Recap

The Curse of Oak Island: The team encounters a bizarre ancient well and examines Templar knight stone symbols

A close up of Rick Lagina looking intense
Rick Lagina keeps finding more baffling mysteries on Oak Island. Pic credit: History

The Curse of Oak Island went medieval this week as they investigated a strange ancient well on Lot 6, and examined mysterious rock markings that connect to ancient Christianity, possibly the Templar knights.

On last night’s episode, the team began borehole digging in the area identified as the source of the gold leaking into the water samples. The area, known as the “pink blob,” is a 70×25 foot area that lies about ten feet to the west of the garden shaft. So far, they’ve found nothing, but it’s very early days yet.

In the meantime, there’s a new peculiar mystery on Lot 26 of Oak Island. Rick Lagina explained that years back, he stumbled upon an old well on Lot 26 (south side of the island) while walking in the middle of winter. Rick was surprised because, despite the snow and ice covering the ground, this well remained unfrozen. Why?

This week, Rick decided to ask geoscientist, Ian Spooner, to investigate the well, which he did, by taking a couple of samples from the bottom for analysis. He removed some of the water, and he took a piece of wood from the bottom, which he believed had been used in the construction of the well.

The water sample came back with “an elevated silver content,” making this well one of the few places outside the Money Pit area to contain silver.

Ian also dated the wood, which came back as 800 years old. The geoscientist also pointed out that the well was crudely and roughly built, another factor suggesting it might be very old.

A well on Lot 26 of Oak Island
Is this well on Lot 26 of Oak Island from 1200 AD? Pic credit: History

Historian Doug Crowell was the first to point out this was a similar timescale for the paved area in the swamp, which Ian had previously said also dated as far back as the 12th century.

Strange rock markings point to Templar knights in Nova Scotia

There was a medieval theme to last night’s episode, as Oak Island theories Corjan Mol made a return. The Templar Knights expert accompanied the guys on a road trip down to Liverpool, Nova Scotia, to examine some curious symbols.

A couple of landowners from the Liverpool area (about 50 miles southwest of Oak Island) wanted to show the guys a selection of symbols carved into the rocks on the seashore.

The first symbol looked remarkably like a broad head arrow marking, a symbol often used by the English aristocracy to signify ownership. However, Corjan suggested it might also be a goose paw symbol, which was used by the masons of the Templar Knights. This marking appears on the cornerstones of numerous Templar churches across Europe.

Symbol on a Nova Scotian rock
This symbol appears on the cornerstone of multiple Templar knight churches in Europe. Pic credit: History

Another rock nearby featured a selection of small carvings that seemed to signify Christianity. One marking featured a cross on top of a circle, which is supposed to represent Christian dominance over the globe.

The landowners claimed that the markings had always been there; generation before generation knew of these symbols. Corjan and the guys speculated that this could be more evidence of Templar visits to Nova Scotia in the pre-Columbus era.

A clay pipe is found on Oak Island’s Lot 5

Meanwhile, on Lot 5, archaeologists Miriam Amirault and Helen Sheldon were working hard on excavating a mysterious stone feature. So far, the structure consists of at least one stone wall and a number of pieces of pottery.

Last night, there was excitement after Miriam located a piece of a clay pipe. Gary Drayton joked that it was a “smoking hot find” as he continued to showcase his vast array of corny dad jokes.

The pipe dates from about 1500 to 1800, but an analysis of the inner hole of the object should lead to a more precise date range. Once the team has a date, they should have a clearer idea of who built the feature and why.

A clay pipe on Lot 5 Oak Island
This clay pipe will help to date the feature on Lot 5. Pic credit: History

Back when the archaeologists were working on the stone roadway in the swamp, they were surprised and baffled as to why they weren’t finding more artifacts, such as clay pipes. Last night, they speculated that perhaps Lot 5 and the roadway are connected. Maybe those who constructed the roadway were camped on Lot 5.

Either way, the team has only scratched the surface of Lot 5, and there’s a lot more ground to be explored.

The Curse of Oak Island airs Tuesdays at 98c on History.

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Joe Scales
Joe Scales
1 year ago

“There was a medieval theme to last night’s episode, as Oak Island theories Corjan Mol made a return. The Templar Knights expert accompanied the guys on a road trip down to Liverpool, Nova Scotia, to examine some curious symbols.”

No expert on the Templar Knights would claim they came to America prior to Christopher Columbus, or even afterwards as their order was disbanded in the early 14th century. Templars were basically bankers. You’d head down to the Crusades, leave your money/property with them and get a voucher for value for traveling. That way you didn’t get robbed before you got there. That’s it. Most weren’t knights either. They had more mundane obligations. You know, sweeping the stables and such. No, Corjan Mol is a pop musician with no academic credentials that would make him anything other than an amateur who dabbles in fringe history.

“Historian Doug Crowell…”

Another amateur with no academic credentials with a penchant for believing treasure hoaxes.

“Corjan and the guys speculated that this could be more evidence of Templar visits to Nova Scotia in the pre-Columbus era.”

More evidence? There is absolutely no evidence for this. Zilch. Nada. Nothing. Goose Egg. You don’t know who made those scratches in the rock. You don’t know when they were made. You don’t know what they were meant to be, if anything. Just sheer speculation, aided by confirmation bias, to sensationalize absolutely nothing. And this is what inspires my ire. The poisoning of the well of history on a television channel that purports to be educational. It is nonsense. You would get a ZERO for such claims if submitted within a middle school assignment. That’s how absolutely ridiculous this show is.

And if you wonder why I watch it, it’s for the comedy. Purely unintentional on their part. A guy’s gotta have fun, you know.

Michel Samuel
Michel Samuel
9 months ago
Reply to  Joe Scales

Wow, Mr. Scales!

Just derisive comments about the quality of the education & knowledge base of the COI historian and Mr. Corjan, as if you yourself were an expert on any of the subjects upon which they have pontificated about.

While I am not impressed or convinced that they have any knowledge acquired through primary research by reading documents and histories from the Dark Ages and the almost 400-years of the Crusades in ancient languages, they have avoided making certain foolish claims such as the Knights Templars couldn’t fight or that they were [mere] bankers. They avoided those mistakes.

The Knights had ONE main job: protect Christians and Christian areas by taking up swords and FIGHTING. These men were mostly second sons raised to be warriors; they couldn’t inherit so any goods they acquired they would have to fight for. If they didn’t want to be a warrior, they could join a monastery and live in poverty.

Their second job was to PROTECT the monies or financial goods of these same Christian travelers. Over time, they became the medieval world’s ATM.

I don’t know why Oak Island always pretends like they don’t know why the Knights were targeted and killed when history tells us the king & pope wanted their bank.

Maybe less arrogance next time, in your own scholarship, would be of great benefit to others and spark your desire to spend 60 seconds and look info up. If your 12-yrs old or something, READ MORE!!!!