A Landmark Discovery in the Swamp: The Oak Island Team Uncovers a Possible Hand Cannon
The swamp has delivered many surprises over the years, but what the team uncovered this time may be one of the most extraordinary finds in recent seasons. During a return to the Oak Island lab, Rick Lagina, Gary Drayton, Billy Gerhardt, and archaeologists Laird Niven and Emma Culligan examined an artifact that could rewrite part of the island’s early history.
A Mysterious Artifact From a Paved Area Dating Back Centuries
The object in question was found on the western edge of the swamp, just yards from the paved stone feature unearthed in 2019 — a structure some experts believe could be up to 800 years old.
At first glance, the artifact looked like a simple weight. But as it dried, its tapered shape raised a startling possibility: a weapon.
Gary suggested it might be a “hand cannon,” an early handheld firearm dating back as far as the 12th century, long before flintlocks and matchlocks existed.
If true, this would place the artifact centuries before the discovery of the Money Pit — and well before any documented European explorers reached Nova Scotia.
Emma Culligan’s Analysis: Clues Hidden in the Metal
Emma’s metallurgical report offered even more intrigue. Despite swamp corrosion, she detected:
- minimal impurities, indicating pre-modern forging
- high sulfur content, typical of metal from the 1700s or earlier
- composition consistent with European origins
The artifact also contains a visible touch hole, confirmed through CT scan — a defining feature of early hand cannons.
This discovery pushes the timeline back dramatically.
Could the Hand Cannon Be Medieval?
By the 1500s, hand cannons were already becoming obsolete. If the artifact truly belongs to that era — or earlier — it raises major questions:
- Who was carrying firearms on Oak Island centuries before the Money Pit?
- Why was it found near an ancient paved structure?
- What was happening on the island before recorded history?
The team agreed the next step is to involve an international firearms expert. But one thing is clear: the swamp may be hiding far more than they ever imagined.
More Swamp Discoveries: Heavy Iron and a Possible Buckle
Meanwhile, on the western edge of the swamp, Gary, Billy, and Derek continued metal detecting — and quickly struck more iron.
Find #1: A Heavy, Purpose-Shaped Iron Fragment
Deep in clay and rock, the team uncovered a solid iron object with sharp, intentional angles. It wasn’t slag. It wasn’t random debris. It was crafted.
Find #2: A Needle-Sized Iron Tool
Almost impossibly small, yet perfectly preserved. Another clue that human activity in the swamp was far more extensive than once believed.
Find #3: A Possible Large Iron Buckle
Marty Lagina, usually the team’s swamp skeptic, was impressed. The heavy iron fragment appeared to be part of a large buckle — possibly from:
- a chest
- cargo straps
- or equipment tied to transportation
If it belonged to a chest, what kind of chest could it be?
And what might it once have carried?
A Bigger Mystery Takes Shape
With finds piling up within a small radius:
- a possible hand cannon
- a large iron buckle
- a needle
- centuries-old metal fragments
…the swamp may hold the clearest evidence yet of an early operation involving tools, weapons, transport, and possibly valuable cargo.
Even Marty — who has doubted the swamp for years — admitted the possibility:
“One of the best ways to hide a treasure would be to flood it.”
And if something valuable was once hidden here, the swamp would be the perfect cover.
The Search Intensifies
As Rick put it:
“We’re nowhere near done.”
Gary agreed — and came prepared with “a lot of bags,” expecting more artifacts before the day was over.
The swamp is giving up its secrets one discovery at a time. And with each dig, each scan, each unexpected find, the mystery deepens.
