SEASON 13 PREMIERE, EPISODE 1, “THE COMEBACK” EPISODE ANALYSIS
- Daniel Spino
- Nov 5
- 8 min read
In this week’s Season Premiere of Episode 1, “THE COMEBACK”, we are first taken to the Interpretive Center where the Oak Island team came together to begin Season 13 in their quest for the treasure. The team outlined their plans for the season. They will be drilling to depths of up to 220ft in what they believe is the original Money Pit area with the goal of exploring the Solution Channel. They will attempt to locate any theorized treasure that may have fallen into this area. A continuation of the Lot 5 excavation was discussed and planned. It was mentioned that the team believes base camps were set up in this area that seem to be a generational endeavor.
We are then taken to the Money Pit area, where the Oak Island team began drilling in the new borehole called J-6. This is a core drilling operation, and the scene began at a depth of 8 feet. The team mentioned that a Pickaxe was found last season, which they believe may be as old as the 16th Century. The team is hopeful that they can locate any treasure that has fallen deep into the Solution Channel.
Then the action shifted to Lot 5, where the Oak Island team was working in the area of the rectangular feature. The team mentioned that a great number of the finds seem to be coming from the western side of the feature. The eastern side of the feature was suggested as a place where there might be something of interest. An iron artifact was discovered that was described as having some weight to it. It was sent to Emma in the lab for a CT scan and other testing.
Then the scene took us to Smith’s Cove, where the team was further examining the spoils from the Money Pit excavation from Season 12. Metal Detectorist Gary Drayton scanned the pile and what appeared to be a wrought iron cribbing spike was discovered. After further investigation another piece of iron was discovered, this one appeared to be a chisel that the team estimated may be as old as the 1600’s. These pieces would be sent to Emma in the lab for further testing.
The scene then shifted to the War Room, where the Oak Island team met with Steve Salomon who identified himself as a relative of James Pitblado and members of the Archibald family. Steve said that he has in his possession a Portuguese coin that Steve believes may have been what his relative, James Pitblado found on an auger bit in 1849. This incident is famous for the intrigue surrounding it and the events that followed. Steve estimated that the coin is from around 1367 and has been a family heirloom. It was mentioned that the coin was slightly bent and perhaps this was from being pulled up through the earth from the auger. The coin was described as the size of an American Quarter. In the analysis section, this author will go more in depth regarding this artifact.
The action took us back to the Money Pit area, where the drilling of borehole J-6 continued. The team reached a depth of 176 Feet. Last season the core drilling seemed to encounter a ledge of rock that the drill bit couldn’t cut through. A new drill bit is being used that can cut through such an obstruction to reach the Solution Channel floor. A core sample was taken at 178 feet with nothing being found. The target depth in this area is 210 Feet. At 188 another core sample was taken which was soft material. Within these samples it appeared to be pieces of Gypsum, but the team didn’t believe that it was the material of the obstruction. The team reached a depth of 213 Feet and did not find anything of significance.
The scene then shifted to back to Lot 5, where the Oak Island team was investigating the spoils from the Round Feature located nearby. Metal Detectorist Gary Drayton began working in the area. A non-ferrous hit was detected. An archeologist was necessary at that point because the entire area was designated as a special place in 2024 by the Canadian Government. Archeologist Fiona Steele was called over, and a small piece of lead shot was unearthed. Fiona said it probably created someone’s supper on the island many years ago. Further scanning detected another piece of iron; this one was speculated as being part of a door or chest hinge. Gary started scanning near the base of a tree and had another hit. Another piece of iron was discovered and Fiona stated that she saw glass and course earthenware in this same spot. It was speculated that this area could be part of the foundation of the existing areas and they needed to pause any further exploration for the time being. This area is in close proximity to where the Starburst button was found and other artifacts.
We were taken back to Lab to get the results and information from Archeometallurgist Emma Culligan and Archeologist Laird Niven on two recent finds that were on the table. Only one was discussed, that being the chisel that was found in the Money Pit spoils. XRF testing was completed on the artifact and Emma stated that it was an older piece that had no composition of manganese in it. She estimated that it was from the 1700’s but stated it could be older. The other artifact on the table was never discussed on camera.
The action then moved to the Money Pit area where the team was now drilling in a new borehole called H.5 8.5. As the team was drilling in this spot, it was observed that some metal was stuck at the end of the core drill. When the core drill was flushed out and examined, it appeared to be a piece of an old drill bit. As the team examined the core sample further, they found another piece. They estimated that it was about two inches in diameter and felt that this corroborated that they were in the area of the original Money Pit.
We are then taken back to Lot 5, where the Oak Island team continued to excavate the area around the rectangular feature. An iron bar was unearthed and Archeologist Laird Niven stated that it could have been part of a blacksmith’s stock. After further excavation a piece of what Laird called, “Staffordshire Slipware” was found. He estimated that age to be from 1675-1770. A new Archeologist of the team, Tansy Rudnicki discovered another bead from this area. Laird believed it was a “Seed Bead” because of its small size. He mentioned that type of bead was used for embroidery. It was then speculated that this might be related to hiding valuables. It should be noted that the beads found in this area were more than likely used for trade and gifts from Europeans to the indigenous Mi’kmaq people of the area.
The next scene brought us back to the Money Pit area, where the team continued to drill in Borehole H.5 8.5. The core drilling in this borehole reached 186 Feet and a core sample was taken from 188 Feet. The core was described as loose material and hard clay that looked undisturbed. Within the core sample broken pieces of metal were discovered. At a depth of 212 Feet the core seemed slushy, and it was noted that is not the type of sample they were looking for to discover any possible treasure.
The episode concluded back at the Lab, where the team met with Emma and Laird again to get the results of the testing on the Portuguese coin. Emma presented a detailed report on the coin that will be discussed in the analysis. She said it was silver and estimated the coin to have been minted between 1367 and 1383. Researcher Judi Rudebusch noticed that on the coin there was what appeared to be a “Templar” cross. Also noticed was the “6-pointed star” that the team recognized from their visit to Fontarcada Church during their Portugal visit. There was the feeling by the team that this could be one of many of the same coins located in the Solution Channel in the Money Pit area.
ANALYSIS BY DANIEL SPINO:
This author wanted to focus on the Portuguese coin that was introduced in the episode. Alex Lagina stated that he wished he could have seen the coin come off the auger bit himself. I agree with him because although it seems like an exciting find, we can’t be sure that it was in fact the object that James Pitblado found and we can’t even verify that it came from Oak Island. While I don’t believe Steve Salomon is being deceptive in his account, it’s just impossible to say for sure what the provenance of the artifact is other than from speculation. It is hard to believe that the coin could have been brought up by the auger bit and not sustain any damage or marking from such an extraction.
This is corroborated from Emma’s report that was presented but not discussed during the show.
It stated, “The coin is in excellent condition with little signs of wear and no abrasive marks. There is a slight bend across the center of the coin with no signs of transferred metal or abrasion (visible through the XRF), indicating that the bend was most likely caused during usage and not unnaturally bent. The lack of wear could suggest that the coin was physically used for a short period after circulation.”
It should also be noted that the Portuguese Age of Discovery didn’t begin until well into the 15th Century, so it’s unlikely that this coin was deposited on Oak Island during the time shortly after it was minted as stated in the report. There have been so many coins found on Oak Island, but never a cache, only individual samples. A possible explanation for this phenomenon is that British soldiers were using coins as barter and for gambling purposes while on Oak Island during their downtime. Many soldiers were stationed in the Mediterranean and in different parts of the world that could have obtained them and used them in this way. Also, the fact that at times there were shortages of small British denomination coins that influenced the use of other forms of currency.
Regarding the James Pitblado incident that was referenced in this episode, this author wrote a piece regarding it at the end of Season 11, called “The Mystery of Gold and Silver on Oak Island”. It can be accessed at https://www.theoakislandcompendium.com/post/season-finale-the-mystery-of-gold-and-silver-on-oak-island for further information. It should be noted that the Archibald family had a long and storied relationship with the Oak Island Mystery which included both Colonel Robert Archibald and Captain David Archibald as part of the Onslow Company of 1803-1804. It’s quite possible that if this coin was found on Oak Island, it could have been discovered by another member of the Archibald family somewhere on the island and handed down within the family. Fellow researcher Scott Clarke wrote an article about the Archibald’s and the related families which can be accessed at https://www.monstersandcritics.com/tv/the-curse-of-oak-island-history-of-earliest-treasure-hunting-families/
Please follow our weekly episode analyses during this 13th season, along with our Throwback Thursday articles from the original “Compendium/Blockhouse Blog”, and special investigations and cutting-edge research involving the Oak Island Mystery. Feel free to reach out to us for questions, comments, information and any of your theories to our email, theoakislandcompendium@gmail.com
Good day from the Compendium
Daniel and Charlotte