In this week’s episode, “IT’S ALL YOUR VAULT”, the show began by talking about the upcoming plan for drilling in the Money Pit area. Then the Oak Island team is introduced to Gary’s daughter, Katya Drayton, who will be assisting in metal detecting this season. We were then taken to Smith’s Cove where the Oak Island team continued to search for the mythical flood tunnel and the Restall’s worksite. While scanning the spoils, a piece of iron is found by the team. A guess on its purpose was not put forth. After more excavating, a beam and pieces of wood are uncovered. It is hypothesized that this might be the outline of a shaft that could be the Restall’s or perhaps an earlier operation. The wood appeared to be in three different sizes, and it was recommended that samples be sent for dendrochronology testing.
The action shifted to Lot 5, where the Oak Island team continued to work on the stone foundation. Archeologist Laird Niven explained that they were working on the north side of the structure to locate a wall. It is often repeated that several artifacts have been discovered in this area, including what was described as a Lead Barter Token. This author has previously shown that this is most likely a whizzer aka whirligig that was made from a flattened musket ball into a toy. It’s interesting to note that previously it was identified by the show as Roman, but it now appears they have decided to drop that from its description. While excavating, the team discovered a clay pipe stem. It had the initials “TD” on it. Laird then states that the initials probably stand for “Thomas Dormer”, a pipe maker from the mid 1700’s. Upon further investigation, these pipes were imported from London to North America and were extremely common. The manufacture date on these ranged from 1755 to 1780.
We were then taken to Lot 4, where the 10 tons of spoils from the Lot 5 excavation site are continuing to be examined. Metal detectorist Gary Drayton began by finding a button. After more scanning, he detected a non-ferrous target, and it appeared to be lead shot. He was not sure of the caliber and mentioned they should get more information on it when sent to Emma at the Lab. They then found what appeared to be a piece of silver. Gary mentioned it appeared to be hammered silver and could possibly be a cut coin that was old. These finds were sent to Emma for further testing and identification.
We were then taken to the Money Pit Area, where the Oak Island team was drilling in the new borehole called E.75-5.6. A core sample was brought up and examined. It showed in situ material followed by wood pieces at 109 Feet. It was speculated that it could be a part of a tunnel or shaft. Another sample was brought up from 115 feet. More wood was found, and it appeared to be blackened. Charles Barkhouse was asked if there were any known tunnels in this area and he said NO. This is quite curious and will be discussed in our analysis. It appeared to the team that between 110 to 117 feet there was some sort of collapsed structure.
The action then took us back to Smith’s Cove where the Oak Island team has been working. After extensive digging with the long excavator, they have been unable to find the vertical shaft that the Restall’s discovered. The team has been unable to find any more manmade workings. They have found more wood, but nothing at depth. They have decided to suspend operations at the site and perhaps pick it up at a later date and dig deeper. The team remarked that at least they found cement, so it wasn’t a complete loss.
The scene shifted to the Lab where the Oak Island team was being briefed by Archeometallurgist Emma Culligan and Archeologist Laird Niven regarding the recent finds on Lot 4. Emma stated that the piece of silver was modern and had a high level of aluminum. This surprised the team. It was mentioned that this is “Still Treasure”, which is highly debatable. The focus then shifted to the lead ball that was found. Emma stated that the lead seems to be pure and not modern. She said this was used for a very long time and was old. She estimated before 1700. It should be noted that lead was reused and repurposed for hundreds of years in some cases. So, finding a lead object is extremely difficult to date and pinpoint when it was exactly used. The button that was found was not mentioned.
The episode concluded at the Money Pit area where the team continued their drilling operation in Borehole 7.5-5.6. The team reached a depth of 149 feet and the core sample revealed huge pieces of wood, that could indicate a beam and a plank which suggested that the structure collapsed. They also found pieces of what appeared to be concrete but also could be pieces of limestone. It was then speculated that they could have hit the Chappell Vault that was supposedly found in 1897, although it is uncertain if that was in fact a vault that was discovered. The Oak Island Treasure Company believed it was a vault with a wooden box with cement around it and had gold ingots inside, because bits of gold were allegedly brought up on their auger. This is also when the famous piece of parchment with the VI was discovered. The current team believes that they may have hit the periphery of this vault and is a prime candidate for a caisson to be put down and investigate the area.
ANALYSIS:
During the drilling of Borehole 7.5-5.6, Oak Island Historian, Charles Barkhouse, was asked if there were any known tunnels in the area and he remarked, No. This is puzzling because there were. According to Oakislandlegends.com, the website of Cerca Trova Limited of the Oak Island Team, regarding the Oak Island Treasure Company’s 1897 operation, “They reached a depth of 110 feet in The Money Pit, they came across one of the old Eldorado/Halifax Company tunnels entering at 108 feet and noticed that all of the water flowing into the pit came through this tunnel. They explored it a short distance and came to an intersecting tunnel at the end of which was a large cribbed shaft extending up into the darkness as far as they could see. They had been excavating the wrong shaft (SHAFT #3). Moving 10 feet to the Southeast, they broke through the topsoil and soon confirmed they were now in the original Money Pit.” This is in the same general vicinity of their current search. How does the Oak Island team not know this information when it is listed on their own website? It should also be noted that shafts including Truro Shaft #1 were also in this vicinity. What the team is currently finding is most likely the remnants of old searcher tunnels and shafts. This area is also on the periphery of Roberts Dunfield’s dig, so any attempts to probe there seems to be a futile effort in this writer’s opinion.
Please follow our weekly episode analyses during the season, along with our Throwback Thursday 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 the Compendium!