The Curse of Oak Island Season 13: The Deepest Secrets Yet
The Lagina brothers return with a historic discovery that could finally rewrite the Oak Island mystery
For over 230 years, Oak Island has called out to treasure hunters — a tiny speck in the North Atlantic wrapped in mystery, tragedy, and legend. Since the 1795 discovery of the strange deep shaft known as the Money Pit, generations have searched for its hidden riches. Six lives have been claimed in the pursuit. According to the infamous curse, one more must perish before the island will reveal its secrets.
As The Curse of Oak Island launches Season 13, brothers Rick and Marty Lagina, along with Craig Tester and their loyal team, are determined to write the final chapter of the world’s longest-running treasure hunt. The premiere — a two-hour special — begins not with hesitation, but with bold precision, guided by a stunning new artifact that could change everything.
A New Focus: The Treasure May Have Fallen Deeper
After years of collapses and false starts, the team enters Season 13 with a refined theory: the treasure is no longer resting in the original Money Pit. Instead, they believe it has slipped deeper — into a vast, natural geological cavity known as the Solution Channel, over 200 feet below the surface.
“The plan this year,” Rick Lagina explains, “is to figure out where that treasure went — way deep.”
The team’s mission: map and drill the Solution Channel, a region they’ve explored less than five percent of, in hopes of locating the long-lost deposit zone that could hold the elusive fortune.
The Piblato Promise: A 14th-Century Game Changer
The season’s biggest revelation doesn’t come from the ground — it comes from the past. Researcher Doug Crowell introduces Steve Solomon, a descendant of the Archibald family, key figures in 19th-century Oak Island history.
Solomon presents what he believes is the most important artifact ever recovered from the Money Pit — a silver coin connected to the legendary Piblato Incident of 1849.
In 1849, foreman James Piblato drilled into the flooded Money Pit. At about 98 feet deep, his auger passed through two wooden platforms with loose metal between — possibly treasure chests. Witnesses claimed he secretly pocketed a small shiny object. The item disappeared into history — until now.
Solomon produces a Portuguese silver coin, passed down through generations of his family.
When Rick and Marty Lagina examine it in the war room, the atmosphere shifts.
Archaeometallurgist Emma Culligan confirms it’s authentic — a Tornês De Ceitil coin dating from 1367–1383, during the reign of King Ferdinand I of Portugal. The coin is 37.5% silver, slightly bent (possibly by the auger), and in remarkably preserved condition — proof it may have been sealed underground for centuries.
Rick’s voice trembles as he holds the artifact:
“To me, it’s proof that something real is down there — something at the bottom of the Money Pit.”
The Templar Connection Strengthens
For years, the team has explored links between Oak Island and the Knights Templar, theorizing that the medieval order may have hidden sacred relics or treasure on the island.
Researcher Judy Rudabaugh notices a faint engraving on the coin — a Templar cross. This discovery aligns perfectly with prior research connecting the island to the Knights of Christ, the Templars’ successor order in Portugal.
“If this coin really came from the Money Pit,” Marty says, “it’s the strongest evidence we’ve ever found.”
For the first time, the Templar theory moves from speculation to tangible proof.
Into the Depths: Drilling the Solution Channel
Fueled by this breakthrough, the team launches its most ambitious field operation to date. Focusing on boreholes J6, 8, and 5, they aim to penetrate the bedrock and enter the Solution Channel — the place they now believe holds the treasure’s remains.
When the drill suddenly drops, they know they’ve broken through. At a depth of over 200 feet, they’re now exploring deeper than any previous searchers.
Among the samples are chunks of ancient drill casing, remnants from 19th-century treasure hunters. Instead of disappointment, it’s validation: they’re digging through the same ground as the original explorers.
Geologist Terry Matheson explains,
“If these are searcher casings from the 1840s, it means we’re exactly where we need to be.”
Lot 5: Rewriting Nova Scotia’s Hidden History
While drilling continues, archaeologist Laird Niven and his team excavate Lot 5, uncovering signs of human activity centuries before the Money Pit was discovered.
Findings include:
- A Staffordshire slipware shard (1675–1770)
- A Venetian glass bead possibly from the 10th century
- A heavy iron fastener and Knights of Malta buttons — a direct link to the Templar legacy
The area contains a circular stone foundation and a rectangular structure, both intentionally buried. These discoveries suggest the site was used repeatedly over hundreds of years, possibly as a base of operations for those who hid — or protected — whatever lies beneath Oak Island.
“This isn’t just a one-time deposit,” Laird explains. “It’s a multigenerational effort — a centuries-long secret.”
Faith vs. Logic: The Lagina Brothers’ Balance
The emotional center of Oak Island remains the contrast between Rick and Marty Lagina.
Rick is guided by belief and passion — the conviction that the treasure is real and meant to be found.
Marty, the engineer, grounds that belief in science and reason, pushing for strategy and evidence.
Their differing philosophies form the show’s heartbeat: faith versus logic, hope balanced by discipline.
“Rick brings the heart,” says Marty. “I bring the math.”
A Unified Theory of the Past
The premiere weaves three threads into a single tapestry — the Portuguese coin, the Solution Channel drilling, and the Lot 5 archaeology. Together, they form the most cohesive theory yet:
- The coin provides the why — proof of a valuable deposit tied to medieval Portugal.
- The drilling provides the where — evidence the treasure fell deeper into the bedrock.
- The archaeology provides the who and when — suggesting the work of medieval Europeans, perhaps Templars or their successors, hiding something of immense value.
For the first time, the legend feels within reach — no longer myth, but history waiting to be confirmed.
Closer Than Ever to the Truth
As the premiere ends, the team stands on the edge of breakthrough. They have the artifact, the geological map, and the historical context.
“This isn’t just hope anymore,” Rick says. “It’s proof.”
After 230 years, six deaths, and countless fortunes spent, Oak Island may finally be ready to surrender its deepest secrets.
The curse may not yet be broken — but for the first time, the key is in their grasp.
