In today’s “Artifact Alley”, we will be discussing a “Lead Decorative Piece” that was found in Season 6, Episode 18, “Heavy Metal” on “The Curse of Oak Island”.
While metal detecting on Lot 21, in a clearing, opposite the McGinnis family foundation, Gary Drayton and Jack Begley discover a piece of lead that is long and narrow with a slight curve to it. Almost immediately they find another piece, although much smaller. It appears that the two pieces fit together and were a part of a larger piece.
Gary remarked that there seemed to be a square end to the piece on both ends and it reminded him of the square hole on the Lead Cross that he discovered with Rick Lagina at Smith’s Cove. He says it is lead and is very old. He noticed some patterning on the piece but remarks that they need to clean it up to get a better look.
Later at the Oak Island Research Center, Gary shows some of the crew the pieces of lead that they had just discovered. Gary indicates a floral pattern on the artifact, which led to speculation regarding its symbolism. Marty Lagina suggests that they have the lead chemically tested and it is sent to Tobias Skowronek, who had previously tested the Lead Cross.
Then the team gathers in the War Room, and they call via video-conference Tobias Skowronek, Geochemist of the German Mining Museum. Skowronek explains that he has analyzed the lead artifact and it may not be what they were expecting. He asks them if they want to know what he thinks. The crew answers yes, and Skowronek states that it might have been an “art object”.
Skowronek tells them about a medieval metalwork technique called cloisonning, in which artists decorated objects by adding strips of metal on top of an object and then filled the area with colored glass or gemstones to achieve an overall color. He believes the piece is an example of this cloisonning method.
Skowronek then surprisingly reveals that “the lead isotope data from the Lot 21 artifact is identical to that of the cross… That means that both pieces probably come from the same ore deposit… So, it’s pre-15th Century.” “It seems incredible and stretches belief,” said Marty.
At this point in the series, it was the second piece of lead that was discovered that came to from the exact same mine in France that was dated pre-1400’s. The amazing part is that they have been found on the opposite sides of the island. Has there been any more of this same lead found on the island? Stay tuned to our “Artifact Alley”.
Good day from the Compendium!
*All images are from the Curse of Oak Island - History Channel
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