Season 12 Episode 3: Lost Treasure Clues: 300-Year-Old Latch Matches Shipwreck Gold!

The Curse of Oak Island: Unraveling the Mysteries in Season 12 – A Deeper Dive

The quest for treasure on Oak Island has captivated the imaginations of adventurers, treasure hunters, and history enthusiasts for over two centuries. In the latest episode of The Curse of Oak Island, the team, led by Rick and Marty Lagina, is making significant strides in their relentless pursuit of the island’s secrets. Episode 3 of Season 12 promises a deeper exploration of the island’s mysteries, with thrilling discoveries, new revelations, and the tantalizing possibility that the legendary treasure might be closer than ever.

A Strategic Focus on Borehole D5 and the Elusive Tunnel

The episode begins with the team narrowing their focus on a particularly promising area: borehole D5, located 26.5 feet east of the mysterious Garden Shaft. The team’s excitement around this location stems from the compelling evidence pointing to the presence of an elusive tunnel at a depth of 95 feet. The tunnel, which has long been theorized to be connected to the infamous “baby blob,” is believed to be a significant feature in the search for the island’s legendary treasure.

What makes the “baby blob” so intriguing? Last season, Dr. Ian Spooner and Dr. Fred Michael, two of the team’s leading scientific advisors, presented groundbreaking evidence suggesting that this underground anomaly might be the hiding place of the treasure. Water samples taken from depths of 80 to 120 feet below ground revealed high concentrations of silver and gold, prompting the team to believe that the treasure could be hidden beneath the surface, closer than anyone had previously imagined.

But the new data adds an unexpected twist: the treasure might not be confined to just the baby blob. The team now believes that the treasure could be spread over a 20-foot radius surrounding the Garden Shaft, increasing the stakes and the complexity of the search. To ensure they leave no stone unturned, the team has applied for permits to extend the Garden Shaft by another 20 feet and to dig lateral tunnels that will allow them to explore potential treasure hotspots.

Could this be the breakthrough that finally reveals what lies beneath Oak Island? As drilling commences, the team is on the edge of their seats, eager to pull core samples that may hold the answers to centuries of mystery.

Uncovering Soft Slushy Soil and the Possibility of a Man-Made Chamber

At 108 feet, the drilling team strikes something unexpected: a layer of soft, slushy soil that contrasts sharply with the dense material surrounding it. Among the debris, they find pieces of wood and fragments that suggest the presence of a collapsed tunnel or, perhaps, a man-made chamber.

Rick Lagina and geologist Terry Matt carefully examine the samples and notice a distinct debris trail that seems to lead toward the Garden Shaft. Could this be a tunnel leading to an offset chamber? Rick believes this could be the final key to unlocking Oak Island’s secrets. If this layer of soft soil and the surrounding debris are indeed the remains of a man-made structure, it would suggest that previous treasure hunters, or even those who originally buried the treasure, may have left behind a hidden chamber yet to be discovered.

In a bid to confirm their suspicions, the team decides to expedite carbon dating on the wood fragments they’ve unearthed. If the results show that the wood dates back to the original Money Pit era, or even earlier, it would provide solid evidence of pre-searcher activity. This would not only confirm that treasure hunters were active on the island long before the current team, but it could also indicate that the treasure may have been placed there by individuals much older than the original searchers—perhaps even centuries ago.

Lot 5: Uncovering Iron Latches and Linking Oak Island to Sir William Phips

As if the discoveries at the Garden Shaft weren’t enough, the episode takes another unexpected turn when the team shifts their attention to Lot 5. This area has already yielded intriguing finds, but the excavation this time leads to a stunning revelation. Marty Lagina teams up with archaeologists Lan Nen and Jamie Kuer to investigate a strange circular depression measuring 13 feet in diameter. The feature matches historical descriptions of the original Money Pit, as it was first discovered in 1795.

The team uncovers a 17th-century iron latch, and subsequent analysis reveals that it shares an identical composition to artifacts linked to Sir William Phips, a famed privateer who salvaged gold and silver from the wreck of the Spanish galleon Concepción in the late 17th century. Could Phips have buried some of his ill-gotten plunder on Oak Island?

The possibility is certainly compelling. Sir William Phips’ treasure salvage operation in 1687 recovered a massive fortune, including silver ingots and gold coins. Some historians have speculated that Phips might have hidden a portion of his treasure on Oak Island—an idea that seems more likely with each new discovery. The iron latch, in particular, could be the key that finally links Oak Island to Phips’ legendary treasure.

Iron Latch Analysis: A Historic Breakthrough

To further confirm the age and authenticity of the iron latch, the team brings in blacksmithing expert Carmen Leg. His analysis reveals that the latch shows no signs of modern manufacturing techniques, confirming its age and historical significance. What’s more, its composition matches perfectly with artifacts that have been directly linked to Sir William Phips’ treasure recovery efforts.

The implications of this discovery are staggering. The latch’s connection to Phips’ treasure could provide concrete evidence of the privateer’s operations on Oak Island. If Phips hid part of his treasure on the island, this could finally answer the age-old question of whether the treasure of Oak Island was real—and whether it’s still buried there today.

Roman Coins and Pottery: Evidence of Ancient Visitors?

But the revelations don’t stop there. As the team continues to excavate Lot 5, Jack Begley and Gary Drayton make another astonishing find: Roman coins, some dating as far back as 300 BC. These coins, along with the iron latch, suggest that Oak Island may have been visited by ancient explorers, possibly even as far back as the Roman Empire. Could this discovery point to a much older presence on the island than previously thought?

The implications are vast. If Roman coins were indeed placed on the island centuries before European settlers, it would add another layer to the complex history of Oak Island, raising tantalizing possibilities about who may have hidden treasures there. The discovery of a significant piece of pottery dating back to the 1770s further complicates things, as it predates the original discovery of the Money Pit by over 20 years. Was this site already a treasure hotspot long before the famous Money Pit was uncovered in 1795?

The Final Step: Revisiting the Garden Shaft and New Insights

The episode concludes with the team returning to the Garden Shaft area, where drilling continues in an effort to uncover a man-made structure that could lead to the long-sought treasure. The discovery of wood samples suggests that the structure is indeed man-made, but its exact purpose remains uncertain. Could this be the tunnel or chamber that holds the treasure? Theories are abound, but the team remains cautiously optimistic that this could be the breakthrough they’ve been waiting for.

A Rich Tapestry of Clues

With each new discovery, the mystery surrounding Oak Island deepens. From the iron latch linking the island to Sir William Phips to the discovery of Roman coins and pottery suggesting an ancient presence on the island, the team is piecing together a rich tapestry of clues that could finally solve the mystery. As the team moves closer to uncovering the truth, one thing is certain: Oak Island has more secrets waiting to be unearthed, and the treasure hunters are more determined than ever to uncover them.

Stay tuned for future episodes of The Curse of Oak Island, as the team delves even deeper into the Garden Shaft mystery and uncovers more secrets from the island’s storied past. With every drill, every artifact, and every breakthrough, Rick and Marty Lagina and their team move ever closer to answering the question that has fascinated adventurers for centuries: What lies buried beneath Oak Island?