Rick’s Most Shocking Moments | The Curse of Oak Island

New Developments in Oak Island Treasure Hunt: A Step Closer to Solving the 228-Year-Old Mystery

As the search for the legendary treasure on Oak Island continues, new developments offer fresh hope for the Lagina brothers and their team. Their most promising lead, located in the Money Pit area, is currently undergoing significant excavation efforts with the help of DUMAS Contracting Limited. The team is reconstructing the so-called Garden Shaft, which they believe could be directly linked to the original Money Pit—a mystery that has stumped treasure hunters for over two centuries.

This year, several crucial discoveries have reinforced the team’s belief that they are on the right path. Wood samples from the reconstructed shaft were dated to 1735, while water testing revealed trace amounts of gold. Additionally, the shaft is located near a possible void, which the team drilled into earlier this year at a depth of 55 feet.

Marty Lagina expressed excitement about the ongoing operation: “There are some pretty concrete signs that this might be the original Money Pit—or at least part of the original attempt.” The team hopes to eventually drill horizontally and vertically to uncover any hidden tunnels or treasure chambers. So far, their water samples from the area, containing both gold and silver, have been among the best they’ve retrieved.

With DUMAS’ progress, the team is on track to complete a vertical structure down to a depth of 80 feet in the coming weeks. During this process, they will also probe outside the shaft and create lateral tunnels to search for more treasure clues. Thanks to advanced technology like the INUKTUN Spectrum 120 high-definition camera, the team can closely monitor the excavation, which has provided invaluable insight into the site’s conditions.

For Rick Lagina, this is a deeply personal moment. He has long dreamed of exploring Oak Island’s depths, having first read about the mystery as a boy. “It’s intensely emotional to be underground in the Money Pit, where so many before us have searched. I believe this is a wonderful story, and we’re now carrying on the legacy of those who came before us,” Rick shared during his first-ever descent into the Money Pit.

While the excavation in the Money Pit continues, the team is also making important discoveries elsewhere on the island. Rick recently uncovered a wooden stake in the northern part of the swamp, similar to survey markers discovered by Fred Nolan in 1969. These stakes, carbon-dated to the 1500s, provide further evidence that Oak Island’s swamp might be the site of an ancient, man-made construction project.

In a further twist, Rick Lagina and his team have gained access to a treasure trove of research from their late friend and author, Zena Halpern. Among her extensive collection, Rick discovered a copy of the Cremona document, an account written by a 12th-century Templar knight detailing a voyage to the New World in 1178—centuries before Columbus’ journey. The document may hold key clues connecting the Templars to Oak Island’s mystery.

With these latest developments, Rick and his team are more determined than ever to continue their search. They plan to establish a research center to house Zena Halpern’s findings and continue the work she dedicated her life to. “We have a lot of digging to do—both literally and figuratively—to separate fact from fiction,” Rick said.

As the hunt for treasure intensifies, the Oak Island team remains hopeful that they are on the verge of solving one of history’s greatest mysteries.