In this week’s episode, “SINKING IN”, the show began as the Oak Island team continued their operation in the MONEY PIT area. After recapping the previous week’s episode, ROC Equipment’s Vanessa Lucido suggested filling the TB-1 Caisson with water to help stabilize it and the ground around it. The team agreed with the suggestion and began the process. The focus then shifted to the NORTH SWAMP area where the Oak Island team continued their exploration of the vicinity. At a location several yards north of the square feature, the team discovered more pieces of brick. More hand-hewn wooden stakes were found as well as more pieces of cobble. The team observed that it seemed that the stakes lined up with previous stakes found and the cobble was potentially connected with the Cobble Pathway they previously discovered. It was suggested that Dr. Ian Spooner look at these features for his opinion.
The action then took us to the LAB, where the Oak Island team assembled to discuss the various nails that have been found recently from the spoils at the MONEY PIT. Emma scanned the nails with the XRF scanner and determined that most of them seemed to date from the mid to late 1800’s. This would indicate that they were searcher or resident related artifacts. There was one nail that appeared to be older, which Emma estimated to be the mid to late 1700’s which would be identified as pre-searcher. It should be noted that Robert Melvin lived on Oak Island at this time and may have been responsible for this artifact.
We were then taken to the MONEY PIT area, where Vanessa Lucido of ROC Equipment informed the Oak Island team that the water seemed to be helping stabilize the ground around the TB-1 Caisson. She mentioned that the depth of the caisson was about 164 Feet. She also mentioned there appears to be no plug in the caisson and is cutting through rock. The caisson had most likely entered the Solution Channel that resides beneath this area. It was agreed that the work would proceed as long as the area remained stabilized and still deemed safe to continue.
The action then shifted to the NORTH SWAMP area, where the Oak Island team continued their exploration and excavation on this part of the island. Dr. Spooner came to the area to render his opinion of what the team had found. He noted that the recently discovered cobble appears to be stones that were capable of being moved by man. It was very similar to the other cobble path and the stone path in the eastern part of the swamp. It appeared to set up a clear line of connection between the features. It was mentioned that the cobbles were beach stones and were placed tightly together. The area will be further explored and excavated by the archaeologists, working in test pits to gather more information and artifacts.
The scene then shifted back to the MONEY PIT area, where the Oak Island team continued the process of the installation of the TB-1 Caisson. The Caisson had reached a depth of 170 Feet and some wood was discovered. It was speculated that it may be from the fabled Chappell Vault. One piece of wood was examined by Alex Lagina. It was mentioned that the late Dan Blankenship believed that old wood sank when put in water and newer wood floated. Alex tested this theory and put the piece of wood in water and it sank, so he believed it was older. Of course, a more reliable method would be dendrochronology testing, but even that method has its questions of reliability.
The action then took us to the WAR ROOM, where the Oak Island team met with gemologists, Jeffrey Bilgore and John W. Ford, Sr., to talk about the glass gemstone that had been found at the LOT 5 excavation area. They mentioned the date of manufacture being between 1730-1775 and being European, which could include England, France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. It appeared to be an adornment that was on fabric or a coat. Aside from Jack Begley speculating about the possibilities, the experts said that a person who owned this was not the average person of the time, but someone with wealth and nobility. It was also mentioned that because of the tin around the artificial gemstone, it could have been a part of a military medal that would have been worn by a naval officer. It was immediately speculated that this could have been Duc d’Anville, although there is no legitimate evidence to suggest that he was ever on Oak Island while making his way to Halifax.
The episode returned to the WAR ROOM, where the Oak Island team reassembled, and met with surveyor, Steve Guptill to discuss the recent finding in the NORTH SWAMP area and maps that he created to show any similarities with other known features as a reference point. He mentioned that it appeared these features were all lining up with each other and that the dates seemed to indicate a late 1600’s to mid-1700’s time frame for activity. It was mentioned that the feature’s activity doesn’t seem to be farm related and that the work seemed to involve the whole island at one time. This was further identified as a “Island Wide Mystery” and it was the team’s goal to find the answer to this mystery.
The episode concluded back at the MONEY PIT area, where the Oak Island team had met with another problem with the installation of the TB-1 Caisson. Another collapse happened and the earth was caving in around the oscillator. It had reached a depth of 179 Feet. Vanessa Lucido of ROC Equipment said she was concerned about the safety in continuing this operation and she said if they continue, “We will obliterate this place.”. The team decided to end this operation at this location and not advance the caisson any further, deeming it too dangerous to proceed. This happens to be exactly the same conclusion other treasure hunters had learned over a hundred years ago when working in this area. The team opined that they could be close to the mythical Chappell Vault but will concentrate on putting down another can in hopefully a safer spot. It was described as a “devastating set back”.
ANALYSIS: During the War Room presentation with surveyor Steve Guptill, some of his maps were shown that revealed some very interesting information. The first is a graphic of the island with Lots and the North Swamp excavation area clearly visible. This indicates a northwest line of features running up towards the shore at Joudrey’s Cove. This author has added two features to this graphic. The yellow box at the top of the picture is what Fred Nolan called a “Brick Factory”. The red box is what Fred called, “Remains of Pirate Landing Dock”. In this author’s opinion, this feature was a dock that was being used for industrial operations in the middle 1700’s, after Lunenburg was founded. Not only were the French living around the area at this time, but the British came to Mahone Bay and were using the island’s natural resources.
The second graphic shows something that has never been indicated by the show. Near the Square Brick feature and Cobble Layer feature is a circular feature labeled, “2nd EYE”. The first “EYE” is located to the south and identified on past episodes as being a clay mining pit. This has not recently been brought up by the show, but this author is here to remind you. If this “2nd Eye” is another clay mining pit, this suggests how these features were being used. The cobbled paths were laid down in wet areas to assist in the transportation of raw materials, such as mined clay. The clay would have been used for many purposes, but one would have been the making of bricks. A lot of water is needed for this process and Oak Island was perfect for it. Other industrial projects used Oak Island’s natural resources, which included mining, tanning hides, lime making and etc. As more and more evidence is revealed, it seems clear that at least this part of the Oak Island Mystery is solved.
Please follow our weekly episode analyses during the season, along with articles from the original “Compendium/Blockhouse Blog”, and special investigations and features involving Oak Island. Feel free to reach out to us for questions, comments, information and any theories to our email, theoakislandcompendium@gmail.com
Good day from Daniel of the Compendium!