Oak Island Team Uncovers Deliberately Placed Stone With Possible Ancient Origins

Oak Island Team Investigates Man-Made Stone Marker on Lot 5

The team behind The Curse of Oak Island is examining a newly discovered stone feature on Lot 5 that experts believe was deliberately placed, raising fresh questions about early activity on the island.

The discovery was made just weeks ago while metal detectorist Gary Drayton was surveying the area. A partially exposed upright stone, positioned beside a much larger boulder, immediately caught the team’s attention. According to archaeologist Laird Niven, the arrangement showed clear signs of human intervention rather than natural formation.

Using drone-based imaging, Niven created a detailed 3D model of the feature. By flying the drone at multiple heights and angles and reconstructing the data in the lab, the team was able to examine the stone from all perspectives. The model revealed that the stone had been set into a dug hole, propped upright, and supported by surrounding rocks.

“There is no natural process that would place a stone like this in that position,” Niven explained. “The evidence strongly suggests it was intentionally installed.”

Marker or Cover Stone?

While the team agrees the stone was placed deliberately, its purpose remains unclear. Marty Lagina outlined two main possibilities: the stone may have been positioned to mark an important location, or it may have been used to conceal something beneath it.

Further intrigue came when dark organic soil was found under the stone, along with a piece of wood now being sent for radiocarbon dating. According to surveyor Steve Guptill, the results could help identify who was active on Lot 5 and when.

Guptill noted that the structure does not resemble known colonial-era features. Instead, its design aligns with ancient marker stones historically associated with Roman or Viking activity.

“These types of markers were often used either to claim land or to indicate significant locations,” Guptill said. “In some cases, they date back hundreds or even thousands of years.”

Coins, Crosses, and Possible Connections

The stone marker’s significance is heightened by previous finds in the surrounding area. Six Roman coins have been recovered within a 250-foot radius of the feature, a detail that has sparked renewed interest among the team.

Past research trips, including investigations in Iceland, revealed that Viking settlement sites often contained Roman coins. During those trips, the team also documented carvings and crosses similar to artifacts previously found on Oak Island, strengthening theories that different cultures may have passed through the island long before modern settlement.

Marty Lagina pointed out that if the stone was intended as a marker, it would likely align visually with another marker nearby.

“You would never place a marker that couldn’t be seen from the next one,” Guptill added. “That suggests there may be another structure along the same line.”

Following the Line

To test that theory, the team returned to Lot 5 and began surveying southeast from the stone using a total station, a ground-based precision instrument capable of establishing straight lines through dense forest where GPS signals fail.

As they followed the projected line, Gary Drayton conducted metal detection sweeps. Early results included the discovery of an iron strap with a square hole, an object consistent with barrel hardware and similar to items previously associated with significant finds on the island.

Drayton described the find as encouraging, noting that iron straps have historically appeared near important locations on Oak Island.

A Bigger Question Emerges

Rick Lagina emphasized that the true importance of the discovery may go beyond a single stone or artifact. He suggested the marker could point to overlooked patterns across the island, potentially connected to Nolan’s Cross and other known stone features.

“How many structures like this have we walked past over the years?” Lagina asked. “How many clues are still out there that we’ve missed?”

With radiocarbon results pending and further surveying underway, the team believes the stone marker could represent another critical piece in Oak Island’s long-running mystery.

For now, the investigation continues—one line, one marker, and one discovery at a time.