Archaeologist advises dig be stopped on The Curse of Oak Island after ‘artifact’ found

Laird Niven on The Curse of Oak Island
Archaeologist Laird Niven on the next episode of The Curse of Oak Island

A dig on The Curse of Oak Island is brought to a halt by an archaeologist in a new sneak peek for Season 5 Episode 3 — after what appears to be a significant discovery.

Laird Niven, an archaeologist who has previously worked with Rick and Marty Lagina and the team on the series, is shown telling Marty as he uproots trees using an excavator: “I think we have to stop.”

It comes after Laird appears to see something in the ground that is being dug up. Marty, who is at the controls of the excavator, asks him: “You strongly suspect this is an artifact?” Laird says: “Yes, I do.”

Footage then shows a close-up of some sort of debris before Laird is seen looking through the dirt that has been dug up. Rick, appearing to refer to the incident, says in an interview with producers: “If we get a much greater understanding of what happened here, that’s what we’re looking for…answers.”

Don’t miss: 10 facts about Rick and Marty Lagina

The moment comes after footage is shown of Marty reading from a piece of paper in a meeting with other members of the Oak Island team, while saying in an interview: “Culture and Heritage has mandated that archaeologists be involved with any digging.”

It’s thought the excavation takes place close to the Money Pit area, as the clip starts with Rick saying: “Whenever you’re in close proximity to the Money Pit, you have no idea of what you might find.”

Laird was the archaeologist the team brought in at the start of Season 4 to help investigate a mysterious “hatch” they discovered.

We told last week how the description for Episode 3 revealed the treasure hunt on Oak Island faces being shut down after “alarming news”. It also sees the team find “hard evidence” of a European presence on the island — thought to be a coin — more than a century before the Money Pit was discovered.

Meanwhile, Rick Lagina recently gave a big hint that this season the team uncover evidence of some sort of link on the island to the Knights Templar.

The Curse of Oak Island airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on History.

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Suzanne Scriver/Crane
Suzanne Scriver/Crane
2 years ago

The Oak Island crew have very respectful and have followed the rules and have Laird Niven, working with them, why can`t they have more help for Laird, and continue the work they are doing. l believe they have not found any other native artifact, They need to let them finish their digging, and catalog all that is found, map it, photograph the item. That is my view
Suzanne Scriver Crane

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

I’m confused. I love metal detecting. I have a mine lab like Gary. But he doesn’t seem familiar with the tones or any of the numbers on his machine also the best part of metal detecting is digging the hole and getting down and finding your artifact. He’s the only metal detectorist I know that always has a helper doing the labor and half the time it’s one of the bosses doing the digging. That’s the job I want. Doing my favorite hobby but never having to bend over and get my hands dirty. I guess my main question is the flags. Does another metaldetectorist come out and mark all the spots for him a d then they come back later and pick a couple to film. Or is it something to do with the permit process? But why do they put the flag back in the ground after they dig up the artifact. They never show the fling in the holes. Number 1 rule when metal detecting. If they don’t it screws things up for the rest of us that are professional metal detectorists. Lol. I am serious about the flag question please.

John Raymond Kennedy
John Raymond Kennedy
3 months ago

The metal detector Guy says “Another Bobby dazzler”> What is he saying.