SEASON 13 MOMENTUM: A STRONG FIRST HALF
In Drilling Down Season 13, Episode 2, titled “Ground Zero,” the team reflects on what Rick Lagina describes as one of the most productive first halves of any season in the show’s history. After more than 231 years of treasure hunting on Oak Island, the evidence emerging in Season 13 suggests a deeper and more complex historical narrative than previously understood.
Peter Fornetti, often the most skeptical voice in the war room, admits that this season’s findings have shifted him toward cautious optimism. That shift centers around one extraordinary revelation.
THE 14TH-CENTURY PORTUGUESE COIN
One of the most significant developments involves the historical account of James Piplatto, foreman of the Truro Company in 1849. According to records, Piplatto drilled through a hard object at 110 feet and retrieved a coin from the auger rod before abruptly quitting.
Numismatist Sandy Campbell confirmed that the coin is a genuine 14th-century Portuguese piece associated with the Knights of Christ, a successor order to the Knights Templar. Even more striking, the coin was reportedly uncirculated and buried — conditions that preserved its integrity. Similar deteriorated coins are valued at $30,000, suggesting this specimen could be worth substantially more.
This discovery strengthens the theory that a Templar-related group may have had a presence on Oak Island.
MULTI-GENERATIONAL ACTIVITY ON OAK ISLAND
Host Matty Blake emphasizes that artifacts discovered this season span multiple centuries. Evidence suggests use of the island from at least the 1100s through the 1600s.
Rick outlines what he believes may have occurred in phases:
- Planning
- Initiation
- Implementation
- Protection
This structured approach implies a long-term, coordinated effort rather than a single deposit event.
LOT FIVE AND THE MARKER STONE
Attention turns to Lot Five, where Gary Drayton and Rick previously uncovered a possible marker stone. Surveyor Steve Gupt projected a line from the flat side of the stone, intersecting key features:
- A drilled rock similar to those found in the Money Pit
- The “Kingdom Stone”
- The Tree of Life formation linked to Nolan’s Cross
Steve estimates the structure could date to the 12th or 13th century. Supporting evidence includes nearby structures such as the swamp’s paved area and the Lot 26 well.
Additionally, five Roman coins found on Lot Five are discussed. While much older, Roman coins remained in circulation through the medieval period and have also appeared at Viking sites.
THE LOT 8 BOULDER
The mysterious boulder on Lot 8 continues to raise questions. Recent camera footage captured beneath it shows what some interpreted as gold-colored material.
Archaeologist Laird Niven notes that disturbed soil beneath the boulder suggests it was placed after excavation occurred below it. The boulder also corresponds with a location on the Zena Halpern map labeled the “December Triangle.”
Although archaeological work is ongoing, plans to lift the massive stone appear imminent in upcoming episodes.
MONEY PIT DEVELOPMENTS
At the Money Pit, large caissons continue to drive deep into the solution channel. Dr. Ian Spooner reports elevated levels of gold trace evidence in water samples, along with silver and copper — metals associated with coinage.
Several artifacts recovered from deep levels include:
- A Scandinavian wood pickaxe (dated via sample testing)
- Iron fragments from depths exceeding 180 feet
- Tool components potentially dating to the 1500s or earlier
Emma Culligan identifies one iron piece as unusually pure, suggesting a possible 1600s origin or older.
If these items are not searcher artifacts, they could belong to the original depositors.
SWAMP AND FUTURE EPISODES
Upcoming episodes promise significant developments:
- A potential key discovered in the swamp
- Carbon dating results for a leather artifact
- Transition from oscillating caissons to auger drilling
- Plans to lift the Lot 8 boulder
The next episode, titled “Swamped,” teases a potentially historic discovery in the swamp area. A later episode, “Raising the Stakes,” appears to feature the lifting of the massive Lot 8 boulder.
CONCLUSION: A SHIFT IN HISTORICAL NARRATIVE
By the end of the episode, Rick, Marty, and Craig reflect on the possibility that they are uncovering a chapter of history that was never widely documented.
If the coin, deep artifacts, and structural alignments all connect, Season 13 may represent a turning point — not just in treasure hunting, but in redefining Oak Island’s historical significance.
Rather than a simple legend of buried riches, the island increasingly appears to be part of a coordinated, multi-century operation involving European maritime powers, possibly including Templar-related groups.
With excavation intensifying and major structural targets pending, the investigation is entering a critical phase.
