Oak Island Season 13, Episode 3 Recap: New Artifacts, Fresh Leads, and a High-Stakes Preview of Episode 4

As The Curse of Oak Island continues its thirteenth season, episode 3 delivers a steady stream of archaeological updates, scientific analysis, and renewed momentum in the team’s ongoing effort to uncover the island’s centuries-old mystery. With multiple dig sites active and new artifacts under scrutiny, the search for answers grows more intriguing — and episode 4 promises an even deeper push into uncharted territory.

Roman Coin Confirmed as a 3rd Century Artifact

The episode opens in the laboratory, where the copper coin discovered last week undergoes further evaluation. Emma, Oak Island’s resident archaeometallurgist, identifies it as a 3rd century Roman coin, a conclusion independently confirmed by a second specialist.

A Roman-era artifact emerging from Nova Scotia remains one of the season’s most surprising developments, raising questions about who may have reached the island long before documented European contact.

Venetian Glass Bead Adds to Global Puzzle

Another previously recovered object — a blue glass bead — also receives additional analysis. Experts determine it to be of Venetian origin, adding to a growing collection of artifacts suggesting unexpected international links. While individually small, these finds continue shaping a broader narrative about possible pre-colonial activity on the island.

Digging Expands Across Key Locations

Out in the field, activity intensifies across multiple sites:

Swamp Excavation

The team initiates a new digging strategy in the swamp, unearthing sections of old wood. Although not yet tied to a specific structure, the discoveries may signal previously undocumented activity in the area.

Lot 5

Archaeologists uncover a pipe stem and fragments of pottery. Though modest, these finds help refine timelines surrounding human presence on the island.

Lot 4

Metal-detecting expert Gary Drayton identifies a nail and a small lead artifact resembling medieval European designs. While not conclusive, the object adds fuel to theories involving early European travelers or Templar-era connections.

Money Pit Drilling Continues With Mixed Results

Core drilling resumes at the Money Pit, with multiple samples brought to the surface. No major breakthroughs appear in this episode, but as the team notes repeatedly, every core offers new information about the island’s subsurface labyrinth — a network of voids, tunnels, and disturbed earth that remains central to the Oak Island mystery.

Episode 4 Preview: “The Smoking Gun” Promises a Major Development

The next episode, “The Smoking Gun”, airs Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET on History Channel — and early indicators suggest a major turning point.

Drilling Deeper Than Ever

The team plans to push drilling deeper into the Money Pit than in previous seasons, hoping to reach unexplored depths that may finally reveal a key structure or artifact.

A Significant Find in the Swamp

Meanwhile, the swamp becomes the focus of heightened attention as a new discovery is teased as potentially “game-changing,” with implications that may connect directly to the Money Pit’s legendary origins.

With fresh clues emerging and long-standing theories being re-evaluated, episode 4 is poised to deliver one of the season’s most consequential investigations.