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The Curse of Oak Island – Season 12, Episode 22: “Night After Night”

Introduction: A Turning Point in the Oak Island Mystery

Episode 22 of The Curse of Oak Island, titled “Night After Night”, delivers some of the most compelling evidence yet in the Lagina brothers’ decades-long quest. From the mysterious underground tunnels in Malta to new discoveries in the Oak Island swamp, this episode ties together Templar connections, historical clues, and physical artifacts that could reshape everything we know about the island.

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Rick Lagina’s Malta Expedition: Following the Templars’ Trail

Rick Lagina travels to Malta to explore its deep historical ties to the Knights Templar and the Knights of Malta, uncovering startling parallels to Oak Island’s underground features.

The Pickaxe from the Money Pit

A pickaxe discovered 145 feet deep in the Money Pit was analyzed by Maltese archaeologist Matthew Balzan, who confirmed it resembles a traditional Maltese tunneling tool called a bonna.
This kind of pickaxe was used by the Knights of Malta in quarrying and constructing underground passageways.

Why it matters: If the tool matches those used in Malta, it suggests that whoever dug the Money Pit may have had similar engineering methods—or were connected to the Knights of Malta.

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Blue Clay Waterproofing: A Shared Engineering Secret

Rick and the team observed blue-grey clay in Malta’s underground tunnels, used to waterproof chambers.
Remarkably, this matches clay found in the Money Pit and described in historical records from 1804, where a thick clay seal was noted 90 feet deep.

Implications: This strengthens the theory that the Money Pit was intentionally designed to protect something valuable, using techniques similar to those employed by the Knights of Malta.

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Artifacts and Uniforms: Buttons That Tell a Story

Back on Oak Island, an earlier discovery—the Starburst Button from Lot 5—gains new significance.

The Starburst Button

Button expert Dennis Dar analyzed the ornate design and dated it between 1650 and 1675, which lines up with the Knights of Malta’s activity.

Key takeaway: This type of button was likely worn by aristocratic members of the Knights of Malta, possibly suggesting their physical presence on Oak Island before the official discovery in 1795.

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More Swamp Secrets: Notched Timbers and Another Vault?

While Rick was in Malta, Marty and the team continued swamp excavations, uncovering large notched timbers deep underground.
These timbers mirror medieval construction techniques, similar to those seen in Malta’s fortresses.

Second Vault Possibility

The swamp had already revealed signs of a brick and slate vault. These new timbers suggest the presence of a second hidden chamber.

Why this matters: The swamp may be far more than a natural feature—it could be an engineered environment built to hide or protect something valuable.

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Ancient Roads and Altered Terrain

The team noted that the swamp contains paved areas dating back to 1200 AD and a stone road possibly over 500 years old.

Big Question: Was the swamp constructed as a distraction, a landing zone, or a workshop for the treasure depositors?

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New Artifact Found: The Ornate Flower Button

In Lot 5’s round stone feature, Ethan Green uncovered a delicate flower-patterned button, suggesting the presence of someone of high status.

The connection: This site has now produced 14th-century pottery, 17th-century buttons, and 18th-century ceramics—implying multiple periods of European occupation.

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Matching Mortar: Lot 5’s Link to the Money Pit

Earlier this season, the team discovered mortar in Lot 5 that chemically matched samples found over 100 feet deep in the Money Pit.

The theory: Lot 5 could have been a staging area for the group that constructed the Money Pit, possibly the Knights of Malta or Templar remnants.

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A European Engineer’s Dream: The Knights of Malta Theory Grows Stronger

• The tools,
• The blue clay,
• The mortar,
• The buttons,
• The underground designs—

All line up with the known engineering and symbols of the Knights of Malta.
Historical records also mention a Maltese Knight, Isaac Razilly, who arrived in Nova Scotia in the 1630s. Could he have had a secret mission?

Possibility: His group may have been tasked with hiding or safeguarding Templar treasure on Oak Island.

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The Swamp: Diversion or Treasure Gateway?

The swamp’s anomalies—stone roads, paved areas, notched beams—suggest it could have served as:

• A decoy to mislead treasure hunters
• A dock for secret landings
• A concealed vault system
• With 80% of the swamp still unexcavated, the next breakthrough may be just beneath the surface.

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The Bigger Picture: Was Oak Island Chosen for Secrecy?

Oak Island’s remote yet accessible location off Nova Scotia would have made it ideal for covert construction and treasure hiding.
If the Knights feared persecution—as the Templars once did—this secret haven could have protected sacred artifacts far from prying eyes.

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Looking Forward: What Comes in Season 13?

With winter approaching, the team is racing to:

• Expand excavations in the swamp to find another possible vault
• Drill deeper in the Money Pit with new high-tech equipment
• Investigate further links between Malta’s history and Oak Island’s mystery

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Conclusion: A Legacy More Valuable Than Gold

So what’s the treasure?
Gold? Jewels? Or something far more historic?

The evidence increasingly points to religious relics, ancient manuscripts, or Templar secrets—a legacy far greater than pirate loot.

As “Night After Night” shows, the pieces are aligning—and the Knights of Malta may be the missing link that brings the Oak Island mystery to light.

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What Do You Think?

Could the Knights of Malta really be behind Oak Island’s construction?
Are we on the verge of a historic breakthrough?

Drop your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned.
The hunt is far from over.

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