The team has made some incredible discoveries so far in season 11 that have added even more intrigue to the mystery of the island.
From Templar artifacts to ancient lead shot, each find brought us closer to unraveling the secrets of Oak Island.
Let’s dive in and explore these fascinating top 10 best Oak Island discoveries so far in season 11.
Number one: Unusual red earthenware at Lot Five.
Shortly after the meeting that took place at the beginning of the year with the many scientific contributors to the Lagina brothers’ hunt for Oak Island, >> [music] >> we watched the archaeological team, which is led by Laird Niven, enter the circular depression that is located on Lot Five.
Even while the majority of the obviously man-made changes to the woodland setting can be credited to Robert Young, the late owner and caretaker of the property, the team has concerns that he only contributed to a project that might be traced back hundreds of years.
When archaeologists Jamie Kouba and Fiona Steel were looking for a foundational wall, which would demonstrate that the depression was, in fact, >> [music] >> a part of a man-made building that predates the 1760s lot division, and studying pebbles that Young had left behind, they >> [music] >> discovered red pottery, also known as redware for short.
The term redware refers to a type of pottery that was produced and utilized extensively across Europe and North America during the period of time spanning from the 17th to the 18th century.
The purple and black glaze on this particular piece of redware that was discovered at the site strikes >> [music] >> Niven as particularly intriguing because it appears to be unusual.
Number two: A mysterious metal object.
Following the discovery of the peculiar redware at Lot Five, the archaeological team employs a metal detector to investigate >> [music] >> the surrounding region for further possible artifacts.
Within a short period of time, they discover a metal object that is about the size of a smartphone and is covered in hard earth.
Marty Lagina speculates that this object could be a metal latch that was once attached to a trapdoor or a cellar door.
Excited >> [music] >> speculation begins to circulate among the team, suggesting that the money pit could have been concealed behind whichever door this object originated from.
Emma Culligan, an archaeometallurgist, performs a CT scan on the metal artifact after it has been transported to the interpretive center.
The purpose of the scan is to identify the exact shape and look of the artifact beneath the hardened earth.
On the basis of the imaging, Laird Niven arrives at the conclusion that it is, in fact, a river spike.
Nevertheless, he makes it clear >> [music] >> that, functionally, you could use it for anything.
Due to the lack of manganese, >> [music] >> the team is under the impression that it was created prior to the 1840s.
However, Culligan and Niven have something far more intriguing up their sleeves.
Niven had the opportunity to examine artifacts that were found at the location where Sir William Phips, an English treasure hunter who was at the center of one of the most important ideas regarding Oak Island, was born.
To summarize it in the simplest terms possible, it is stated >> [music] >> that Phips concealed the riches of Oak Island after he had looted a Spanish galleon that had sunk >> [music] >> by the sea.
The river spike, according to Niven and Culligan, is a near match to what they researched >> [music] >> from Phips’ birthplace, despite the fact that it does not match anything else that they have >> [music] >> discovered during their investigation.
Number three: Drowned objects underwater.
During his examination of the floor, Samson discovers a number of things that have been submerged and whose origin is still unknown.
The remains of a clay sailor’s pipe, a hand-carved plank of timber measuring 1 ft in length, which could be evidence of the existence of a dam, pottery with blue designs, and what appears to be a coin, the design of which bears a passing resemblance to a Chinese coin that was discovered >> [music] >> by Begley and Gary Drayton in the year 2020, season eight.
He is able to identify all of these items.
It is being speculated by many present if the similarities between the wreckage and objects found on land could be an indication that a shipwreck occurred in the vicinity, or whether these items belong to settlers who inhabited the island at the same time as the money pit.
Number four: Four strange coins.
Marty Lagina and Gary Drayton, who is a specialist in metal identification, were able to discover two more coins, >> [music] >> each of which was from a very different time period.
They had previously discovered a half of a coin within the boundaries of Lot Five a year earlier.
A numismatist named Sandy Campbell assigned a dating range of between 100 and 300 AD to the first piece, while the second coin, which has the portrait of an unidentified guy and is over 2,000 years old, is most likely the oldest currency that has ever been discovered on Oak Island.
Each of the four coins is brought to the Oak Island Interpretive Center, >> [music] >> where Sandy Campbell is able to conduct a thorough examination of them in order to ascertain the location and time period in which they were created.
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Two of the coins, despite the fact that they are fascinating in their own right, do not contribute to the curious trend of Roman artifacts emerging inside the boundaries of Lot Five.
One of the coins is a British coin from the Tudor era, while the other is an Indian coin that dates back to somewhere between the 6th and 8th centuries.
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Two of the coins, on the other hand, appear to be Roman to Campbell, despite the fact that they date >> [music] >> back to very different eras.
One of them dates back to the time period of 100 to 300 AD, >> [music] >> while the other one dates back to the time period of BC and is thought to be well over 2,000 years old.
Campbell is positive that the denomination is most likely the earliest coin that has been recovered on Oak Island.
It is also speculated that the >> [music] >> coin is a French denier.
In the event that this proves out to be true, it would be a significant triumph for the Oak Island fellowship, and it would be an impressive way to begin yet another year of treasure searching.
Now that coins of Roman, English, Indian, and Chinese provenance have been discovered, >> [music] >> Marty Lagina has theorized that such an ancient treasure could contain currency from a wide variety of countries and time periods.
Number five: Broken part of military arms, possibly a gun.
The mystery artifact that was discovered at the end of their metal detection on Lot Five was initially thought to be a shell casing.
However, Helen later revealed that it was, indeed, a broken piece of military arms, possibly a gun.
In order to test their idea and satiate their curiosity, it was decided that it would be taken to the laboratory.
Due to the fact that it provided a signal that military action was taking place on the island, >> [music] >> this discovery was significantly relevant.
The historical context >> [music] >> that stands behind it, and the implications that it may have for the enigma of Oak Island as a whole, are both fascinating to contemplate.
Following the finding made by the team, additional attention was stirred and questions were raised over the possible connections between the island and military undertakings.
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Each new artifact that is discovered helps to add another piece to the puzzle as the hunt for answers continues.
Watching how these discoveries develop and how they shed light on Oak Island’s past and the mysteries that may lie inside it is quite thrilling.
Number six: A big piece of pottery fragment.
During the course of their investigation into the enigmatic circular feature on Lot Five, Jack Begley >> [music] >> and the other members of the team have recently uncovered a discovery that may be classified as potentially significant.
It is a large piece of pottery.
Coarse earthenware, sometimes known as Anglo-American ware, contains this material.
Therefore, it probably originates from Pennsylvania, although it might also be from England.
The implication that they made was that it was most likely a huge cooking vessel.
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Is it possible that the discovery of the money pit occurred more than 20 years before the finding of the enormous piece of pottery?
Was it left behind by the people who were responsible for creating this feature, or was it discovered >> [music] >> by someone who was already in place?
For the time being, these questions will continue to be unanswered, but this discovery might provide a glimpse >> [music] >> of what is to come.
Number seven: Lead bag seal.
While digging in another region, Rick Lagina and Gary Drayton found what Gary believed to be an old coin.
He made the observation that the coin was hefty and had an air of antiquity about it.
Emma at the interpretive center was notified of the shipment and its subsequent testing once the item was packaged and tagged.
Luckily, Emma at the interpretive center examined this artifact and reported her findings.
Scanning the object led Emma to determine that it was mostly lead with trace amounts of iron and copper.
She then showed an improved photograph that showed the piece’s letters.
It was a lead bag seal, >> [music] >> according to archaeologist Laird Niven, not a coin.
This led to the discovery of the island’s former seal.
According to Emma, it couldn’t hold a candle to the newly discovered seal.
In “Silver Lining”, episode 24 of season 8, >> [music] >> Emma deduced that the discovered object was a cat seal.
When comparing the two seals, this was clear even before testing.
To back up his claim, Laird mentioned that he had discovered an alternative to the bag closure.
Upon closer inspection, it would appear that the cloth packers of John Lodge made use of the seal in order to package cloth for the advantage of the British Army.
After that, he went on to state that the accompanying company listing had a date of 1808.
A typographical error occurred in the wording of the seal, which resulted in the letter I being used in place of the letter J.
It was customary to refer to John by the seal, >> [music] >> just as it had been done in the past.
Instantaneously, this gave rise to the notion that the seal could have been significantly older than the 1800s, which is significantly older than Laird’s estimation of the 1700s.
As one of the names that became apparent after conducting a more in-depth research >> [music] >> was John Lodge and Company Packers of London.
They were known for their expertise as fabric packers, and as a result, their products were incorporated into the uniforms of the British Army.
It is possible to view the sample photo on the province of Ontario in northern Canada.
Continuing on, the description states that in the year 2022, a second seal that was identical to the first one was found at Fort Michilimackinac.
The settlement of Fort Michilimackinac was initially founded by the French between the year 1715 and 1760.
It is located on the most northern point of the lower peninsula of Michigan.
On the occasion of the Seven Years’ War, which is sometimes commonly referred to as the French and Indian War, >> [music] >> the British were granted possession of the fort by the French in the year 1761.
The fort was taken by the British in 1761, and it was subsequently transformed into a significant trade >> [music] >> station.
The British were unable to maintain possession of the fort after being invaded by the Ojibwe people between the years 1763 and 1764.
It was not until 1764 that they were able to regain control of it, >> [music] >> and they continued to do so until 1781.
At this point in time, a new fort was built to take its place when it was destroyed.
To take its place, the fort that is now on Mackinac Island, which is nearby, was constructed.
If the bag seal on Oak Island is identified as being identical to the one found at Fort Michilimackinac, then it would appear that it was utilized between the years 1761 and 1781, with the Revolutionary War most likely occupying the early years of this time period.
Oak Island was the location of a British military outpost during the late 1750s and early 1760s, according to the assumption that has been held by many researchers for a long time.
This gives credibility to the assumption.
The packaging of the fabric gives the impression that it was designed to be used by the British Army as uniforms, which would have been a crucial requirement during their prolonged >> [music] >> station.
Number eight: A wooden structure.
The wooden structure that was discovered in the second episode of the 11th season of Oak Island is pretty intriguing.
It appears to be a discovery that has been significantly preserved and is of great importance.
This investigation into its origin and function is currently being carried out by the team in order to uncover its secrets.
Structures made of wood, such as this one, have the potential to reveal important information about the past of Oak Island, and to shed light on efforts to find the treasure.
In order to determine its age, >> [music] >> construction techniques, and any possible ties to prior searches or historical events, >> [music] >> the team will most likely do additional study and analysis later on.
A further layer of intrigue has been added to the ongoing investigation of Oak Island as a result of the finding of this wooden construction.
Number nine: A Spanish coin.
The fact that it is thought to have been around since the 1600s gives the treasure quest a historical significance.
The Spanish coins that were in circulation during that time period were frequently utilized for commercial purposes, and thus have the potential to offer vital insights about the historical period, as well as the individuals who may have visited Oak Island.
There is a good chance that the team is doing a thorough investigation of the currency in order to ascertain its precise provenance and any possible connections >> [music] >> to Spanish explorers or pirates.
Finding a Spanish coin on Oak Island raises intriguing concerns about the history of the island, as well as the chance that there are treasures that are waiting to be unearthed that have been stashed away.
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Number 10: Tiny ancient lead shot.
An extremely fascinating artifact, a miniature lead shot from the past, was >> [music] >> discovered by the team.
This may appear to be a trivial matter, but in reality, it is highly important.
Small, round pellets known as lead shot were employed as ammunition for firearms in the past.
Lead shot is a type of lead >> [music] >> shot.
The fact that they discovered this artifact lends credence to the likelihood that there was some form of firearm-related activity taking >> [music] >> place on the island at some point in the past.
That even the smallest discovery can provide them with hints about the past is truly remarkable.
Major ship discovery >> [music] >> changes everything.
The eighth season of The Curse of Oak Island features >> [music] >> the discovery of a significant ship that has the potential to alter the entire path >> [music] >> that the investigation is on.
The group finds a piece of polished wood that >> [music] >> looks like a handrail, which leads them to the hypothesis that the piece is part of a ship’s railing >> [music] >> that was connected to the nearby stone road.
This discovery gives additional evidence to support >> [music] >> the theory that the swamp was formerly home to an open harbor.
However, their >> [music] >> work is being hampered by a substantial item that is preventing them from digging any deeper.
In spite >> [music] >> of this challenge, the group is resolute in their goal to investigate the marsh and find the secrets that lay hidden beneath the surface as major ship discovery changes >> [music] >> everything.
A piece of polished wood that appears to be shaped like a railing is one of the artifacts that the crew unearths.
They hypothesize that it is >> [music] >> a piece of a ship’s railing and that it is connected to the stone path that is located nearby.
This would be another proof that the marsh was once an open harbor.
However, they come across a big object that prevents >> [music] >> them from digging farther and uncovering additional information.
The group is convinced >> [music] >> that the swamp contains the information they need, so they won’t stop digging until they discover what’s hidden there.
In the eighth >> [music] >> season of The Curse of Oak Island, a significant shipwreck is found and revealed.
The finding causes >> [music] >> everything to be thrown into disarray as the crew discovers a major artifact that has the ability to alter the path that they will take >> [music] >> in their hunt.
The discovery gives the group fresh reasons to have optimism and excitement, while also posing concerns regarding the origins and functions of the ship.
As the mystery becomes more perplexing, >> [music] >> the group is more determined than ever to continue their investigation and find additional hints that may eventually reveal the secrets of >> [music] >> Oak Island.
The brothers discovered a number of shipping logs that provided evidence that an armada of French soldiers visited Oak Island in 1746.
The items may have originated from the Duc >> [music] >> d’Anville expedition, which was dispatched from France with the mission of recapturing >> [music] >> Louisbourg.
The first season included one of the most exciting discovery made with the >> [music] >> metal detector on the show.
A copper coin of the Spanish eight denomination was found by Steve Zazulak.
It is thought that the piece was transported there sometime during the 17th century.
Metal detecting led to the discovery of additional ancient coins during the second >> [music] >> season of The Curse of Oak Island.
Along the beach, Gary Drayton discovered two Britannia coins from the reign of King >> [music] >> Charles II.
It was concealed beneath a layer of pyrite and rocks, one of which bore the year 1771 >> [music] >> incised into its surface.
During the episode named “The 90-Foot Stone”, the crew examined one of the coins unearthed during that season >> [music] >> and uncovered what seemed to be a cross symbol on one side of the coin.
The program was titled >> [music] >> “The 90-Foot Stone”.
This particular treasure recovered on Oak Island in 2022 >> [music] >> or earlier brought the greatest amount of optimism to the searchers.
Would it have been acceptable for use >> [music] >> in a financial institution?
One of the most significant archaeological discoveries made throughout the course of the show was highlighted in an episode from the fifth >> [music] >> season.
After taking their metal detectors to the beach, Drayton and Rick Lagina discovered a solid lead cross.
After being >> [music] >> studied, it was determined that the artifact most likely dates back to the 13th century.
In upcoming episodes, >> [music] >> additional research establishes a connection between Oak Island and the Knights Templar.
The premiere episode of the sixth season featured >> [music] >> yet another of Drayton and Rick Lagina’s treasures unearthed with their metal detectors.
They ventured to a part of the >> [music] >> island that had not yet been explored in order to look for buried treasures.
They uncovered copper and a well-preserved cartwheel two pence after moving a large boulder and then >> [music] >> dragging it up from underneath it.
Drayton makes use of his metal detector to zero in on a signal and Rick Lagina employs this signal as a map to >> [music] >> locate and unearth a jeweled brooch.
The gem is constructed of leaded glass while the gold >> [music] >> was used for other components of the jewelry.
The application of ground-penetrating radar led to the discovery of this archaeological >> [music] >> treasure.
It was at first believed to be a bolt for a crossbow.
However, an >> [music] >> expert on antiquities has suggested that it may have been a javelin which the Romans utilized >> [music] >> as a weapon more than 2,000 years ago.
In the second episode of the ninth season, the team discovers a metal piece that appears to be what they have been searching for ever >> [music] >> since the show first started.
After additional examination, it is determined that only a small portion of the piece actually >> [music] >> consists of gold.
As the show follows the adventure of full-time treasure hunters through >> [music] >> each season, the mystery surrounding Oak Island continues to become more perplexing.
Their discoveries using >> [music] >> metal detectors open up previously unimaginable doors for historical research.
But you may achieve the same >> [music] >> results with your own tools.
When hunting for something on someone else’s property or on public grounds, you should always be sure to ask for permission first.
It is generally accepted that the history >> [music] >> of treasure hunting on Oak Island began with the discovery of the money pit on the island.
The pit, commonly referred to as the money pit, is a hole that was created by humans >> [music] >> and is widely believed to be the site of the hidden riches.
According to the legend, a group of boys around the age of 13 noticed a depression in the earth in >> [music] >> 1795 while they were adventuring on the island.
They started excavating >> [music] >> because they thought it was an artificial hole.
And as they did so, they uncovered several layers of wood >> [music] >> and other items.
However, their attempts were interrupted by a mystery flood that filled the pit with water, making it impossible for any more excavation to take place.
The news of the finding swiftly spread and soon after that, treasure hunters from all over the world went to Oak Island in pursuit of the wealth.
In the year 1803, a consortium of investors known as the Onslow Company oversaw the first systematic excavation >> [music] >> of the money pit.
The gang was unable to reach the bottom of the hole despite their best >> [music] >> efforts, and as a result, the excavations they were conducting had to be stopped.
Over the course of the following >> [music] >> century, a number of different groups made attempts to discover the mystery surrounding the island, but they were all unsuccessful.
The flooding of the pit was the most significant of these >> [music] >> as it made further study of the area difficult and risky.
In addition, the pit was rigged with a series of >> [music] >> elaborate mechanisms that if activated would cause the pit to fill with water and make it impossible >> [music] >> to access the riches.
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In spite of these obstacles, >> [music] >> the digs carried on and in the year 1861, the Oak Island Treasure Company was established.
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This particular squad was able to dig down to a depth of 90 feet before their efforts were once again >> [music] >> thwarted by the flooding that occurred in the pit.
The Oak Island Treasure Company went out of business >> [music] >> in 1909, leading to the excavations being stopped for good.
Since that time, a number of additional parties have made attempts to locate the treasure buried on Oak Island.
Nevertheless, the mystery of the money pit has not been solved to this day.
The finding of the money pit and the first excavations on the island each played a vital >> [music] >> part in the development of the island’s history as well as the continued quest for riches on >> [music] >> the island.
This is true despite the difficulties and obstacles that were encountered.
In spite of the numerous obstacles and failures >> [music] >> that have been experienced throughout the course of the 300 years that have been spent searching for treasure on Oak Island, interest in the mystery >> [music] >> has not diminished.
In recent years, a number of new organizations have taken up the mission >> [music] >> of discovering the island’s hidden mysteries.
The establishment in 2010 of the Oak Island Tourism Society, an organization devoted to the maintenance of >> [music] >> the island’s history and the promotion of tourism, is one of the most important developments that have taken >> [music] >> place in the most recent years.
The group has played a significant role in increasing people’s awareness of Oak Island and the treasure search.
In addition, the society has been involved in a number of archaeological digs >> [music] >> on the island.
Strange force detected on strange island.
