The Curse of Oak Island: Unusual Artifact Excites the Team
The Curse of Oak Island: Unusual Artifact Excites the Team
[Gary] “This is our chance to shine, Rick.”
[Rick] “Yep. Lot 5.”
[narrator] Rick Lagina and metal detection expert Gary Drayton are focused on Lot 5, aiming to uncover more clues about the mysterious stone structures and their origins.
Initial Findings:
[Gary] “I’ve flagged a dozen spots in this area. These are from the bottom of the hole, so they should be our deepest finds.”
[narrator] They start their search in the spoils removed from a circular depression where artifacts dating from the 17th to mid-18th centuries have been found.
[beeping]
[Gary] “Pretty good.”
[Rick] “Yeah, pretty good. I’m in agreement, mate.”
[narrator] After detecting and flagging potential targets, they have received permission from archaeologist Laird Niven to dig them up.
[beeping]
[Gary] “Come on, let’s find something good.”
[beeping]
[Rick] “Is that…?”
[Gary] “Nope.”
[rapid beeping]
[Gary] “It’s in my hand. It’s small.”
[Rick] “Mm-hm.”
[Gary] “A lead shot. Small caliber. It’s an oldie. It could be military.”
[narrator] A lead shot found in the spoils from Lot 5, possibly dating back to the 1700s, could be related to the Duc d’Anville’s 1746 mission to hide treasure on an island.
[Rick] “Right, let’s find some more.”
Further Discoveries:
[beeping]
[Gary] “Something good!”
[beeping]
[Rick] “Is it a shell casing?”
[Gary] “No, it’s not. Look at that, mate.”
[Gary] “Should we call Helen over?”
[Rick] “Sure.”
[Helen] “Hey, Gary. You guys found something?”
[Gary] “Yeah, look at that.”
[Helen] “It looks like a sight.”
[Gary] “Could be old guns.”
[Helen] “Yeah, it does look like a gun sight.”
[Rick] “We found items with military context before. This may be another. It could be linked to the Duc d’Anville expedition.”
Analysis:
[narrator] Later that day, at the Interpretative Center, Rick Lagina, Craig Tester, and other team members meet with archaeologist Laird Niven and archaeometallurgist Emma Culligan to discuss the findings.
[Emma] “This artifact is a ramrod guide for a musket. It aids in loading lead or stone projectiles into the musket’s muzzle.”
[Rick] “What type of musket?”
[Emma] “It could range from the 1600s to the 1800s.”
[Laird] “There’s a small hole here that is unusual. It might be a fancy detail.”
[Emma] “I’ll show you the CT scan.”
[narrator] Emma uses a CT scanner to reveal detailed 3D images of the artifact.
[Emma] “The scan shows Roman numerals.”
[Rick] “We’ve seen similar Roman numerals on the U-shaped structure at Smith’s Cove.”
[narrator] In the 1970s, Dan Blankenship’s excavation at Smith’s Cove revealed a U-shaped wooden structure with Roman numerals, believed to be part of a flood tunnel system.
[Rick] “Finding Roman numerals on this artifact brings back memories of the U-shaped structure. It’s intriguing that we’re finding Roman numerals on another artifact.”
[Gary] “Absolutely fantastic. This gives us hope for more finds on Lot 5.”
Conclusion:
[Rick] “We need to investigate further. Let’s give Lot 5 another shot.”
[Gary] “I’m in. Let’s find the rest of it.”
[narrator] The discovery of Roman numerals on the ramrod guide, combined with previous finds on Lot 5, suggests a deeper connection to historical events and potential treasure deposits. The team is motivated to continue their search, driven by the possibility of uncovering more clues related to the island’s mysteries.
