In this week’s episode, “A BEAD ON THE TARGET”, the show began with the Oak Island team meeting in the War Room and talking about the upcoming plan for working in the Swamp this season. They identified four areas that they will be focusing on. The first is the STONE ROAD area, the second is the PAVED area, the third is the COBBLED PATH area, and the fourth is the NORTH BOG area. The latter being located on the Nolan property on Lot 10. The team decided to start at the NORTH BOG area because it has had the least amount of investigation.
The Curse of Oak Island – The History Channel
The action shifted to the NORTHERN SWAMP (BOG) area where the Oak Island team began excavating. A plank was discovered and identified as ‘old” looking, because it was hand cut. The team also uncovered large logs that were put together making some sort of platform. A layer of stones was underneath the logs. The team was baffled by the construction and decided to ask Tom Nolan if his father built it or if he knew anything about it. The team remarked that “Somebody was here doing something.”
We were then taken to the Lot 5 area, where the Oak Island team continued to excavate the STONE FOUNDATION where numerous artifacts have been discovered. Archeologist, Moya MacDonald discovered a bead. Venetian beads were discovered in the same area last season. This new bead was red and seemed smaller than the others. It was speculated that the discovery was astonishing and may be related to hiding valuables. Although it is quite clear that these types of beads were used in trade with the indigenous populations by the French and English in North America from the 1500’s to the 1800’s. The Compendium pointed this out last season when the first beads were discovered.
We were then taken back to the NORTHERN SWAMP area where the team continued their excavation. The team noticed that there appeared to be six logs stacked together with some being for a platform and others being what was termed, “Carrier logs”. It appeared that cobble was laid down for what would be assumed as stability of the ground. The area is quite large, and the team was still uncertain of the purpose of the construction. It was suggested that Dr. Ian Spooner view the area and get organic samples of the material to try and date the construction. Although, this is particularly problematic when older material was mixed with newer material from activity in the area over time.
The action then took us to the Money Pit area, where the core drilling of the new borehole, D.25-6.75 , was taking place. This location is a short distance north from the previous drilling location. A core sample from 99 feet was brought up and examined. It was mentioned that this sample contained some of the biggest pieces of wood that had been found in this hole. This led to speculation by Charles Barkhouse that this could be the original Money Pit and is in the same area that the previous T-1 location was explored. In this area there was a significant amount of wood that was brought up from 100 feet. This is also the same area where clays from Lot 5 have been found. It should be noted that this sample most likely indicates that searcher shafts and tunnels are in this area as was described in last week’s analysis.
The scene shifted to the LAB, where the Oak Island team met with Archeologist Laird Niven and Archeometallurgist Emma Culligan to go over the results of the bead that was recently found on Lot 5. Archeologist Moya MacDonald stated that when she found the bead, she wasn’t sure what it was because they’d been finding bricks and red coarse earthenware in the same area. Laird mentioned that this piece is smaller than the other beads previously found and is called a “seed bead”. Emma then went over the results of the XRF testing and said this bead fell within the same cluster of results of the other beads and it was also a Venetian bead. She mentioned it had copper in its composition, and she believed it was manufactured from the early 1700’s to 1600’s. Laird mentioned that they were trade beads that the Compendium determined last season and not Templar related as the show originally put forth. It was stated that the presence of this bead was “way before people should have been there” (Oak Island). Historically this is inaccurate as people were living in the Mahone Bay area all through the 1600’s.
The scene shifted back to the Money Pit area and the continued drilling of Borehole D.25-6.75. The drilling reached a depth of 159 feet and the samples revealed nothing but sand, and no wood. The team believed it was backfill from the T-1 caisson. The team speculated that perhaps the drill was diverted by a boulder and missed the fabled “Chappell Vault”. Charles Barkhouse mentioned that these results were very disappointing and frustrating for the team. Although it seems quite clear, this will be the continued result in this overworked and mutilated area of the island.
The episode concluded at the NORTHERN SWAMP area where the team continued their excavation. Further work has revealed that there was a platform of logs that appeared to be a ramp of some sort that may have been used to transport something. It is mentioned that the Eye of the Swamp is only 60 feet away from this area and it appears to be related to this construction. This began the often-repeated story of the Eye of the Swamp being similar to the Masonic Eye of Providence. Then somehow it was spun into the whole area being tied to William Phips burying silver on the island and being related to this particular area.
ANALYSIS: One of the biggest mysteries of all is how “The Curse of Oak Island” apparently does not remember their past episodes and findings. In Season 7, Episode 18 “THE TURNING POINT”, after excavating and working in the Eye of the Swamp, it led to the belief that the Eye was a location of a clay mining operation. Blue Clay and other clays were discovered in abundance along with mercury and other evidence that clearly indicated mining activities. So, if there is a ramp and structure very close to the Eye, it would be logical to assume it was related to this clay mining activity. A large amount of clay would need to be transported to different parts of the island to be made into bricks and for other uses and purposes that were needed at the time.
It was quite interesting that Moya mentioned that they have been finding bricks in the Lot 5 area. The Compendium last season presented evidence that the island was being used for brick making activity. Our detailed investigation showed what Fred Nolan called a “Brick Factory” that was located on Lot 9, right next to this NORTHERN SWAMP AREA that is currently being excavated. This writer is disappointed that this “Brick Factory” was not listed as a place that was going to be investigated this season. This should have been something excavated and investigated if one is seriously trying to solve the Oak Island Mystery 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!