SEASON 12, EPISODE 19, “BARRELING FORWARD” EPISODE ANALYSIS

The Curse of Oak Island – The History Channel

In this week’s episode, “BARRELING FORWARD”, the show began as the Oak Island team continued their operation at the RP-2 caisson. A recap from the previous week’s episode and the work completed was shown, which seems to be a weekly pattern. Metal detectorist Gary Drayton, while examining the contents of the hammer grab from RP 2, found a piece of iron that he speculated was from a box or treasure chest. Although based on this week’s title of the episode, the better bet is that it’s from a barrel, in this author’s opinion.

The action then took us to the NORTH SWAMP area, where the Oak Island team continued their work near the shore of Joudrey’s Cove. The team remarked that the whole area has the earmarks of depositor activity. A wood log was discovered that had elongated grooves running down it and metal detectorist Catya Drayton said that it had metal in it. Archeological Assistant Ethan Green was called over and he mentioned that he thought the log was worked by man and had an apparent tread. He believed it may have been used as a roller to move things over swampy land, which certainly reinforces the evidence of an industrial operation occurring through this area.

We were then taken back to LOT 5, where the Oak Island team continued their excavation in the test pits near the circular foundation. It was mentioned that it is believed that multiple groups used this area at different times, which this author concurs with that opinion. Archeologist Fiona Steele discovered a piece of iron that was only slightly corroded. She speculated it may have been a wharf pin and dated it from the mid to late 1700’s. A piece of red pottery was found and was thought to be Astbury Ware. This type of pottery was British in origin and dates from 1725. John Astbury, the original potter, died in 1743, but this type of pottery was made through the 1700’s.

The action shifted to the WASH PLANT, where the Oak Island team continued the sorting and examining of spoils from the RP 2 Caisson. A handle from some kind of pottery was found. The handle had glaze on one side but not the other. It was suggested that it was an older type of pottery because of this feature. Another piece of pottery was shown and it was suggested that it had a Fleur-de-Lys on it. It was then compared to the French Military Cap Badge that had been discovered in Season 6, Episode 5, “Homecoming”. The Compendium examined this artifact in our Artifact Alley series and it was determined that it did not depict a fleur-de-lys, was not a badge pin and not necessarily of French origin.

We were then taken back to the MONEY PIT area where the Oak Island Team continued their work in the new borehole named RP 2. It was reported that the oscillator had reached a depth of 96 feet. The hammer grab pulled up a large wooden beam. It appeared to be oak and had a carved-out notch. It was speculated that it could be from the original Money Pit works. A large amount of wood was shown from these spoils. The oscillator reached a depth of 100 feet and the work was called for the day and it was hoped that treasure would be found the next morning.

The scene then shifted to the NORTH SWAMP area, where the Oak Island team continued its exploration and excavation of this region of the island. After searching for more evidence, another stake was discovered. It had eight cuts like others that have been found. It was remarked that there appeared to be construction of a path through a wetland area. It was also noticed that markers with blue flags on them, which indicated where wooden stakes had been found, measured exactly 14 feet apart. This indicated to the team that surveying was being used with measurement and engineering. It was mentioned that metal detectorist Katya Drayton was leaving the island and returning home to Florida.

The action then took us to the WAR ROOM, where the Oak Island team assembled to discuss C-14 dating results of a dowel that was found in the RP 2 Caisson spoils. As the results were quickly flashed on the screen, Craig Tester said that the dowel was from the 1725-1784 time period. It was also mentioned that this could be from the original Money Pit and that time frame matches many of the finds on Lot 5. It was remarked that all the theories involving Oak Island are still in play including the Duc d’Anville theory. Although this author disagrees with that conclusion.

The episode concluded back at the MONEY PIT area, where the Oak Island team continued their installation of the RP 2 Caisson. At a depth of 112 feet the spoils revealed a piece of adze cut wood. A piece of a barrel stave was also found and it was mentioned that coins could have been in barrels. At a depth of 116 feet the oscillator seemed to hit an obstruction making it work harder. At a depth of 120 feet, it was noticed that the oscillator was into in-situ material and it was decided to end the work in this borehole and install another one right next to it to continue to locate the mythical treasure of Oak Island.

ANALYSIS: It was mentioned in the last segment that the Oak Island team believed that the many barrel parts that they have found in the Money Pit area were there in addition to treasure chests. This is not what the Oak Island Treasure Company reported in the 1860’s. They speculated that there were either treasure chests or barrels that they drilled through. It was then reported that they did find barrel parts in that drilling. There are other stories that indicate that barrels were resting in the original Money Pit. In fact, there are stories of entire barrels being taken out of the pit and rolled out and removed from the area and the workers never returning.

This author has detailed this fact in previous writings. Some have proposed that barrels were used by searchers in the past, so they were responsible for the ones discovered. This is not accurate in this author’s opinion because barrels were encountered at depths that had been undisturbed by past searchers. It seems quite clear that barrels were stacked in the Money Pit. It also seems clear that coconut fiber was put in the Money Pit as an insulation against wetness. This author must ask, why would you need to keep gold and silver coins dry? What would you need to keep dry that was kept in barrels during the 1700’s in Nova Scotia? Specifically, what would you need to keep dry at that time during the American Revolution?

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!