The Curse of Oak Island S06E03

We're now 5 years in to the Lagina brothers hunt for treasure on Oak Island. Technically you could say they've achieved this, based on recent weeks, or by using your own definition of what treasure is. Regarding the mystery of the island though, they've a long way to go to get definitive answers. However, Smith's Cove might well be the next place that actually turns up results, as the Lagina brothers see the start of their cofferdam arriving in the form of a massive crane on a big pad by the cove. A hydraulic hammer will bash 120 steel sheets into the ground around the cove, then the area will be drained and a new beach for Dan Blankenship will be created. Ok, not the last bit but it's still 3 weeks until the dam will be ready.

Part of the gang are off on a jolly to Calgary to the HQ of Eagle Canada, who are the guys that blew up the Money Pit last week using seismic charges. Have they found anything? Is the world round? Of course they have something to show. If they are paid that much money, they will find something. Interestingly enough, it's revealed now that they also blew up another area nearby to the Money Pit which is known as the Mega Bin (another name for the island for some!) which is an area where previous excavations by Dan Blankenship found evidence of tunnels. The results are in for the Mega Bin. It shows an anomaly at about 50ft deep in the upper corner of the area. Apparently this red blob, which is amongst lots of blue blobs, is a void of some sort. The Money Pit results show a void too, at 160ft, which is smack bang near where they drilled two of their holes last season ... and missed. This, ladies and gentlemen, is why you should always do your research and gain a deeper knowledge of where to drill, rather than just closing one eye and taking a chance! They believe this void might be the Chapell Vault which they were looking for last year when they found those human bones and pottery. Yet another anomaly is also found near the Money Pit which they think shows a flood tunnel. I think I might need a 3 day course to understand those charts though ...

Back at the island, Jack, Gary and Mike West (Geophysics wizard) are at Captain Anderson's lot, number 26, on the beach. Mike has one of those EM61s again on a buggy that he drags around beeping all the time. This scanner is more powerful than Gary's. You'd think there might be a "mine's bigger than yours" fight but Gary is cool with Mike's gadget that can go to a depth of 20ft. First up, they find a 1700's metal spike. Hmm. Then they find a metal hook. Naturally Gary has already put 1+1 together and believes this shows Captain Anderson using the area as a port.

Back in War Room and the gang gather to show off the seismic maps. They pick locations for the next core holes and the priority. Naturally they are going for the obvious first.

The Next Day the brothers observe Smith's Cove's cofferdam construction which is very impressive I must say. A tad later drilling equipment arrives in the form of sonic drills that literally blast everything out of their way when drilling. So, not destroying it by crushing it but obliterating evidence. Nice. Anyhow, geologist Terry Matheson, who helped them with the previous holes which missed the target, helps them choose the next hole sites. First hole is called DE6 and every 10ft they bring back samples. At 80ft deep they bring up wood which they believe is from a collapsed tunnel. Either that, or they've a big beaver problem.

Back at Lot 26, the next item to be found is mighty amazing for it looks like a long metal item with a sharp tip: i.e from a crossbow! Gary is very excited and could do with a minute to compose himself as he thinks it's very old, like Templar old, which is 12th/13th century and possibly used to pierce chainmail. Is it what it looks like though?

Lots of blobs in the Mega Bin.

Lots of wood in DE6.

An impressive sharp tip from a crossbow?

Rating 8/10 - A highly promising episode, with the cofferdam under construction, discovers on Lot 26 and targets in the Money Pit area.

The Curse of Oak Island S06E02

Fresh with excitement about that discovery last episode, Rick and Gary drive a long distance across the island to knock up Dan's house where Marty is already gathered. Hope they've put the kettle on! Inside, they show the broach to the two non-experts who both like what they see. Gary's insight is that it's a fancy one but mine is that it's also past its best in its current form. Is it related to a treasure or just accidentally dropped on the floor by someone? We're reminded that this is the second jewel they've found, or resemblance of a jewel. Soon they'll be opening up the Oak Island Jewellers. Gary thinks it's 1700's or older. Thanks for really pinning that down, Gary. We're also reminded of James Anderson (not the England bowler) who was a pirate who once lived on the island.

Back at the Money Pit, and there's more explosions, like there's a badger being chased across the area at 100mph. More seismic scanning at its best is going on. There's been 100 in the last hour, with more being set off in the hopes of making a decent map of the area underneath. Here's hoping it's something that sort of looks coherent.

Laird drives to the Exhibition Centre, clearly having already been busy elsewhere pulling up trees as his hands are dirty. Some of the gang are there for him to look at the latest broach. Laird has never seen anything like it before, so thanks Laird. He does say that jewellery finds are rare in Nova Scotia. He thinks it might be gilded by gold.

Next day and it's off to Smith's Cove to meet two of the company's looking to splash the brother's cash like there's no tomorrow, Irving and Brycon. They plan to make a 25ft deep coffer dam but first a new road needs to be built to get that 300ft crane out to the cove. Apparently it'll take about a week to get started once road is there.

Pub booze-up next as some of the gang gather to talk about the broach and offer zero valuable insights. However, they are going to go on a jolly to Calgary, some 3,000 miles away. Well, Dave and the brothers are. Charles Lewton-Brain is a gemologist and uses a digital video microscope to examine the first "jewel" from last season which he says is hand cut, and has a refractive index of 1.7. That means it's a garnet gemstone!

Next, this season's "gemstone" which is of a softer material, and has an occlusion of bubbles, which means it's nothing special and just glass. Still, it looks pretty. Certainly he thinks it's handmade and not modern. Maybe up to 500 years old. We're told about secret societies, like the freemasons, by the narrator because glass makers used to be quite secretive with their colouring stuff.

The second "gem's" broach is looked at next and he says the wire around the outside section is super ancient. The technique used is called block twisting. Potentially it's older than 13th century which makes it that much older than anything else they've found on the island so far; yes, even older than Dan Blankenship.

Next day and the road is being made. Marty, Craig and Alex held off to Halifax to meet that Professor of Chemistry lady again and get that broach examined. She uses magnifying scope and chemical composition. Initially there's just brass but, wait for it, there's some sections of GOLD!

Gold
(Gold)
Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believe in, 'cos you are.

Blimey! Actual gold? Well, I'll be blown down. It is perhaps only gold plated but could be up to 700 years old.

Later that day, in the War Room, all this info is shared and much nodding and fist pumping goes on. Ok, not a lot, but they are happy.

Rick & Dan (the other Dan) are at the Money pit to check on those seismic charges and ... it's all done. Should take only two weeks to get data processed and generate a 3D Map. Ohhh, at least two weeks goes quickly on this show.

We end up with a familiar site. The road is ready to the cove and lots of large lorries and trailers make their way onto the island.

Rick points out how much bigger the "gem" looks when magnified ...

This is ancient stuff. The thing in gold, not the pointer.

The convoy of serious money being spent arrives.

Rating 7/10 - Although this is a bit of filler episode in terms of new action, we get a lot confirmed about those two broaches and we are ready to start that dam and get that 3D map.

The Curse of Oak Island S06E01

We’re back and it’s a foggy wet day on Oak Island, much like my brain is clouded when it comes to remembering what happened last season; lots of digging, chatting in the War Room, money being spent and a cross as the big find? That’s about the gist of my failing memory. However, it’s great to be back, as we can look forward to how people with a lot of money can cause a lot of destruction in a relatively small space for little reward … for another season. This is TV entertainment folks!

Things get started with the obligatory air shot of Oak Island, which is a little foggy today, as Rick and Marty drive towards the island fresh with bags of money and plenty of ideas of how to make as much of a mess as possible. We’re reminded that this is a 50-year-old childhood dream for the brothers who are hoping that this year is the year that dreams come true: much like the last 5 seasons then. Marty says he’s only 70% convinced that something happened on Oak Island, which apparently is much more than he started with, which goes to show how someone with a lot of money can soon find them parted from the $$$$s.

OMG! There’s a new War Room! Apparently, tourists have been causing havoc so a new one has been established in a secluded spot, which you’d think wouldn’t be easy on such a small island. It’s still got the same sign on the outside though (EST. 2013) but hey, who cares about accurate dates on this island? Everyone is inside, like the knights of the round table, including Dan who has rarely left the house. Pleased to see Craig Tester is still there, despite what he said at end of last series. The big three are on the table, no, not Rick, Marty and Jim, but the targets for this year: the swamp, the money pit and Smith’s Cove. The latter involves the idea of a massive coffer dam so they can find that wooden structure underneath which they think are trapdoors. H8 in the money pit is also one of the 3 where they hope a series of multiple seismic analysis will finally reveal what’s below. This feels a little familiar when it comes to wanting to find out what lies below, aside from mud and water. Also on the table is having metal detector expert Gary spend the rest of his life scanning the island, starting with lots 1-8 and a few others never previously checked before. There’s excitement at nuking area of trees in order for Gary to wield his manly detector.

The next day and there’s a trip to the money pit to map those seismic tests. In comes a geophysical company to do the dirty work. First up, a test! Blimey, that’s a change. They have mapped up where they know a searcher shaft from mid 1800s (called Halifax Tunnel) is located. If this goes well, the brothers will feel more willing to spend one million dollars on having the whole area scanned.  A series of 2ft holes along that area are filled with dynamite and then detectors to pick up the vibrations: good vibrations one hopes. This literally is akin to blowing up money.

Marty and three of the team head to Smith’s Cove to see if the winter’s storm has washed anything up. Gary is out with his detector and … he finds a modern iron spike. Next up, they find some lead! Possibly from a ship, so the hype wagon drums up to us. They all seem super excited already.

It’s the first trip to the pub of the season, as some of the gang look over the lead speculating about it, including that maybe those who lost that cross on the cove lost the lead. Hmm, maybe. Or, maybe not. They want to get the lead tested to find out its original geological location. Which, partially in my mind, might be the off the back of a nearby fishing vessel.

Next day again, and the seismic test in the money pit is almost ready, but Gary and Rick head to Lot 2 which has been a little mutilated. Apparently, this is the first ever time this lot has been metal detected. First up, there’s a massive boulder covered in moss which they clear and find a signal near. They found a massive coin from 1797! Wowzers. Now this is actually something tangible. Very handy when they have dates on them huh? Doesn’t really answer much about the mystery of island but shows people were here and pretty careless with their money in the 1790s. It could show that there was a British presence not long after the discovery of the money pit in 1795.

At the Money Pit, the test line is almost ready as they detonate about 150 small charges that will be detected. Not all at once though but one by one. Next day in War Room they look over the results. This shows the a 2D layer cross section of the area that’s like a mosaic mess of colours, but they do show that Halifax tunnel in the results.

Next day and there’s a convoy onto the island as the seismic test team start preparing about 1,000 charges and detectors to create a 3D map of the ground beneath the entire money pit. It feels strange to detonate the ground although I assume it’s a muffled detonation that’s not very destructive.

Craig, Dave and Peter are on a car ride 300 miles NW to Fredericton to watch over a test of that lead cross from last season. At a university they will laser the cross and then get its isotope that’ll tell us roughly where it came from.

Back at Lot 2, Gary and Jack the destroyer are searching the forest undergrowth. There’s nothing at all to start of with but they zero in on another boulder and, hey presto, there’s something there that’s iron; literally on the top of it and a hole on the side. Definitely manmade but when and why? Gary thinks it might have been used to put a ring and rope around to help pull something along, maybe treasure?

Back at Fredericton and the chemical analysis is on its way. First up, there’s traces of hey ho silver in it which isn’t unusual due to a lack of techniques in the past to refine better. The next main revelation is that it’s not from North America. Let speculation begin! These results are later discussed in the War Room via a teleconference. There’s still a good chance it’s Templar related, not least because it looks very similar to their crosses. There’s talk of Europe specialists to call upon next. Is this another plane trip?

Back at Lot 2, Rick and Laird join to look at that boulder, and pull back more of the moss to reveal yet more drill holes. There’s also a small triangular shape chiselled onto the side of the stone. Is it a freemason mark? Or is it nothing in particular?

Next day and more charges are detonated in the Money Pit but in Smith’s Cove the guys bring in an EM61 metal detector equipment on wheels that can go much deeper than the handheld ones that Gary uses. Poor Gary must be feeling inferior right now.

Rick, Dave and Craig are on a road trip to Irving Company, who have been the people making those big massive holes in the money pit these past few years. These guys have some proposals on how to construct that dam at Smith’s Cove. By way of augmented reality, they show how it’ll look with two massive cranes helping to construct the dam. The guy wearing the headset was totally unnecessary really and timewasting, but it seems Rick and co see enough to cement the deal. No real surprise there then? Some companies only have to sneeze, and Rick is ready to wipe their noses.

Back at Smith’s Cove and the EM61 has trawled the area and locates something metallic in one area deep below the sand although there’s not much to say what it is.

Gary and Rick head to Lot 21 which has also been a little mutilated as well. This is where Daniel McGinnis used to live back in 1700s, whom we had his descendants visit last season and tell the story of a cross said to have been found by him. First up, an old hinge. Then … it’s another jewel/gem brooch of a red colour. Ohhhhhhh, it’s beautiful.

The Money Pit gets yet more destruction by way of dynamite.

This is the result of Money Pit tests ... yeah, It makes no sense to me either.

Oh, a 1797 beautiful coin!

And a broach ...

Rating 8/10 – A very decent start to the season with concrete plans, discoveries, and more money being spent than you can possibly imagine. It all looks very promising, but then, it always does at this early stage of a season doesn't it?

The Curse of Oak Island S05E16

Synopsis

We dive down DMT in the Money Pit to find out what that obstruction os, discuss the jewel and then take a good hard look at what to make out of the finds this season.

What I thought

Finally, we’ve made it to the, umm, final. This is the end of the season in terms of the TV series and the work that the gang are conducting on the island in 2017 before the harsh Canadian winter returns.

First up, there’s a meeting in the War Room with most of the main gang in there, and Marty/Craig on the videoconference, to discuss the broach and jewel find from last episode.  Gary, the metal detecting master, gives the result of his visit to a gem expert who says the “jewel” is a rhodonite garnet and about 4 to 5 hundred old stone. In case you’re like me, saying “what?”, this is a semi-precious stone that’s been used in decorative items since back to the Egyptians. So, it’s not a treasure, but it is pretty old … oh, and it looks pretty! Marty, bizarrely, asks a very sensible question - “how do you date a stone?” - upon which the answer via Gary is that it’s based on observations of the cuts on the stone as they are handmade. It’s also set in silver with copper leaching out, which also helped date it to a time when they used lots more copper than they do these days in silver items. I didn’t know they used any copper in silver items, but this is an education I guess.

Next day we’re back in the Money Pit where diver Mike Huntley arrives with all his gear. The water in DMT has been treated with “flocculent” which clings to anything moving about in the water and makes them settle at the bottom. Effectively this is clearing the water. Did they not use this in previous dives? Would have been useful you’d think. Or would it have? More on that in a moment. Mike is hooked up in a Robocop diving suit with lots of helpers and paramedics around as he dives to 77ft to find out what that obstruction is. Rick and a few others are in the dive’s crew compartment with Craig on skype also watching in. Mike is lowered by a bowsen’s chair slowly down until he gets into the water. Oh uh. Seems that treatment didn’t help with visibility! Mike gets off chair and is making his way down in near crap visibility. Unfortunately, that treatment has made the bottom like a jelly, so he aborts as he can’t stay on the floor. Up he comes from the first dive. On the second dive he’s had more weights added to his suit to help. Mike confirms there’s something down there, of which he believes it’s a metal plate. Jack high fives everyone on the entire island and starts jumping about like Tigger. Mike is asked to get samples, which can’t be that easy to do but he’s got a knife. Seems he didn’t actually get anything much from the metal if we go by what they say about his sample finds. He did at least say he reckoned it was 8 inches, although I don’t know if he meant width or height there. A third dive is planned but it’s not Mike this time as he’s had his daily limit and thus the backup diver is going down to get better samples. He’s also got a metal detector in one hand but it picks up no metal. A major depression hits everyone. This diver feels it with his hand and think it’s just a hard rock. A very hard rock. Yup, no metal. NO chest, or anything too exciting. Pretty much it’s what I thought, which was that it didn’t look like metal in the first place.

Next day there’s a meeting with the drilling companies, Irving and Roc, where they meet the gang and bid farewell … for now.

Some 30 minutes gone in to this episode and there’s ten minutes left, so it’s time for a big meeting with everyone involved to discuss what they’ve found this season and what comes next. Will they give up? Hell no. We basically regurgitate the big finds of the season, i.e. that cross, the 1600s coins, bones and the its-not-a-jewel jewel. Aging Dan has best view of everyone, mentioning that how much they go on depends on Rick and Marty’s money pockets and that it was the mystery of the island that first drew him to search here x number of years ago. What they’ve got all over the table, the finds of the season, is a lot of something and a lot of nothing, in my opinion. It says a lot, but it also doesn’t really say anything about any treasure on the island. However, like Dan says, there is still a mystery to be solved.

As they all depart, we’re left to wonder if they will return as no firm plans have been made for next year at this point. There’s a lot of man hugging between the gang which is heart-warming to see. They’ve certainly made significant finds this season but it’s true that none really answer the treasure mystery. I’m sure they will continue, and with a proper archaeologist on board now and Gary the metal detecting extraordinaire, I feel that with more solid help from real experts, they could really make breakthroughs.

Rating 6/10 - The season ends on a whimper in the Money Pit but the "jewel" and all the finds from this season should help keep our chins up.

The jewel turns out to be not that valuable but very old.

Mike heads down DMT to find out what the obstruction is.

And ... it's a very hard stone, not metal.

The gang gather to debate and say farewell.

The Curse of Oak Island S05E15

Synopsis

There's a discovery in Smith's Cove that's not quite up to THAT cross standard, a relic from the past is delivered and some real treasure (maybe) is FINALLY found!

What I thought

It’s the penultimate episode of the season. Can the team top the discovery of THAT cross? Will the Money Pit ever prove to be a worthwhile venture? Will Jack shave his beard?

We’re in the War Room having a big discussion about the Money Pit where the gang call up Mike Huntley, the diver, via a conference call about going down DMT to check out what the heck that metal structure is at the bottom. Naturally, he’s up … for going down.

At Smith’s Cove it’s time for some digging, Lagina style, as they get out their kick-ass ‘No stone unturned’ yellow JCB. Marty is driving with Jim, Charles and Rick assembled nearby. With the tide out, they start digging near to where they found THAT cross. After digging up a trench and starting to go through the spoils, they find a whole load of wood in the trench, perhaps a wooden structure. But, with the tide rising very quickly, they go further speedily and see what else is there. We’re reminded by the narrator of a previous excavation done by Dan Blankenship where they found a wooden-U-shape structure which had roman numerals carved on some of the wood at strategic locations. That excavation was cut short by a storm; this one is cut short by the tide coming in. Later in the day Rick and Charles visit Dan Blankenship to discuss his previous excavation although nothing new about his 1971 adventure can be conclusively revealed from this conclusion, but with that piece of wood they have dug up, they can get it carbon dated to see when that U-shape was likely created.

Road-trip time! Rick, Dave and Charles head North to Wolfville to meet the descendants of a man who worked with Robert Dunfield who have an artefact from the Money Pit that one of the crane operators, Harold Bishop, found back in the 60s when Dunfield tried but failed to reach and find the Chappell Shaft.  It’s a section of wood (with a modern plaque) allegedly found in the Money Pit that is thought might be part of a ship. We then have a reminder of Doug, the researcher, and his ship log translation from a few weeks ago before the gang talk about the various tests that can be done to find out the date of the wooden section’s metal nails, the actual tree and maybe the tree’s species.

A few days later, it’s a War Room meeting with John Wonnacottt, a geophysical engineer, someone who worked with Dan Blankenship on the u-shape structure 30 years ago, albeit to an inclusive verdict. The wood found in Smith’s Cove earlier is dated as 1684-1732; the Bishop wood 1646-1690. Bingo!

Yet another few days later, Rick and Gary are back in Lot 8 for metal detecting near to where last week they found the keyhole/lockplate object. First up, they find a metal button, quite small, maybe military from late 1700s. Next, it’s part of a broach. Then, just nearby the same hole, they find a jewel!! Yes, no sh*t Sherlock, a jewel!??? Hold the next season of Oak Island, we’ve found … Treasure!!!!! It’s a nice red jewel, 12 facets, in a worn unexciting circular metal casing. The metal bits aren’t very pretty or interesting, but the jewel itself is as clean, intact and beautiful as it was when it was first cut. The narrator gives us the story of Marie Antoinette and her missing crown jewels that are rumoured to have been buried on Oak Island. Pure speculation of course. The gang get really excited about the jewel, as they should, but what’s it date? It’s value? We won’t find out this episode though as those blooming credits start to roll.

Rating 7/10 - A show of discoveries, all potentially very significant. And there's TREASURE!?

When it comes to excavating, it's not worth doing without a JCB, right?

Oh man, not more blooming wood??? Well, this is 1600s wood!

Rick sniffs the wood and smells late 1600s. He's right!

It's a button ... sigh ...

It's a broach .... ohhhhh

IT'S A JEWEL!!!! OMG!!!!!

The Curse of Oak Island S05E14

Synopsis

There's lots of deliberation over the obstruction down DMT, speculation over THAT cross and an interesting metal detection find.

What I thought

It’s a day on from the obstruction incident and the gang are inspecting the damage to equipment and deliberating what to do next in the DMT hole.  First up, they pump out water and sludge from inside the casing.

Later in same day, Rick, Marty and Gary welcome Kathleen to the War Room. She’s an author and researcher. She’s been in the show before when she took Marty and Alex to France to show them various Knight’s templar details. That was over 3 years ago, when Alex had a ponytail and we could probably still believe that the narrator was actually not leading us up the garden path with his speculation and ability to end a show ramping us up to frenzy level before crushing us at the start of the next episode. Anyhow … they show her THAT cross, where she almost has a seizure it seems. 

She’s well impressed, as are we all. She says crosses of that type range from 11^th-13^th century although her view is it’s “really old”. Is she related to Gary? Lol. We’re further reminded of their meeting 3 years ago, when in France, with a Templar “grandmaster” who gives his thoughts via an email. His theory is the cross may have been worn on a necklace with other items and maybe contains gold under the lead. This means there could be more parts of the necklace in Smith’s Cove. There’s then more talk about a region in France that might be ‘New Canada’. They also show her Smith’s Cove and talk about how to cover the whole area to search for more and the logistics and technical issues in doing that.

We’re back in Money Pit where the pumping begins in DMT before we cut to Lot 8 in middle of island for more metal detecting with Gary, Rick and Marty. This is another of Fred Nolan’s plot I believe. There’s another reminder of that KEY Fred found and his maps of the island which led them to this location. First up they find a keyhole plate, the kind you’d expect on a chest. Naturally there’s a link to chest cases and the key, although it could be that it belongs to anything.

More pumping action at 74ft in DMT as Rick, Alex and one of the engineers stand on a platform at top of casing to see water being taken out. The remote camera specialist duo are called in so as to drop a HD camera down the casing – on a cord not course, not just dropping it. Doug, the researcher and Jim are lurking nearby too. Oh, and Jack. The narrator has us wondering if the obstruction is a door in the money pit or a vault. There’s really nothing to see via the camera but mud and stones. Water soon comes back into the casing, ending the viewing. Theories over where the water comes from is regurgitated to us by the narrator. Next up, they drop down a beam to probe the bottom of the casing. Even though there’s nothing tangible to see, these guys think the obstruction is metal, possibly steel.

In the War Room, it’s an emergency meeting, as it’s costing $20k a day in Money Pit with nothing happening. The decision made is to get a diver down there to determine if it is a metal structure. Cue the credits …

Rating 5/10 - An episode of chat and not a lot of action aside from a keyhole plate that sends them into speculation frenzy.

There's not a lot to see down DMT but the gang reckon that could be steel - maybe ...

Gary waves his magic metal wand and finds a keyhole.

Templar grandmaster reckons THAT cross was part of a necklace.

The Curse of Oak Island S05E13

Synopsis

There's a new theory on THAT cross, Rick finds a post in the swamp, there's more finds in "The Dump", and there's another problem in the Money Pit.

What I thought

We’re in the Money Pit area, where the grabber is starting to get the spoils from within the casing of the new hole, called DMT, at about 30ft depth so far. This hole is 10ft south of the previous hole, H8, in the hope to get hold of what they think is an object they moved when drilling H8 – possibly, if that’s what it was, if anything. I’m sceptical how they came to any conclusion that they made have “pushed” an object out of the way previously.

In War Room, Rick, Gary and researcher Doug are present to discuss THAT cross. They call up Xena, Warrior Princess. Ok, not her, but another researcher called Xena, the one who dragged them to France recently. She’s really impressed and excited by the cross and says she believes it’s the Goddess Tanit, which isn’t a Christian cross at all. This doesn’t rule out the Templar’s as they were known to revere this goddess too. They also tell her about the middle eastern bone fragments found in the Money Pit’s H8, which almost causes her to explode with joy. She needs a serious lie down after that.

Back into the Swamp area now, and Rick and Charles are there, following up on their new rights to access Fred Nolan’s property by draining the very north portion of the Swamp. Don’t worry, they have permission.

We’re also back in “The Dump” from last week, where pottery was found. Things have really accelerated as it’s like a real dump site now of earth and trenches everywhere. Boom! Lagina style! Gary is metal detecting with Jim and Jack. First up, he finds a decorative hinge, probably from a chest. Jim finds another hinge, it’s a rather plain one though.

Next Day, the Lagina brothers, Gary and Alex head back to the swamp which has now drained. Well, a small portion of it in the North. The guys wade through sludge and water whilst metal detecting and hacking about. Rick finds a wooden post that’s axe shaped at the end, possibly one of the survey posts used to map out the area to validate Fred Nolan’s theory that a pirate ship was sunk and hidden under the swamp.

Next day, at the money pit, they are down to 70ft now, and mostly pulling up earth. Then, OIL LEAK! The oscillator shuts down. The grabber can keep going but they reckon there’s an object blocking the path but it’s not rock. They are going to use a massive chisel piece to break up the object. Hopefully it’s not a treasure chest they are bashing. In the spills, Gary finds some of metal teeth from the casing, showing that whatever the object is they have reached in the shaft, it’s cutting off the teeth! There’s a crisis meeting, and they decide to send a camera down the casing to find out what the obstruction is. Naturally, this looks like a very good moment to speculate wildly by the narrator and end the episode with us just getting excited.

Rating 5/10 - Not a lot to report in this episode that's anything really significant.

 

Xena is not referring to the mobile phone.

Rick decides against using a bucket and gets in the hose.

It's a decorative hinge - or was.

Charles finds a less decorative hinge.

It's another post in the Swamp.

The Curse of Oak Island S05E12

Synopsis

Tom Nolan takes over his father's island venture, sharing information, as more supported evidence comes from experts about the cross and finds from H8.

My Thoughts

In the War Room a few of the team meet to discuss that cross from Smith’s Cove with Jerry Glover, the French Templar’s expert we met a few episodes ago. He concludes that the cross is like the graffiti on the castle room walls at Domme (which the Templars made) and reveals other evidence that suggest the cross was probably 13^th century but could have been worn by anyone of any class. Still, at least we have a better idea of date. Like Gary said last week: it’s an oldie.

Rick and Charles head miles NE to Waverly to meet fellow Oak Island property owner, Tom Nolan, the son of Fred Nolan. It’s a little emotional, given the situation that his dad did so much towards Oak Island but never got a real conclusion. Tom kindly agrees to do whatever is needed to help Rick and Co solve the mystery. He also shows them the maps that Fred created surveying the island over 50 years. Those maps are so full of lines and dots that you can see the work Fred put into it; Fred was very methodical in regard to these survey maps.  Then then talk about the swamp, and how Fred found what he believed were 15^th century ish surveying marker posts for whatever went on in the swamp. Tom then shows them a metal key, which folds in half, that Fred found on the island. There’s also a cross in the handle part of the key. Odd. How structurally safe is that key turning a stiff lock?

Next day the two are in the house with the maps all laid out on the floor. Clearly these are photocopies of the maps as they are on white sheets and not translucent ones which we saw before. Given the lack of any supporting information, exactly what the map shows, or its scale is totally unknown and requires more work.

Later, the gang are out in Lot 21, one of Fred’s Plots, to do some metal detecting, via way of a Lagina style JCB. They are digging a trench to find what is described by Fred Nolan as a dumping site near his house. Here he found a ton of pottery years ago. There were traces of mercury found in this site, which was also found down the Money Pit. First up there are plenty of rusty nails before Jim notices a selection of pottery. Finding this amount suggests to the gang that they’ve found the dump site, although I’d say it’s early days myself. So quick to jump to conclusions this lot.

Jack and Alex are in Halifax, to meet Joe Landry, a book binding expert and his female apprentice, whom both Jack and especially Alex seem enamoured by. Joe concludes that what they found down H8 is parchment and book binding material, as well as that the coloured piece of wood (which I don’t recall seeing before) is likely “bleached” with a purple substance usually used in religious and important documents. He’s really fuelled these guys with all sorts of words they wanted to hear! If it is evidence of book down the Money Pit, it’s probably in pieces by now!

Rick and Gary head to Dan Blankenship’s house and show him the lead cross; there’s nothing new gained here though. Nor are the final few minutes which is simply watching the oscillating casing start drilling in Drake’s named hole.

Rating 6/10 - Not a lot new really in this episode that we didn't already suspect, aside from more confirmation from experts.

Rick and Jim meet Tom Nolan where they see those famous maps again.

Tom gives them a key, but to what?

Twister - Oak Island style.

Jim's eagle eyes perform amazingly here as he finds pottery.

Alex is in loooooovveeeeeeeeee.

This expert says that the parchment and binding are exactly that without any close examination.

The Curse of Oak Island S05E11

Synopsis

H8 produces only miniscule results, Smith's Cove produces a few more intriguing finds, and there are lots of meetings in the War Room.

My Thoughts

In War Room with lots of the gang and extras Laird and Gary talking about that cross found in the same day, primarily to show Laird who doesn’t actually say very much other than he’s not seen anything like it before. Well, other than every other cross in existence over 2000 years of course. The conclusion is to find an ancient artefact expert.

In the Money Pit, 2 days later, the casing drill is going down another 5 feet after last episode’s pause. More spills are being investigated from 150ft, with a lovely piece of pottery being discovered. Seems there was a lot of tea parties in the Money Pit in the past. Very intriguing piece as it has a decorative leaf on it. Back with the drill and it’s slipped through 10ft of nothing from 162ft to 170ft ish. Is it the chapel vault or a shaft?

Gary and Rick head back to Smith’s Cove to do more metal detecting. This time they find some sort of lead spoon handle near to where the cross was found. Interesting item, I’m not sure what it is. Minutes later they did up a long thin strip of brass, maybe from the side of a ship.

Back in Money Pit and the casing is at 168ft odd. More spoils work from 162ft and there’s some leather and bone, probably from a joint. On the whole though, they’ve found little more with the larger casing than they did from the smaller Geotech one. Everyone is disappointed although I’m not surprised as I thought their theory on it being a solid hole to drill larger was a little inconclusive.

In the War Room, it’s a big meeting time as there’s also a GeoPhysicist present who believes he has important information to help the team after he put a sensor down every of the Geotech small boreholes several weeks ago – don’t they all say that! His computer graphics shows lots of lines from going down the holes in a 3D grid with shapes at various depths in some places which depict anomalies of various strengths. Near where H8 is, there are some larger anomalies about 150-160ft deep and spread other about 7 foot wide.

Next day, another War Room meeting, this time with geologist and historian in tow. Several give their views on what to do next, with most understandably on the “let’s keep going” point of view. Craig Tester announces that he’s probably not going to come back after this season, as he’s still grieving; it must be very hard to be on the island for him. Eventually the gang decide to plough more money on another hole in the Money Pit, based once again on circumstantial evidence and a whim. Hey, it’s their money, not mine.

Rating - 6/10 - The finds help drag this episode out of the ordinary, even if they don't really add anything new to things.

Another interesting piece of pottery coming out of H8.

Smith's Cove reveals a strip of brass.

And, more lead, this time in form of a handle to a spoon perhaps.

The Curse of Oak Island S05E10

Synopsis

The team unearths a ship's log detailing the burial of treasure on an island eerily similar to Oak Island.

What I thought

At the Money Pit, excavation on H8 has reached 115ft. They are turning up a lot of wood from centuries of previous treasure hunters, most likely the Chappell shaft from early 1900s. The big hammer picker is being used to bring up all the spoils from within the casing as they head towards 150ft.

In War Room, researcher Doug Crowell Is back with the gang to reveal more: 6 pages of a ship’s log from a French fleet in 1700s who were on their way to battle the British and take back Nova Scotia. They failed due to sickness and weather to even begin the siege. Over 100 of them died on the crossing, including the duke in charge (who was a Larchwood). The log entry (in English??) says they decided to dig a pit on an island, of which references in the text suggest it’s in vicinity of Oak Island. Marty doubts it due to how “perfect” it is although I’m still wondering why it’s in English when it’s a French fleet?

Now that the casing is at 155ft and grabber at 150ft, Rick wants to go a little more carefully as it’s near where they believe the anomaly is that they found last week. Now, at this depth, the spoils first go to an area to be metal detected by Gary Drayton before being put on a custom-built wash table to be cleaned and searched more thoroughly. With the pressure of that water hose on the contents that Jack uses, I wouldn’t be surprised if he nukes any evidence! Gary has a few finds in the spoils; first a small metallic nail of sorts (it’s not really explained) before he comes up with a decent sized metal spike with some concrete still on it. This must be from Chappell vault as they didn’t have concrete hundreds of years ago. In the next spoils more goodies start to appear, like a pick n mix as there’s bone, pottery, bolts and glass. As the casing reaches 170ft, things grind to a halt as the chief guy controlling the equipment says that the pressure is so high he feels they are on top of something significant, although they feel it’s wood. Seems it’s not just the pressure from x millions spent that’s on everyone’s shoulders …

It’s time for a meeting to discuss what’s next which basically means they decide to keep going; didn’t see that coming did we? Rick is still worried about destroying any finds, which is sensible, although most of their methodology in the past has hardly been gentle. However, whilst the casing is given new teeth and the outer casing made permanent, Rick and Gary head to Smith’s Cove for more metal detection. Here they first find a modern bottle top before the discovery of the season so far; a lead cross!! Rick reckons it looks like the crosses etched on the wall of the castle room in France that he saw made by the Knight Templars. I see similarities, I agree. Gary reckons it’s old. Something like 1200s-1600s. It certainly looks crude and an old style. It’s got everyone excited, including me, as this appears to be a very significant find, and a fascinating one.

Rating: 8/10 – Numerous smaller finds from H8 show real promise, but the find of the cross just knocks the socks off everything else.

The grabber continues to get all the spoils from H8.

Gary does his metal magic.

Jack insures they keep the workload down by nuking any evidence in the spoils.

Gary finds a spike.

The spoils reveal more bone.

Jack relives his childhood by rolling in the mud.

Gary and Rick find a lead cross!

The Curse of Oak Island S05E09

Synopsis

A research expedition to a French castle reveals new clues, including ancient carvings that could link the Knights Templar to Oak Island.

What I thought

In Money Pit the large 50” hole in H8 is starting to take shape with only 10ft done thus far. Casing is being joined up and prepped but it’ll be several days until they get down to a decent depth of 200ft.

Meanwhile, in PARIS, Rick, Alex and Peter are off to meet their new researcher Nichola and head on a train to meet the Rochefoucauld family in Charente whilst nattering about the last 5 seasons and more of Oak Island history. Hopefully they didn’t do a narrator recap every 5 minutes to her. However, we do get a reminder of a large rock on Oak Island with symbols on it that was blown up in 1921 in the hope of finding treasure underneath but alas they found nothing and destroyed evidence in process. And to think I complain and the Laginas??? However, one small rock did remain with H O on it as well as a cross with symbols around it which the Knight’s Templar also had on their shields and that it might be written in Greek. The researcher is really convinced on the Templars being involved. At Rochefoucauld Castle, they are greeted by the curator to show them around. This castle begun being created in late 10^th century to protect against Vikings. Rick shows off the map with the family name on it. She says her family were involved in the crusades and may as well met the Templars, but she’s not heard of any evidence. She says the writing on that map is in Old French (or slang) and says the top right writing relates to ‘in the direction’ of, and not something about a drink that the researcher thought, who probably was consuming a few bottles whilst she was doing the translation! She gives them the keys to go down the tunnels underneath the castle which has no foundations but is instead on top of a large rock. It’s impressive down there but there’s no carvings, which she says is probably because they’ve been washed away as river used to be diverted down there. Now that’s how you clear up a mystery quickly!

Next day in France the team head to the village of Domme, were they met Jerry Glover, a Templar expert, who has arranged them to visit a 14^th century castle called The Dome; I see what they did there with the village name. The Knight Templars were arrested, imprisoned and executed here and thus spent a lot of time banged up in a building where they carved lots of various shapes on the wall (allegedly via their teeth!!!), of which the expert says to Rick that what Rick calls the Templar Cross isn’t exclusive to the Templars but more used by crusades. Rick also believes that one of the symbols looks like the Rochefoucauld family emblem. Is that a link? It’s safe to say that this expert gave more information about Templars than the Rochefoucauld lady although she did translate a bit of the map. There’s also a link, made by Rick, of the tree of life symbol to Nolan’s Cross. This concludes their visit to France, which in my view was totally unnecessary as all this information they could have got elsewhere or via the new technology called the Internet. Maybe Rick had built up some airmiles to use?

Back on Lot 24, Samuel Ball’s lot, with Gary the metal master, Laird the archaeologist, Marty and Jim. Laird has them doing things properly as they gradually remove dirt, sift it and slowly uncover more rocks. Laird thinks the stone formations indicate a man-made floor, but it’s not a large structure so maybe a lookout post? They also find some pottery that Laird dates to around 18^th century.

War Room meeting, everyone is back. They go over pretty much what we’ve just seen from their France visit. It’s the same old stuff regurgitated, as is the last minute of the episode as the casing in the Money Pit is shown drilling onwards to it’s first target of 100ft odd.

Rating 5/10 – I understand their visit to France but all of that could have been gained quicker and just as easily without heading anywhere. On the island, very little activity or progress.

More drilling in H8 as they reach a massive 10ft deep.

Bonjour! The 3 walk the streets of France.

This whole episode felt like a long train ride.

Laird has the gang doing things the right and long way.

Somebody's teapot is found in the lot. Ok, it's 18th century but could of been part of anything.

Despite an intercom and doorbell, Rick knocks on door, where of course the owner is waiting just behind.

The castle owner corrects the historian.

As Rick and Peter touch the ceiling, the historian prays all doesn't cave in.

Welcome to the Dome Castle!

Inside, they look at carvings by the Knight Templars.