In this week’s episode, “BEST CAISSON SCENARIO”, the show began with the Oak Island team discussing their next phase in the MONEY PIT area. The action first took us to LOT 4, where metal detectorist Gary Drayton and Peter Fornetti, were working the LOT 5 SPOILS. Gary registered a hit and discovered a squarish piece of copper. The piece appeared to have rivets and Gary pondered that it may be a belt plate. He went on to speculate that it could have been on a bag or satchel or even part of a military unform. It was further speculated that perhaps this piece had a regiment number on it so whoever dropped it could be identified. The piece would be sent to Emma in the Lab for further analysis.
The action shifted to the NORTH SWAMP Area, where the Oak Island team continued their exploration of the square feature near Anthony Grave’s old house. The team pondered that perhaps something of great value was hidden and kept at this location. The team drained the feature and metal detectorist, Katya Drayton started scanning the area. She registered a non-ferrous (Not Iron) hit. A piece of heavy lead was unearthed and was determined to be a counterweight. The team seemed baffled by the discovery which was reminiscent of the counterweights found on Lot 5. It was suggested by Katya Drayton that the bottom on the feature may not really be the bottom, and it should be dug down deeper. The team agreed, although Craig Tester remarked it wouldn’t be easy.
We were then taken to the LOT 5 EXCAVATION area, where the Oak Island Team continued their excavation of the foundation near the circular structure. The team noticed that there was ash and charcoal that appeared to be burnt in this area. Archeologist Fiona Steele mentioned the story of people seeing lights on the island from Chester in the past and wondered if these fires are what people saw. This would have given off an extremely high heat source in this area. It should be noted that this area was used for brick making and it has been confirmed the circular structure was indeed a brick kiln. This writer is uncertain why this information is not given to the viewer and other narratives are reinforced time and time again.
We were then taken back to the MONEY PIT area where the Oak Island Team was drilling in the new borehole called H.25-10.75. After reaching a depth of 139 Feet, the team encountered a core that indicated that there was a short run on it which resulted in a lost stretch of the bottom of the core. This seemed to indicate that there may be a void in the area. The team decided to drill to 149 Feet and look for more wood in the sample. The sample indicated loose disturbed soil with little shards of wood, and they felt they may have caught the edge of the fabled Chappell Vault. The team believed this area is a prime candidate for a caisson for further exploration.
The action then took us back to the LOT 5 EXCAVATION area, where the Oak Island Team continued the excavation of the square feature. The team dug down further and had metal detectorist Katya Drayton check the feature for more readings. After scanning, Katya did not detect any more readings. This left the team pondering if there were more features, which they called vaults, like this in the surrounding area. It was mentioned that they believed this was a safe box and they would now shift back to the cobble path area just a short distance away. It is unclear why further excavation of this site was not conducted. The team remarked that this feature is in close proximity to the cobble stone path, Eye of the Swamp, and Anthony Graves house which they suspect that Graves was hiding something.
The scene shifted to the LAB where the Oak Island Team met with Archeometallurgist Emma Culligan and Blacksmith Consultant, Carmen Legge to get their findings and opinions on the recently found buckle type piece found in the Lot 5 spoils. Carmen inspected the piece and stated he thought it might be a name plate. He asked Emma about her testing. Emma conducted an XRF scan and indicated that it was made of a copper alloy consisting of Zinc and Arsenic. She mentioned that the presence of arsenic indicated that it could be from the late 1600’s. This then launched the Willaim Phips narrative involving Freemason Andrew Belcher and how it was likely that they buried treasure on Oak Island. This contradicts known and verified history on the subject but makes for good Television. It should be noted that Emma said that the presence of arsenic was phased out and stopped in the late 1700’s, so it is possible that the piece dated to that time period as well.
We were then taken back to the NORTH SWAMP area, where the Oak Island Team started working in the location around the cobbled stone path that they previously investigated. Metal detectorist Katya Drayton searched through some of the spoils and discovered some pottery. Yellowware or creamware was found along with some pieces with a blue glaze. It was mentioned that the patterns appeared to be printed and not painted on these examples that may suggest a later origination date, more towards Anthony Graves time on the island.
The episode concluded at the WAR ROOM, where the Oak Island team met to discuss their plans for the MONEY PIT area. The team is planning on putting down 5 or 6 seven-foot caissons in the area. Dr.’s Spooner and Michel were asked their opinion if they agreed with placing them in this area, which they determined is the source of precious metals readings. They both agreed that it would be a good idea. Marty Lagina asked surveyor Steve Guptill to mark with a coin the spot of the first caisson and Guptill showed the team the location. Rick Lagina mentioned that if it was up to him, he’d tunnel all over the Money Pit area, but cost would be prohibitive of that plan. The team is hoping the caissons will intersect the fabled Chappell Tunnel and lead to the mythical Oak Island treasure that people have been seeking for over 200 years without success.
COMMENTARY: This writer was surprised by Blacksmith Consultant, Carmen Legge’s very brief appearance on this week’s episode. Usually, Carmen is given a chance to discuss numerous finds that the team discovered and give his opinion on them. It looked like only two objects were presented to Carmen and only one of them was talked about. Fans are left to wonder about these other iron objects that were found, which is Carmen’s specialty, and presume that they are not what the team originally thought they were and not discussed. Hearing Carmen’s opinions and analysis is a highlight to many “Curse of Oak Island” Fans and left some of them wanting a little bit more of his commentary.
It was also surprising to this writer that that the square feature in the North Swamp area was not investigated further than what was shown. Metal detectorist Katya Drayton mentioned that when she was searching the feature, the bottom might be a false one and should be explored more thoroughly. Craig Tester said it would be difficult. It appears that the feature was not explored to its fullest extent, which begs the question of why that was so. Did they not feel it was relevant enough for the work or was it saved for a later operation that would spring up after a specified period of time?
In this writer’s opinion, the continued plugging of the William Phips narrative by the show is starting to threaten the integrity of the work being done. Every possible clue is being manipulated to try and fit this narrative. The simple fact is there is no evidence that suggests William Phips was ever on Oak Island. Tools that were disbursed through the British empire are being used as “Evidence” to suggest Phips was on Oak Island. The fact that the salvage area of La Concepcion in the Caribbean was discovered by others and pillaged is being ignored and spun into Phips spiriting away and hiding treasure on Oak Island. Andrew Belcher, Phips associate, was a wealthy merchant, slave trader, and Freemason, who visited Nova Scotia to illegally trade with French interests. He appears to have been in Mahone Bay, and possibly on Oak Island. It by no way indicates that Belcher was ignorant enough to bury a hoard of Spanish Silver in a French controlled area frequented by pirates which would make retrieval dangerous and extremely problematic.
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Good day from the Compendium!