SEASON 13, EPISODE 6, “THE HEAT IS ON” EPISODE ANALYSIS

Daniel Spino
22 minutes ago
6 min read

The Curse of Oak Island – The History Channel

In this week’s episode, “THE HEAT IS ON”, the show began at the MONEY PIT AREA, where the Oak Island team was drilling a new borehole identified as F-8.5. They reached a depth of 208 feet and brought up a sample from 205 feet. This is the same area where previous water tests showed high levels of gold and silver, with Dr. Ian Spooner’s famous declaration of a “Dump Truck full of Silver” being located in this area. The team anxiously checked the core sample and initially had a metal hit, but there was nothing there of substance. Gary Drayton was brought over with his metal detector and had the same result. The core would be examined further to see if it contained trace amounts of precious metals.

The action then took us to THE WAR ROOM, where the Oak Island team met to discuss a map of the island that was made to guide further exploration. This was termed a “Heat Map” and showed where artifacts have been found on the island and the projected dating of those artifacts. They identified Lot 15 as an area of interest and suggested further exploration there. Previously the team has found coal, a Chinese coin, and Portuguese stone shot on Lot 15. They are hopeful of finding more interesting items at this location.

We were then taken to the LOT 15, where the Oak Island Team began its exploration of the area. The area of work was on a hillside, and it was plowed by a 2 and ½ ton tractor. It was explained that Gary Drayton had found many artifacts this way in Great Britain. After searching the tilled land, Gary found what appeared to be a Rosehead spike and what he called a Pintle, which is a gate or door hanger that would be used in mining tunnels. The artifacts were bagged and tagged and sent to Emma in the lab for testing.

We were then taken to THE RESEARCH CENTER, where the Oak Island team met to discuss their upcoming plans for work in the SWAMP. The team has received permitting and now will proceed in their excavation. It was noted that the feature found in the Northwest Corner did not go any further north from that point but it appeared to move to the Southwest. This area has yet to be explored by the team and they decided to start excavating there to see if it was connected to the activity to the north.

We were then taken to the SOUTHWEST SWAMP AREA where the Oak Island team began their search for artifacts. This is a very large area, and the team began finding a lot of rocks in the ground. They noticed that it seemed similar to the Stone Road Feature and it appeared to be purposely made and not natural. Billy Gerhardt mentioned that he thought it could be a road or a product of land clearing activity. The road aspect was focused on and the team continued to excavate to prove this theory correct.

The action shifted back to the MONEY PIT AREA, where the Oak Island team that included Dr. Ian Spooner and Surveyor Steve Guptil were beginning to work. Dr. Spooner wanted to collect new water samples from recently drilled boreholes. Based on his past water samples he believed that they are working in the right place. He stated that the metals being detected are not natural, although this seems to be contradicted by past evidence which suggests it is natural. As the water samples were collected, Dr. Spooner found that red dye was present in the water that the team had put into the Solution Channel last season. This water will be tested for any precious metals present.

The scene shifted back to LOT 15 where metal detectorist Katya Drayton and Peter Fornetti began working to find artifacts. After some scanning, Katya uncovered what appeared to be a copper button that was described as being big. After some more searching they found what appeared to be a Compass. It was then speculated that this could have been used by a navigator at sea, a surveyor on land, or someone laying down Nolan’s Cross. The artifacts would be sent to Emma for further testing and analysis.

The scene shifted back to the SOUTHWEST SWAMP AREA, where the Oak Island team continued their excavation of this newly permitted area. This area is along the edge of the Swamp. The team has found a layer of rock and in between was dark plant matter that they feel indicates that it’s not natural and manmade. After searching, Gary Drayton found an Ox Shoe, that he said seemed different than the others found on the island. Dr. Spooner was brought over and he said the feature looked like “Open Work” and looked like it was purposely made. He mentioned that the feature was elevated above the sides and it was perhaps a crude beginning of a road. The fact that there was an ox shoe reinforced that the area had been worked by man. The team will continue to search for artifacts to learn more information about the area’s purpose and function.

The episode concluded in the WAR ROOM, where the Oak Island team met with Geoscientist, Dr. Ian Spooner, to go over the water samples he took in the Money Pit area. He stated that the samples contained precious metals and were not natural. He mentioned that it appeared this was concentrated on the east side of the Money Pit. He said it appeared that the water in the Solution Channel was moving from South to North due to drilling which was working like a plunger. Dr. Spooner’s findings reinforced the team’s drilling plan for this season. Although it should be noted that Dr. Spooner previously said the same thing about the water samples in the Garden shaft area, which included “The Blob”, “The Baby Blob”, and “The Golden Egg”. When the team drilled in this area, they did not find any treasure and the readings then showed no precious metals. It is unclear why Dr. Spooner feels the readings are not natural since Oak Island is surrounded by natural gold and silver both in the water and on land. It would be helpful to hear his explanation for his current assertion when past core samples have revealed small amounts of natural gold in the Money Pit area in the early 20^th Century. Until next week.

DANIEL’S ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY:

This author would normally analyze a feature in tonight’s episode here, but I wanted to express my deepest sorrow and condolences to the family of James McQuiston. James passed away suddenly and unexpectedly this past weekend. James was an accomplished Oak Island researcher who wrote many books about the Oak Island Mystery. James spent countless hours on his research and put forth great effort in trying to find the solution. James's specialty was the Scottish aspect of the mystery, and particularly his work on William Alexander, along with other fascinating aspects of the Knights Baronet of Nova Scotia.

James’ drive, determination and tenacious effort in his work will always be respected by this author and the Oak Island Community. Whenever an Oak Island researcher passes away there’s a unique sadness that is felt by this author because they left us before the final chapter of the mystery was written. I can only hope that James now knows the truth and his work will not be forgotten. His legacy will live on and inspire the researchers still working in this earthly realm and find the solution to the mystery before fate knocks on our own doors.

It was the Oak Island Compendium’s privilege to publish an interview with James about two years ago. You can read the interview at https://www.theoakislandcompendium.com/post/money-pit-nine-levels-of-questions-interview-james-mcquiston

It was a pleasure working with James on the interview and he will be greatly missed. This short poem by the Scottish author, Robert Louis Stevenson is in honor of James and his memory. Rest in Peace.

REQUIEM

“Under the wide and starry sky,

Dig the grave and let me lie.

Glad did I live and gladly die,

And I laid me down with a will

This be the verse you grave for me:

Here he lies where he longed to be;

Home is the sailor, home from sea,

And the hunter home from the hill.”

Please follow our weekly episode analyses during Season 13, along with articles from the original “Compendium/Blockhouse Blog”, and special investigations and features involving Oak Island. Feel free to reach out to us for questions, comments, information and any theories to our email, theoakislandcompendium@gmail.com

Good day from the Compendium!

Daniel and Charlotte