Artifacts
A database of various artifacts found on the island.
(This page will be updated regularly)
The lead-cross
The Curse of Oak Island- History Channel
The Curse of Oak Island- History Channel
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The cross has been shaped in an approximate way. There is quite a large square hole in the "head" of the cross. It was probably used as a pendant.
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It's composed of lead with trace amounts of silver (galena ore)
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After isotopic analysis, it was suggested by geochemist Tobias Skowronek, from the German Mining Museum, that the lead was mined in the Massif-Central area in Southern France. More specifically, he puts forward to mountain ranges; the Cevennes and the Montagne Noire.
This item was found in 2017 while filming season 5 of the Curse of Oak Island. Gary Drayton, the team's metal detectorist discovered it in Smiths-Cove on lot 20. It has since been aired multiple times on the show and is considered as being one of the most important artifacts found on the island.
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An article about the Researchers that did the laser ablation of the lead cross: https://blogs.unb.ca/newsroom/2018/11/unb-researchers-have-moment-in-the-spotlight-on-history-channel-show.php
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An article about a similar cross found in New Brunswick: https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/16th-century-french-cross-found-at-n-b-development-site-1.4458120
The Cricket Buckle
The image of this item is protected by copyright. Please see item 5.021 on Robert S. Young's website in the external links.
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This item has a cricket bat motif with a shield featuring more cricket bats and wickets, it is green with plated gold, which could be associated with the colours of the Australian cricket team.
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We actively researched this item, which we believed to be a belt buckle
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After reaching out to a cricket buckle specialist (yes, they do exist), we were sent a huge file with hundreds of different cricket themed belt buckles, these were extremely popular in Australia in the late 19th century.
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The specialist thinks this buckle dates from the 1880's and explained that many cricket buckles have been found around the Australian gold mines. Did any Australian gold hunters participate in the hunt on Oak Island?
This artifact was found on Lot-5 by Robert S. Young, which he noted as being "an ornate cricket motif badge".
Robert S. Young owned Lot-5, he discovered many items of interest which you can see on his site (see external links).
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The Cricket Buckle Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/cricketbuckles/
The Red Brooch #1
The Curse of Oak Island- History Channel
The Curse of Oak Island- History Channel
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Gary Drayton had the red stone analyzed by a gemologist and identified it as a rhodolite garnet.
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The gemologist determined that it had likely been fashioned in the 16th or 17th Century due to the rough, old-fashioned nature of its facets (i.e., its twelve flat, polished surfaces). He mentioned it was hand cut and not machine made, and the housing made of silver with a high percentage of copper.
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The gemologist was able to corroborate the brooch’s age by analyzing the patina formed by the copper’s oxidation. According to the info from the Interpretive Center, there is a discrepancy between the two sources of information.
Probably found in 2017. The object is shown in season 5, episode 16, when the Brooch was discovered while metal detecting on Lot 8.
The"Pilum"
The Curse of Oak Island- History Channel
Suggested Roman Pilum from The Curse of Oak Island- History Channel
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Testing showed that the shaft is made of iron mixed with manganese and could date back to the Ancient Roman Empire Century, BC-500 AD.
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Self-described antiques expert Gabriel Vandervort, concluded that an iron object found in the previous episode, is in fact the point of a Roman pilum, or spear.
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Although further investigation indicates that it could be a spine from a fishing spear.
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Without proper analysis done by an expert it can not be confirmed as being Roman and in all likelihood it is not.
In Season 6 episode 2, what appeared to be a crossbow bolt, was discovered on Lot 26.
The 1652 Spanish Coin
The Curse of Oak Island- History Channel
1652 8 maravedis example
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This copper coin is from 1652 and was very hard to read and had to be further analyzed.
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These types of coins were counter stamped over and over which made some details on them very hard to ascertain.
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It is unclear where it was minted either in Spain or in New Spain. Some have suggested that a pirate/privateer involvement may explain its presence on Oak Island.
This item was found in the Swamp in season 1, episode 5.
The Red Brooch #2
The Curse of Oak Island- History Channel
The Curse of Oak Island- History Channel
Comparison of both red brooches - History Channel
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The brooch is plated with gold leaf on it could date back as early as the 14th century.
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Calgary-based gemologist Charles Lewton-Brian examined the gem from the brooch and determined that it is made of red-colored lead glass. He immediately remarks that the artifact could be up to 500 years old.
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He also observed that the wire that encircles the artifact’s bezel bears diagonal lines. These markings, according to Lewton-Brain, indicate that the wire was formed through block twisting- an ancient method of wire manufacture not commonly found in post-14th Century artifacts.
Found in season 6, episode 2 by Gary Drayton and Rick Lagina while metal-detecting on lot 21.
Human Bones
The Curse of Oak Island- History Channel
The Curse of Oak Island- History Channel
The Curse of Oak Island- History Channel
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DNA testing shows that these bones came from two individuals, a male of European descent and a female of Middle Eastern descent.
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The samples underwent advanced DNA sequencing at St Mary’s University in Halifax, with Dr Timothy Frasier, an associate professor in the Department of Biology, revealing, “I have a little more information about lineages. So, humans are divided into different groups. Our resolution isn’t great but it looks like one of them is from what is called ‘group H’. It’s actually the most common group found among Europeans. “And then the other bone comes from what’s called ‘group T’ which is a group that has ancestry in the Middle East. So, kind of Iran and Jordan.”
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It was previously revealed that one of the bones had some soft tissue and hair still attached to it by Dr. Brosseau, of St. Mary’s University.
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Questions of contamination with the handling of the samples is suggested by some professionals.
In season 5, episodes 5 and 6, two human bone samples were found while sorting through the spoils from H-8.
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An interesting article with a different point of view on the analysis of the bones: https://archeothoughts.wordpress.com/2019/11/20/oak-island-archaeology-update-bones-and-swages/
Parchment #1 (2016)
The Curse of Oak Island- History Channel
The Curse of Oak Island- History Channel
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The item was taken to St Mary's University where it underwent an analysis with an electron microscope.
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Doctors Yang and Brosseau conclude that the item contains animal fibres which could suggest it is indeed parchment.
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This is not the first find to be identified as possible parchment paper.
The item was discovered in 2016 by Jack Begley and Dan Henskee while searching the spoils of borehole H-8. AT the same time they found a small bit of leather which was suggested as being bookbinding.
Swages
The Curse of Oak Island- History Channel
The Curse of Oak Island- History Channel
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Carmen Legge would later identify the items as swage blocks which he stated were used for sharpening rock drills and dated them from 1450-1750.
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Carmen said that these are rare finds, and that they suggest intensive drilling and mining operations on the island. He said that they were very crude which suggested that they were older in the date range that he gave. He was surprised to see them.
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In Episode 3: The Eye of the Swamp, Dr. Christa Brosseau uses a file to strip away some of the rust which coats the artifacts and extracts samples of the metal. With the help of her assistant, Dr. Xiang Yang, she examined the samples under an electron microscope and finds them absent of manganese- a characteristic which, she claims, indicates that the artifacts were likely made prior to 1840.
The Swages were presented in Season 7, Episode 2 Core Values. In this episode, Gary Drayton, Rick Lagina, and Dan Henskee discovered two triangular type pieces of iron with large holes through the middle on Oak Island’s Lot 21. Gary suspected that the artifacts might be the heads of quarry hammers.
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