Malta’s Hidden Caves Linked to the Knights Templar (Season 12) | The Curse of Oak Island
The Knights of Malta: A Possible Link to Oak Island’s Greatest Mystery
More than 4,000 miles from Oak Island, a compelling new lead has emerged in the centuries-old treasure mystery. In Valletta, Malta, members of the Oak Island team, including Rick and Alex Lagina, have embarked on an international investigation to explore the legacy of the Knights of Malta — an elite military order whose underground engineering may bear striking similarities to the structures found beneath Oak Island.
The journey began in the heart of Valletta, where the team was granted access to an expansive network of 16th-century tunnels. Built by the Knights of Malta following their victorious defense against the Ottoman Empire in 1565, these tunnels served multiple purposes: as fortifications, as water collection systems, and possibly, as treasure vaults.
Researchers were particularly struck by the advanced infrastructure. The tunnels, cisterns, and chambers carved into Malta’s limestone bedrock demonstrated an extraordinary level of craftsmanship. Perhaps most intriguing was the use of bluish-gray clay—a natural sealant used to waterproof the cisterns and aqueducts beneath the city.
This detail immediately drew the attention of the Oak Island team, as blue clay has long been associated with the original Money Pit. In Nova Scotia, blue clay was reportedly used to waterproof shafts and tunnels. Its presence in both locations raised a provocative question: Could the same knowledge — and perhaps the same people — have been responsible?
As the investigation continued, the team traveled to the nearby island of Gozo, where the Knights of Malta had established another stronghold. There, they met with Maltese military historian Denis Darmanin to analyze a unique artifact recovered from Oak Island’s Lot 5: a starburst-patterned button.
According to Darmanin, the button bears a Spanish design, likely dating from 1650 to 1675 — more than a century before the discovery of the Money Pit. It may have belonged to a high-ranking member of the Knights of Malta, possibly even a noble or aristocrat, given its decorative nature. Darmanin noted that such buttons were fashionable among elite European military orders and could signify status.
The discovery not only suggests the presence of Europeans on Oak Island well before the 18th century, but potentially those connected to the elite Knightly orders that once ruled from Malta.
For the Oak Island team, the implications are profound. The engineering parallels, the waterproofing materials, and now, an artifact possibly linked to the Knights of Malta, all point toward a deeper connection — one that might tie the Templar legacy and their treasures to Oak Island.
As Rick Lagina observed, understanding the past is the only way to uncover what lies ahead. Whether or not the Knights of Malta had a direct hand in Oak Island’s construction remains to be proven. But with every international lead, the mystery grows more intricate — and the possibility of a monumental discovery inches closer to reality.
