However, in this case, the sediment was deposited and quickly filled in by the swamp.

Leard examines the filled-in cellars and agrees that it appears unnatural. Unable to find a natural process that would lead to such stratigraphy, Ian concurs, suggesting that a disruptive event occurred here with evidence of activity lying beneath this layer that has not yet decomposed.

Dr. Spooner instructs them to remove the layer, prompting Rick to acknowledge the astounding statement that these stones may have been deliberately placed there.

Rick finds it weird. Whatever the truths are here in the swamp, that’s all that matters.

As Rick Legina and the team continue their investigation in the swamp on Oak Island, about 1,000 mi west at Mari Vineyards in Traverse City, Michigan, Marty Legina arranges for an important telephone call regarding the steel coffer dam surrounding Smith’s Cove with Mark Monahan of Irving Equipment Limited.

The government permit that allowed the installation of the steel coffer dam one year ago is set to expire in just 1 month. The Oak Island team not only needs to have it removed but, in accordance with environmental regulations, they must also backfill and restore the entire area to its original condition.

Marty expresses his desire to keep the coffer dam in place indefinitely, but time is running out. With a permit expiring in about a month, the sheet piling of the coffer dam must be removed.

He asks Mark if they can do it and what logistical challenges they might encounter. Mark confirms that they’ll need 3 weeks to remove the coffer dam and get it off site, starting from today.

Removing the coffer dam will require Irving Equipment Limited to stage a number of massive cranes and other heavy equipment around the entire area for several weeks.

As a result, Rick, Marty, and the others will soon be forced to suspend their search activities in the uplands and around Smith’s Cove for the remainder of the year.

Marty emphasizes to Mark that this is not an average job. He also mentions that as they dug one hole with a long reach excavator upland from the cove, they encountered a heavy flow of water one week ago.

While excavating in the uplands where recent seismic testing had identified the presence of a possible underground tunnel, the team’s hole suddenly filled with water and began to cave in, causing the whole edge to collapse.

Although their excavation efforts were temporarily halted, the team remains encouraged that their discovery may be evidence that they have finally located the main flood tunnel.

Marty emphasizes the importance of removing the sheet piling in an environmentally prescribed way to prevent silt from entering the ocean. He expresses gratitude to Mark for his efforts.

Meanwhile, Rick informs Bill of the plan, stating that he will take the excavator down as deep as he can go.

One day after learning that their time to investigate has nearly run out, Rick Laena and heavy equipment operator Billy Ghart focus their efforts on attempting to pinpoint and shut off the believed man-made flood tunnel that feeds seawater into the money pit.

Rick informs Bill that he’ll station himself over there as he continues digging.

This year, like last year, the Oak Island team has found impressive evidence of numerous wooden structures both in the uplands and at Smith’s Cove. Some of these structures appear to date back to the mid-9th century, likely from searcher efforts to intercept the main flood tunnel.

After discovering coconut fiber inside a wooden structure two weeks ago, the team now has good reason to believe they are close to achieving their goal of locating the main flood tunnel and shutting off the legendary booby traps guarding the money pit.

Rick suggests to Bill that there might be a shaft wall there and asks him to define the shaft.

As Bill removes another dump of clay, they again encounter a shaft wall, confirming the presence of an intact wall on that side.

Terry Mat expresses suspicion that this may not be a tunnel.

Bill explains that just below the clean stuff they encountered all wood approximately 6 ft below that point.

Despite the team’s excitement at discovering yet another wooden shaft, they must carefully expose more of it to determine if it was built by the original treasure seekers who may have buried treasure on Oak Island long ago or by subsequent searchers attempting to find it.

As Rick Laggina and the team continue their investigation in the Uplands area, Alex Lagginina and Peter Fornetti arrive on lot 21 to check on the progress of archaeologist Larard Nan and conservator Kelly Borasa as they continue to explore the site that was once the home of Daniel McInness, one of the three young men who first discovered the original money pit in 1795.

Alex asks how the dig is going and if they’re doing okay here.

Peter confirms that it’s time to dig.

Two weeks ago, after obtaining a government permit, Larair, along with Marty Legina and other team members, began systematically digging in three-foot grids known as test pits.

They are carefully searching for any significant artifacts or clues that could indicate what, if anything, McInness might have found on the island during his decades of searching.

Of particular interest is a possible sub-beneath the foundation, which was identified by recent ground penetrating radar scans of the area.

This development lends further credence to the theory presented to the team by author James McQuiston, who believes that McInness didn’t stumble upon the money pit by chance in 1795 but had prior knowledge of its existence due to his association with Freemasonry.

Leard mentions they’ve discovered a feature about this wall, expressing their luck in having plenty of photographs of the site.

He grabs a notebook and shows a photograph where the wall and he stand at that corner, pointing out a building in the background.

This physical evidence is crucial for them as it provides a starting point in unraveling the whole story of the McInness family and their time spent on this lot.

After greeting Alex and Peter, they walk away.

Later that day, as Leairard Nan and Kelly Barasa continue their investigation of the McInness Foundation and digging continues in the Uplands area near Smith’s Cove, Rick discusses some laser ablation results from UNB and Professor Chris McFarland.

Rick, along with Craig Theater and other members, gathers in the war room to hear an important scientific report concerning the lead artifact discovered one week ago on lot 17 near the Money Pit.

Joining the team via video conference is Dr. Chris McFarland, using laser ablation testing, a process involving a high-powered laser to take microscopic samples of an object.

The chemical composition of lead artifacts and their unique isotope values can be identified to help pinpoint their geographic origin.

Chris McFarland finds it odd that the lead artifact shows a significant presence of mercury and tin.

Rick asks what could cause this, to which Chris responds that it’s unlikely from the ore body, as mercury is highly volatile and would evaporate at high temperatures during smelting. Therefore, it must have been introduced through another process.

The narrator explains that numerous researchers and Oak Island theorists entertained the belief that Sir Francis Bacon, the English 17th-century scientist, was not only the leader of a secret society with ties to the Knights Templar known as Rosacrusian, but may have also orchestrated the burial of priceless treasures on Oak Island.

Even more astonishingly, some speculate that Sir Francis Bacon, purportedly the secret author of works attributed to William Shakespeare, may have hidden the original manuscripts missing for over four centuries on Oak Island, sealed in a vault filled with mercury, a method of document protection outlined in Bacon’s scientific work Noam Organum.

This theory gains traction due to the discovery of pieces of parchment and leather book binding deep within the money pit over the past 2 years.

Paul inquiries about the efficacy of document preservation with mercury, especially for old documents.

Chris responds that it would indeed prevent molds, bacteria, and other organisms from damaging the documents.

Doug then asks if there’s any indication of where this lead came from in the world.

Chris explains that it likely originated from the Greek mainland, Greek archipelago, Cyprus, or Turkey.

The narrator then raises an intriguing question: could the lead artifact scientifically traced to southeastern Europe or the Middle East be connected in some way to the 700-year-old lid cross found 2 years ago at Smith’s Cove?

That cross was also proven to have originated from an area in southern France that once served as a stronghold for the Knights Templar.

Rick acknowledges the significance of considering theories about Oak Island in light of the Templar influence in the regions mentioned by Chris.

Later, they express gratitude to Chris and end the video conference.

As a new day dawns on Oak Island, the team hurries to conclude their efforts to locate the main flood tunnel in the uplands area before they are compelled to halt their investigation.

Rick Laena and Craig Tester respond to an alert from archaeologist Leairard Nan regarding a potentially significant discovery near the foundation of Daniel McInness’s former home on lot 21.

Leard informs them that he’s working inside the second entrance to the root cellar, noting the natural soils emerging in that direction. He suspects they may be excavating a stairway, which would indicate the presence of a trap door.

The possibility of this trap door leading to a secret basement beneath the McInness foundation, a potential hiding place for valuable discoveries made in the money pit, is considered.

Leair emphasizes that this cellar is notably deep, indicating it wasn’t merely a crawl space, and it was filled with rocks.

Among the discoveries found here is a bone-handled knife, possibly the oldest artifact recovered from the site, estimated to date from the 1750s to the end of the 1700s.

As they conclude their work, Leair reflects that the final part of the excavation has proven to be one of the most intriguing aspects of the discovery.

Rick acknowledges the significance of Leairard’s findings, particularly the discovery of the larger size of the residence and the older artifacts than anticipated.

He notes that while Lear has found a potential clue hinting at something valuable beneath the McInness Foundation, their ability to excavate further is restricted by the current permit, which would require an application for an expanded permit based on the evidence collected—a process that could take considerable time.

Expressing gratitude to Lear, Rick walks away recognizing the importance of the discovery.

Later that afternoon, Rick Legina, accompanied by geologist Terry Mat, heads to the Uplands area near Smith’s Cove where heavy equipment operator Billy Ghart continues excavating the mysterious wooden shaft believed to be connected to the main flood tunnel leading to the money pit.

Rick asks Bill to direct him across the top of the shaft wall so they can dig into the bank to gain a better understanding of its extent.

As Bill continues digging, he uncovers a substantial wooden beam brought up directly from the bottom of the shaft.

Terry observes that the wood appears to be hand hewn, showing signs of axe marks similar to those found in the U-shaped structure, suggesting it may be from the same time period and built using similar technology around 1769, more than 25 years before the discovery of the money pit.

The narrator emphasizes the significance of this structure, indicating that the team may be on the verge of intercepting the legendary flood tunnel once again.

As they continue their efforts to uncover the secrets of Oak Island, Rick directs Bill to drop the excavator bucket and bring him over, centering it on the hole so he can take a closer look.

As Rick descends into the pit, he requests to go a little deeper to determine if the material he’s seeing is wood or clay.

Upon closer examination, Rick struggles to discern the material and realizes he’ll need to go right to the bottom to be certain.

As he gets closer, he notices something starting to cave away, indicating there may be something significant there.

Bill promptly pulls Rick up from the pit, reflecting on his experience down there.

Rick emphasizes the different feel one gets when in the moment. He expresses admiration for the individuals, whether searchers or original depositors, who worked at such depths with the materials available.

Despite their progress, Rick, Billy, and Terry are aware that they are quickly running out of daylight and they will have to wait until morning to continue their efforts.

The next day, Marty Legina and Craig Tester join Rick and the team as they resume their quest to intercept and shut off the main flood tunnel believed to feed ocean water into the money pit.

However, they are aware that today marks their final opportunity to make a potentially historic breakthrough as all search activities in the area must end tomorrow to facilitate the removal of the massive steel coffer surrounding Smith’s Cove.

Rick discovers a wooden piece that extends about 10 ft above their current position.

Upon examination, it appears to be cut and saddle-notched in a peculiar manner.

Marty considers it to be old, possibly dating back to the turn of the century or even earlier.

They agree that further analysis, possibly using dendrochronology, is needed to determine its age and origin.

Rick notes the presence of numerous logs in the area.

Marty identifies some anomalous wood deep down resembling the U-shaped structure previously dated to 1769, predating the money pit.

Ricky asks Billy to confirm if he’s dug deep enough and there’s no more wood below.

Billy assures him, although further inspection may be necessary.

As Billy continues to dig, he suddenly strikes something in the corner.

Rick suggests sending someone down, possibly using a harness, to take a closer look.

Marty volunteers to wear the harness and examines the area, noting a slit below.

Excitement builds among the team as they speculate that they may have uncovered the so-called flood tunnel booby trap system.

Rick emphasizes the importance of investigating further to see what they have uncovered.

Later, Rick asks Bill about the rock while Marty examines the area more closely.

As he commands, “I got a slit down below.”

As they observe the area, Marty notices wood on the left side resembling a tunnel entrance, although it appears to be about 15 ft above the bottom.

The team wonders if they have finally found the main flood tunnel that has eluded searchers for centuries.

Concerned about stability, Marty suggests mounting a camera on the side of the excavator bucket to assess the situation.

However, due to the unstable sides of the pit, they opt to lower a camera directly on the excavator arm for safety.

As Bill maneuvers the bucket into the pit, Marty directs him to focus the camera downwards.

They observe various wooden structures on the left wall through the camera feed.

Suddenly, they spot what appears to be a hole braced with wood.

Excited by the potential discovery, Rick expresses hope that it might be the elusive tunnel they’ve been searching for.

However, as rumbling occurs, they decide to halt the operation and bring the equipment up.

Despite the uncertainty, they feel confident that they have gathered valuable data and need to analyze it further to understand its significance.

It looks like the Lega brothers are closer than ever to finding the gold.

They are not giving up.

Get ready for a thrilling ride with the Lega brothers.

They are not going backwards.

In fact, it looks like they are about to take a big step forward that could get them closer to the gold than ever before.

It’s thrilling, the stakes are higher, and you can feel the stress.

Join us as we follow the Lega brothers as they work hard to get rich and answer the questions that will help them reach the prize we’ve all been waiting for.

As they analyze the video in the war room, Marty suggests starting with the footage they captured.

They carefully review the footage, noting various observations.

Rick points out that the video shows a depth of 30 ft, with Steve noting the presence of a lot of rock in between.

Upon pausing the video, Paul speculates that it could be a collapsed tunnel or shaft filled with rock.

He identifies wood on either side and suggests that the piece resembling a beam indicates it might be a shaft or a tunnel.

He also points out the presence of a double layer indicating a possible tunnel structure.

Bill adds that it seems like he followed wood all the way down, further indicating the likelihood of a shaft or tunnel.

Craig asks about the thickness of the boards, to which Rick confirms they are around 2 in thick, with the ones on the right being more substantial.

Bill mentions the calculations done this year showing how they align with the findings on the screen.

Craig explains that they are basing their analysis on the U-shaped structure, assuming it was placed there for a specific purpose, indicating the potential significance of the findings.

Bill agrees that the structure looks more like a tunnel than a shaft.

Marty emphasizes the significance of the date 1769, suggesting that if the wood is dated back to before the discovery of the money pit, it likely indicates original construction and increases the likelihood that it’s part of the flood tunnel.

However, Rick interjects with the unfortunate news that they have to remove the sheet pile, which will effectively halt their operations in Smith’s Cove and the nearby Uplands.

This is due to the impending arrival of representatives from Irving Equipment Limited who will begin staging heavy equipment for the removal of the steel coffer dam.
As this operation will take several weeks, the team won’t be able to continue their search activities in the area for the rest of the year.

Marty concurs, expressing frustration that despite finding compelling evidence of the flood tunnel, their permits won’t allow them to conduct any further excavation this year.

Marty heard a lot of interesting things, but the key piece of data is yet to come. They’re all keenly interested in the Dondro results on the Question Mark shaft, and that could lead them just about anywhere.

But in the meantime, he knows Billy, he got a lot of work to do because that sheet pile has to come out. So back at it.

As another day dawns on Oak Island, one of Rick, Marty, Craig, and the team’s more extensive as well as historic investigations is, for now, coming to an end. Rick affirms, according to their permit, they have to remove all the sheet. Without the sheet pile system in, at least for now, all of the work associated with Smith’s Cove has to be terminated.

Scott Barlo asks Jardine about the removal process, inquiring if they will start pulling from their current location and work their way around. Jardine confirms, stating that they’ll begin there and pull up to where the power pack is, as the wall is supporting the dirt from the pad, and then they’re going to go all the way around over to that far corner.

As the workers began removing the long steel coffer dam walls, Rick reflected on the culmination of their project at Smith’s Cove. While it was a moment of closure, it also left them pondering the eternal question that surrounds Oak Island: had they found everything there was to find?

The removal of the 600-foot-long steel cofferdam signified the restoration of Smith’s Cove to its natural state. For Rick and Marty Laena, it marked the end of a two-year operation that had yielded some of the most significant discoveries in the 225-year-old Oak Island mystery.

These discoveries included numerous wooden structures, the slipway, a concrete wall, one of the legendary stone box drains, and evidence of the main flood tunnel connected to the original Money Pit treasure shaft.

Of particular significance was the find made two years ago by Rick, Laena, and Gary Drayton: a lead cross scientifically verified to be over 600 years old, originating from a region of southern France associated with the Knights Templar. This discovery had inspired the entire operation and added another layer of intrigue to the Oak Island mystery.

Marty addresses the fact that they revealed what was a successful operation. He finds it significant. Later, Rick affirms that hopefully with all the work that was uncovered, they can make sense of it. He thinks the Smith’s Cove work, certainly for now, is maybe not at an end, but they certainly gave it everything they had.

For Rick, Marty, and their Oak Island team, a mystery that began 225 years ago with the discovery of the Money Pit has proven to be much bigger, more complex, and more expensive than they could ever have imagined.

And with each new exciting clue, the brothers find yet another in a series of new and equally puzzling questions: just what was it that was so precious, so significant, or so dangerous that it had to be so elaborately and ingeniously hidden more than 100 feet deep underground and guarded by a deadly curse that warns that seven must die before its secret can at last be revealed?

Next time on The Curse of Oak Island, the team gears up with the largest caisson possible. Vanessa notes that the caisson is a bit bigger this year as heavy machinery from Irving Equipment Limited arrives on the scene.

Ian confirms the cores show high lead and mercury at the base. Excitement builds as Watson claims they have two anomalies here — it’s like a heavy treasure chest anomaly.

Marty affirms they got five different experts saying this is man-made. Vanessa confirms they’re prepared to start slamming the caisson with determination.

Marty asserts that it’s time to dig, prompting Rick to inquire about any guarantees. Vanessa responds confidently, guaranteeing 100% treasure awaits. Rick confirms that it’s coming up.

Scott Barlo asserts that this is the Money Pit area, indicating they have a chance at the treasure. Marty can’t wait to see what comes out of that hole.

Rick inquires whether he’s certain that it’s bone. Gary discovers a ring on the ground, prompting Luton’s brain to assume it appears to have been chiseled, possibly dating back to the 1730s and of Spanish origin.

This leaves Rick and Gary in a state of joy as the brisk fall transitions swiftly into another unforgiving Nova Scotia winter.

Brothers Rick and Marty LaGina find themselves with only a few weeks remaining before they must conclude this year’s search operations on Oak Island.

Today, alongside representatives from Irving Equipment Limited and ROC Equipment, they embarked on the excavation of a massive 8-foot-wide steel-cased shaft at OC1, the suspected original location of the Money Pit treasure shaft.

Thus far, the drilling caisson has delved some 50 feet into the earth, but progress is slower than anticipated. This delay is attributed to the task of penetrating the remnants of a searcher shaft constructed by treasure hunter Gilbert Heden in 1937.

The head and shaft, extending to a depth of 125 feet, is a 12×24 foot wood crib structure intended to reach the legendary Chapel vault. This vault, initially discovered in 1897, was believed to house a 7-foot-high wooden chest containing both gold and ancient writings.

Regrettably, Heden’s attempts to access the vault were repeatedly hindered by flooding, leading to the eventual abandonment of the shaft’s construction.

Rick explains that they are dismantling parts of the wall of the head and shaft, emphasizing that if there’s anything to be found, it’s likely beneath the head and shaft itself. However, they still have a considerable way to go.

Gary inquires about their expectations for discoveries at the bottom of this excavation. Scott responds that if they’re in the vicinity of the Money Pit area, they’ll be on the lookout for original wood or similar indications.

Gary then suggests the possibility of finding the coveted shiny gold artifact. Rick confirms his question.

As they continue with the excavation, they may uncover the terminal point of the original Money Pit, indicating significant progress. Rick believes that if they encounter hand-hewned timbers at depth within the excavation, they are likely very close to locating the original Money Pit.

Earlier this year, at this very location, a core drilling operation revealed evidence of a wooden structure approximately 106 feet deep underground. Upon testing, the wood was dated to 1626, predating the discovery of the Money Pit in 1795 by more than 150 years.

Using 1-inch thick, 26-foot-long sections of steel caissons, the OC1 shaft will now have the capability to reach depths of up to 200 feet, with hopes of finally uncovering what people have sought for over two centuries.

Marty announces the commencement of digging on what Rick has dubbed OC1, expressing his enthusiasm for the location as he believes it provides a clearer indication of the Money Pit than any other spot, eagerly anticipating the discoveries that may emerge from this excavation.

Later that afternoon, as the digging operation at the Money Pit progresses, Gary directs Rick to where he intends to conduct detection. They head over to the triangle-shaped swamp related to the massive stone-paved feature unearthed earlier in the year.

Gary notes that he’s never had the chance to explore this area due to the consistently high water levels in the swamp. Planning to zigzag along the bank, he and Rick discuss the swamp’s significance as one of the most intriguing physical features on the island, acknowledging the numerous speculative findings but lamenting the lack of concrete connections.

Determined to unravel the mystery, they suddenly hear the metal detector beep, signaling a potential discovery. Rick investigates and retrieves a large piece of mud where the metal detector detected something. Upon examination, they find a tin can lid, concluding that it’s not related to the Templars.

Once again, they receive another promising signal, and upon digging, they uncover a ring, eliciting a wave of happiness. Gary expresses uncertainty about its type but appreciates its thickness and intricate patterns.

The narrator ponders whether this ornate ring could offer a vital clue about the creators of the stone formation in the swamp and its potential age. Gary describes it as a top pocket find, emphasizing its significance.

After discovering the ornate ring in the mysterious triangle-shaped swamp, Rick Laena and Gary Drayton head to the Oak Island Research Center to share their potentially crucial find.

Gary assures Marty and Laena that there’s something significant in the top pocket, prompting Marty to express interest in examining it. Gary hands Marty the ring, describing it as a nice little ring and mentioning where it was found — on the edge of the swamp near the beach road.

Marty observes that it’s clearly sized for a very small finger, while Kelly remarks that the design appears feminine. Gary notes that in the past, people had smaller hands.

If the ring is indeed old, using a Groette digital microscope, Laena is able to magnify the antique ring and examine its features up to 2,000 times their actual size.

Upon viewing through the microscope, Gary remarks that it resembles a flower design, which Laena confirms as the central motif. Marty acknowledges the peculiar arrangement of circles inside the flowers, to which Gary adds a comparison to a wave design.

Kelly notes the difference in shape between the circle in the middle and the surrounding ones, also mentioning the presence of green tarnish and a silvery sheen on the ring.

Marty asks if they think the white bits are silver, which everyone confirms. The narrator poses the question of whether Rick, Marty, and the team have stumbled upon another piece of actual treasure on Oak Island.

Marty points out a particular area and asks if that’s silver, to which Kelly clarifies that it’s just where the two ends of the ring have been joined together, likely through brazing or soldering. He further explains that the corrosion indicates the presence of two different metals, possibly a copper alloy.

Marty wonders about the identity of the last person to wear the ring, while Rick reflects on the significance of the starburst design, suggesting that it must convey some meaning even though they’re unsure of its significance.

Marty responds affirmatively, suggesting that the ring should be examined by a jewelry expert as they’ve done with other jewelry in the past. They previously consulted Professor Luton Brain at Calgary, who demonstrated a wealth of knowledge on such matters, so Marty suspects they’ll be consulting him again.

Rick emphasizes the significance of the find, noting that while it’s considered a piece of treasure, the true value lies in revealing its secrets. He speculates that the pattern on the ring may be related to cultural influences and could provide clues to its age. They decide to bring in experts for further analysis, recognizing the wealth of information that could be gleaned from it.

Marty expresses his appreciation to Gary and they depart.

The next day, Rick and his business partner Craig Tester meet geologist Terry Mat at the Money Pit area to receive an update on the progress at Borehole OC1.

Danny Smith reports that they have reached 105.4 feet for the top of the plug, indicating they’re on track. Terry confirms that they’re approaching key areas, particularly from this depth onward, and they’ll be closely monitoring for any signs of wood as they continue drilling.

Rick emphasizes the importance of being vigilant for any anomalies or changes in pressure, indicating that they want to be informed promptly.

With the wash plant operational, they’re prepared to process any material retrieved from the excavation. Having reached a depth of approximately 105 feet, the Oak Island team now faces the meticulous task of sifting through the large volume of earth and spoils extracted by the 26-ton hammer grab tool.

Rick confirms that they are on the verge of entering a significant zone of interest where they anticipate encountering the depth at which old wood associated with the original Money Pit may be found. As they approach this zone, they’re eager and excited to sift through the spoil.

Each load of materials is fed into the nearby wash plant where two shaker decks automatically separate and sort the spoils based on size. Meanwhile, a series of fixed spray nozzles clean soil and sediment off any objects present in the material.

The resulting piles are then meticulously searched by hand, allowing the team to identify any important clues, artifacts, or valuables that may emerge from the excavation.

Gary asks about the current depth of the excavation, to which Rick responds, “It’s at 105 feet.” Gary follows up by questioning the target depth where they expect to encounter significant findings. Rick explains it’s another 5 feet deeper, anticipating that anything retrieved from this location will be of interest due to the relative unknowns surrounding it.

Gary mentions seeing some tunnels, suggesting that items may have migrated underground. As the excavator drops some rubble, Gary moves towards it and begins metal detecting, spotting some sand from the head and shaft and discovering two wedges.

Suddenly, Alex and Marty approach exchanging greetings. Marty asks what they found, and Gary informs them it’s some wood. Alex observes the difference between new and old wood, prompting Marty to inquire whether they’re hand-hewn. Gary clarifies that they’re piton.

Marty reflects on the significance of the wood being retrieved, noting that straight saw lumber like what they’re finding has been used for centuries. He suggests that some of it could be original material, which would be ideal for dendrochronology analysis to determine its age.

Rick shares his optimism, believing they’re getting closer to finding answers.

As they continue excavating Borehole OC1, the Lega brothers and the Oak Island team unearth a large and mysterious metal object. Doug Crowell suggests trying to extract it, prompting Rick to order its removal. Gary meanwhile wonders whether it’s a shoe or a shield.

Rick confirms that it is indeed a shield, likely the head and shield. Craig notes that it hasn’t been seen since 1936 during the construction of the head and shaft. Gilbert Heden had reinforced the shaft’s bottom with a 6-foot tall metal brace or shield to safeguard against cave-ins caused by flood tunnels.

The discovery of Heden’s shield raises the possibility that the team is on course to reach either the original Money Pit or perhaps the Chappelle vault. Rick acknowledges their previous assumption that they would encounter a piece of the shield, and now that they have, there is heightened hope for this location. Consequently, they will scrutinize every detail with a discerning eye.

Meanwhile, Marty expresses excitement about the final feat of the excavation, anticipating that they are on the brink of a breakthrough.

Loading the shield onto the dumper bucket, Rick decides to head down to the wash plant to examine it closely with fresh eyes.

With the drilling caisson now passing through the bottom of the head and shaft into what they believe could be near the original Money Pit, any discoveries beyond this point could be game-changing.

In light of this, Rick Laena joins local historian Paul Troutman and other team members as they meticulously search through the day’s spoils, hopeful for significant findings.

Paul finds nothing but pottery and glass among the spoils, but suddenly he discovers a strange piece and asks Rick if it’s a bone. Rick confirms that it is indeed a bone, noting its hollow nature and significant size, suggesting it may be a human bone. He suggests getting it tested to confirm.

The discovery of a bone nearly 120 feet deep in Borehole OC1 raises questions about its potential connection to the two fragments of human bones found in nearby Borehole H8 just 2 years prior. Those bones were dated to the 1600s and determined to be of European and Middle Eastern origin.

Rick acknowledges the proximity to Borehole H8 and the known human bones found there, but he cautions against definitive conclusions until further testing is done.

Later that afternoon, as the excavation of Borehole OC1 continues, Rick gathers with the team in the war room to hear a report on the possible silver ring found in the swamp the previous day.

Via video conference, Charles Luton Brain, a professor at the Alberta College of Art and Design with over 30 years of experience as a professional gemologist and master goldsmith, provides his analysis. Having examined detailed photographs of the ring, Luton Brain not only determines when the object was made but also offers insights into its possible origins.

Gary retrieves the ring from his top pocket and expresses his puzzlement, mentioning that he has encountered thousands of rings made of various metals, but this one has him stumped. He’s eager to hear any good news.

Luton responds by noting that the ring is definitely old, which is a promising starting point. He observes that the repair work is crude, indicating that it was done hastily, likely in two stages. The first repair likely aimed to enlarge the ring significantly, followed by a second repair to reduce its size.

Gary agrees, noting that the repair appears to have used a higher quality metal, possibly silver or platinum. Luton explains that despite the corrosion, the top part of the joint is still bright silver, suggesting a higher copper content or possibly bronze in the original alloy.

Rick inquires about the cultural influences behind the floral pattern on the ring. Luton suggests that the handmade floral design, particularly the chiseled flower in the center, indicates an older origin, as jeweler saw blades didn’t become available until the 1730s to 1750s. Prior to that, metals would have been cut using chisels.

Rick confirms if he heard correctly, suggesting that the ring could be pre-1730s. Professor Luton Brain confirms this assessment and identifies the floral pattern as European in style, possibly Spanish.

The narrator describes a Spanish silver ring potentially dating back to the early 1700s or earlier, prompting speculation about its connection to a Spanish Meaved coin dated to 1652 discovered by Rick, Marty, and the team 6 years ago in the swamp.

Gary notes that floral designs were prevalent in Spanish jewelry from treasure fleets around the world. Rick emphasizes the importance of understanding the timeline as it can shed light on the who, what, when, where, why, and how of Oak Island.

They express gratitude to Professor Luton Brain for his insights and conclude the conference.