SEASON 13, EPISODE 3, “MEDIEVAL INTENTIONS” EPISODE ANALYSIS
- Daniel Spino
- 1 hour ago
- 7 min read
In this week’s episode, “MEDIEVAL INTENTIONS”, the show began in the LAB, where the Oak Island team met to discuss the testing on the coin that was found on Lot 5 in last week’s episode. Archeometallurgist Emma Culligan said that an XRF scan revealed that the coin was made of copper, iron, calcium and silver. She indicated that this composition made it an older coin. The CT scan revealed that the coin appeared to be Roman with Claudius II on the back. She dated the coin to 250-270AD. She stated it appeared the coin had been in its location for a long time. This makes six Roman coins found on Lot 5. Tom Nolan asked, “But when was it deposited?”, which really is the million-dollar question. Sandy Campbell will be brought in to look at the coin and render his opinion.
The action then took us to the RESEARCH CENTER, where the Oak Island team met to discuss their new excavation plan. The team discussed the different structures found in the SWAMP, like the Paved feature, Stone Road, Cobblestone Path, and others. The team believed it should look towards the western side of the Swamp to see if any features could be identified in that area. This area has not been investigated by the team, and they feel that it could provide some clues about the Oak Island Mystery.
The action shifted to the WESTERN SWAMP, where the Oak Island team began their new excavation of this area. It was stated that this new site is about 180 feet away from the Paved Area. Gary commented that he hopes to find “Pork and Cheese” in this new target area. After some digging, the team finds pieces of wooden stakes. The artifacts are very similar to other stakes they have found in the northern section of the Swamp. It was noted that he stakes were axe cut, just like the others. The team wondered if another structure is hidden in this area.
We were then taken to the Lot 5 where the Oak Island Archeological team continued its excavation of the foundation of the circular feature. Archeologist Tansy Rudnicki discovered a pipe stem. Archeologist Fiona Steele mentioned that it seemed to have a small borehole. Fiona explained that the smaller the borehole, the more recent the pipe. She measure it with her drill bit and it was 4/64. She stated that this would be in the 1753-1800 time period, which was the range of most of the artifacts they have discovered in the area. As they continued excavating, Fiona found pieces of course earthenware that appeared to be from a bowl that would have been used to hold food. See dated it from the 1600’s to 1800’s.
We were then taken back to the LAB where the Oak Island Team met to discuss the testing on the bead that was found in last week’s episode. Emma provided the team with some of her results. This included that the bead appeared to have its blueish color from copper. She mentioned that she tested the bead and compared it with others found on the island. She stated its closest match was the Venetian beads. This would indicate that other beads have been found as well but not shown. It was speculated that this bead could have belonged to the Knights of Malta. It was stated that this bead would have been used for trade with indigenous peoples, just like the other beads that have been found on the island. Archeologist Laird Niven stated this particular bead would have been circulating in the mid to late 1600’s, which would have been after Issac de Razilly was at Fort Sainte Marie de Grace, which was the modern-day Fort Pointe Museum and Lighthouse complex.
The action shifted to the MONEY PIT Area, where the Oak Island team along with Choice Drilling began to drill in a new borehole called J.5-8.5. Rick Lagina stated that the information that they can learn here would help the team be driven by facts instead of possibilities and hopes to find the one thing that will solve the mystery. As the team drilled, Choice drilling lost its rod into the void of the Solution Channel. It was observed that the void was full of very loose material at a depth of 145 to 158 feet. Very little material was being brought up and the team seemed to think they found a good area for possible falling treasure. Continued drilling reached a depth of 229 feet before hitting bedrock. The team believed this was very unusual depth. The team believed that his might be a good spot to put down a caisson for further exploration.
The scene shifted back to the RESEARCH CENTER, where the Oak Island team met with numismatist Sandy Campbell to discuss the coin found last week on Lot 5 and discussed earlier in the Lab. Sandy examined the coin and stated it was a Roman era coin. After looking at Emma’s CT scan, he mentioned that it appeared that a figure was holding an Oak Leaf. He stated it was from the 3rd Century AD which corresponded with Emma and Laird’s findings. He stated that of all the Roman coins that have been discovered this one seems to be the most remarkable. It was asked if he knew if other Roman coins have been found in Nova Scotia, and he did not believe so. It was stated that these types of coins were traded as currency all the way up to the 1500’s.
The episode concluded on Lot 4, where the Oak Island team of Charles Barkhouse and Gary Drayton began to scan the spoils of the circular feature from Lot 5. After some initial scanning Gary had a hit that registered as iron. He then found a nail which he believed was a more of a modern piece. He continued to scan the area and had another hit. At first, he speculated that it was a coin or button. After unearthing the artifact, he concluded it was a lead strip. He noticed a beveled end and stated it reminded him of the Lead Cross that he found with Rick Lagina at Smith’s Cove. This led to the thought that it could have a Knights Templar connection. This lead piece would be sent to the Lab for further testing and evaluation. Until next week.
DANIEL’S ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY:
In the episode the question of who exactly could have been on Lot 5 was asked. The first real documented reports we have involving Oak Island come from 1753. This is important because the predominant number of artifacts that have been found originate from this time period. On December 23, 1753, Island 28 was granted to John Gifford and Richard Smith from New York for the purpose of fishing and farming. Island 28 was today’s Oak Island. In 1754, Gifford and Smith were also representing the “twenty wealthiest citizens of the Province of New York”. Smith offered recommendations to Governor Lawrence for the best place to establish a settlement by the citizens from New York. This settlement did not happen because Governor Lawrence could not guarantee protection from hostile natives. This was due to the Seven Years War, also known as, the French and Indian War, that was raging in the area.
Richard Smith apparently left and went back to New York. Although John Gifford stayed and sought permission for a distillery in Halifax. This is interesting because Jonathan Prescott also had a distillery in Halifax. Prescott would become one of the first lot owners of Oak Island about 10 years later. Based on the evidence gathered so far, it seems certain that Gifford and Smith had set up operations on Oak Island. This would have included fishing and trading. Just two years later in 1756 there was the Payzant Massacre. This is when a Maliseet war party traveled all the way from modern day New Brunswick to attack Louis Payzant’s trading post that he had established on Covey Island in Mahone Bay, which was in close proximity to Oak Island.
What can we make of all this. It seems highly likely that when Gifford and Smith started operating on Oak Island, it was discovered that it had been used in the past with structures and features that would have been perfect to hide things. It is this author’s opinion that at that point the island was used for a smuggling operation that lasted for almost 50 years. Having Payzant operate a legal trading post near Oak Island would have been problematic for the parties involved. This would have included the Nova Scotian trade merchants Joshua Mauger, Jonathan Prescott, John Easson, and Daniel Dyson. All Freemasons, who would have recognized the unique features of Oak Island tied to Freemasonry. Easson’s name appears to be coded in a book involving the island and presented on the show. It seems Oak Island or Island 28, has had a very long and secretive history.
UPDATE- This author discussed the article, “Treasure Hunter Seeks to Unravel Oak Island Riddle” from the Register, July 1966 in last week’s analysis. The picture in the article showed a group of coins that were found by James Troutman, who worked for Robert Dunfield at the time. The caption stated that the coins were found on Oak Island. One in particular at the bottom, identified as a Short Cross Coin, was very intriguing. Troutman believed these coins were English silver pennies from the Short Cross Period (1180–1247). Although in reviewing examples, it seems uncertain. Troutman’s coin in the photo shows what appears to be a Maltese Cross that is perhaps Portuguese.
Unfortunately, the article didn’t make it clear if that specific coin, which was one of many, was actually found on Oak Island. It was also mentioned that Troutman’s was involved with a Sable Island expedition. It was cited that several of these coins were found by Troutman at the time. After some checking, it was confirmed from a reliable source that the coins in question were not found on Oak Island but were discovered on Sable Island. The hunt for a cache of treasure coins continues on Oak Island.
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Good day from the Compendium!
Daniel and Charlotte