Oak Island Season 12 Shocker: Lot 5 Gold Clues, Viking Trails & the Masonic Connection!

Lot 5: The Sir William Phips Connection

Rick Lagina, metal detection expert Gary Drayton, and archaeologist Fiona Steel have been investigating a mysterious stone foundation on Lot 5 — a feature that has tripled in size over the past two years.

They’ve uncovered iron tools scientifically linked to Sir William Phips, a 17th-century English politician sent by King James II to recover sunken Spanish treasure. But Phips and his Masonic ally Captain Andrew Belcher are believed to have stashed a secret portion of the treasure — possibly right here on Oak Island.

Gary’s metal detector identifies a non-ferrous target — possibly copper, lead, or even gold — buried near the stone structure. Could this be tied to the lost Spanish silver?

The Curious Copper Button

Meanwhile, Jack Begley, Craig Tester, and metal expert El Nené zero in on a stunning discovery — a floral-decorated copper button unearthed near the same Lot 5 foundation.

Gary believes it could be from a fine 17th-century jacket or cuff, possibly worn by someone in Phips’ circle. Emma Culligan analyzes the piece using X-ray fluorescence, revealing elemental data and reinforcing the theory that the button dates back to the late 1600s.

🧪 “It might just be the missing piece that connects Phips directly to the island,” Emma says.

The Cobblestone Road and Swamp Enigma

Over in the triangle-shaped swamp, Rick, Alex Lagina, and Billy Gerhardt uncover a carefully built cobblestone road near a strange wooden log structure — both features hint at major construction efforts that could span generations.

Dr. Ian Spooner is brought in to analyze organic material, hoping to carbon date logs found beneath a large root structure. Early core samples from the swamp revealed construction dates between 1680 and 1700.

Rick, Gary, and Alex believe this area could have been part of a multi-generational concealment effort — possibly built by the same group hiding treasure near the Eye of the Swamp.

The Eye of the Swamp & the Masonic Trail

The team revisits the infamous Eye of the Swamp — a perfectly round, stone-bordered formation first revealed in 2019. This oddity lies directly along the cobblestone path, raising questions about whether it’s more than a natural formation.

Some believe it could be a symbolic Masonic structure, potentially guiding searchers to a key location like the Money Pit.

Journey to L’Anse aux Meadows: Viking Clues and Bog Iron

In a historic crossover, Marty Lagina and Emma Culligan travel to L’Anse aux Meadows, the only confirmed Viking settlement in North America.

Here, they study Norse metallurgy and bog iron — a resource Vikings often used. Emma compares elemental readings from Viking tools to an Oak Island iron arrowhead, and preliminary results suggest the arrowhead could pre-date 1700.

The implication? Viking descendants, possibly tied to the Knights Templar, may have visited Oak Island and played a role in its early history.

The Legacy of Treasure Hunters Past

The Lagina brothers’ journey ties into 200 years of failed — and fatal — attempts to unearth the Oak Island treasure. Early explorers like William Chappell and Frederick Blair found fragments of parchment, gold coins, and ancient maps, but were thwarted by flooding in the Money Pit.

Despite those setbacks, discoveries like:

• A ceremonial Roman sword
• A handmade French map from 1647
• Butternuts found where they shouldn’t grow

…all suggest European, even pre-Columbian, presence on the island.

Final Thoughts: Is the Puzzle Coming Together?

Between the Lot 5 button, the swamp’s stone road, Viking iron traces, and the Masonic symbolism hidden across the island — Oak Island’s long-buried secrets are inching toward the light.

Rick Lagina put it best:

“We need to go back to Lot 5… and keep digging.”

So what do you think? Is this copper button proof that Sir William Phips buried Spanish treasure on Oak Island? Are the Vikings and Templars working together in this story?

Leave your theories in the comments. And don’t forget — the swamp still holds its secrets…