The Curse of Oak Island – Season 13, Episode 15 “Swamped” Recap
Season 13, Episode 15 of The Curse of Oak Island, titled “Swamped,” originally aired on February 24, 2026. This installment advances two major storylines: the long-anticipated Money Pit dig and increasingly intriguing discoveries in the northern swamp.
With over two centuries of treasure hunting behind them, the team continues its pursuit armed with updated technology, fresh scientific data, and renewed determination.
The Money Pit: A New Strategy Begins
The focus in the Money Pit centers on boreholes I-9.5 and K-9.5, where high traces of silver were previously detected more than 200 feet down in the solution channel. Those readings, combined with historical accounts of a 14th-century coin allegedly recovered in 1849 by the Truro Company, fuel hopes that more treasure may remain below.
The team had previously installed a caisson at this location in 2019 but halted operations at 150 feet. This year, they are changing tactics. Instead of relying solely on oscillation methods to advance the caisson, an auger will be lowered inside it to excavate material. Once target depth is reached, a recovery bucket will replace the auger to retrieve potential artifacts.
In a symbolic gesture, Rick selects Gary and Katya Drayton to begin the drilling. Marty names the hole “Top Pocket Finds” (TPF), a nod to Gary’s habit of placing significant discoveries in his top pocket.
However, progress quickly stalls. The caisson encounters resistance and refuses to advance. Gary suggests the obstruction could be a boulder. It is later determined that tightly packed backfill from previous operations is likely the culprit. The team considers reintroducing the oscillator—an approach used successfully in prior seasons. Fortunately, the oscillator is already on-site.
Complicating matters further, a truck transporting critical adapter parts breaks down. Rather than wait days for repairs, Marty and Craig pivot to a secondary target, planning to return to TPF1 later.
Swamp Discoveries: Leather, Stakes, and Planks
Meanwhile, Rick, Craig, Gary, and Tom Nolan continue investigating the cobblestone path in the northern swamp. The pathway is lined with distinctive eight-sided survey stakes, which may be linked to earlier structures uncovered in the area.
Gary detects leather fragments in the spoil pile, and Rick finds additional pieces. These appear to be part of a shoe heel. A previously discovered boot near the southern stone road dated to the 1600s. The new fragments will be sent for carbon dating.
During excavation, the bucket unexpectedly drops into what appears to be a void approximately five feet high. Among the spoil are wooden stakes aligned with others found this season.
Tom also uncovers thick wooden planks. Rick observes that the boards fit together and are over 12 inches wide and more than one inch thick—dimensions uncommon in modern lumber. One plank contains a nail, though its square or round shape cannot yet be confirmed. If square-forged, it would indicate significant age.
Katya later detects a metal object in the same area and suggests it could be a key. A CT scan is planned to differentiate between rust and original structure.
Lot 8 and the Boulder Operation
On Lot 8, preparations continue to raise the massive boulder previously linked to 1500s-era chain. Tree removal and road construction are underway to allow crane access. The lifting operation is scheduled for the following episode.
In the lab, Katya consults blacksmithing expert Carmen Leg regarding a tool found earlier near the chain. Carmen determines it is not a knife handle, as previously speculated, but part of a ratcheting mechanism. Metallurgical analysis suggests European iron, likely dating to the 1700s, though possibly older.
Carbon Dating Results: Medieval Implications
The most consequential moment of the episode arrives in the War Room, where the team reviews preliminary carbon-14 dating results for the leather fragments found in the swamp.
The highest probability range falls between 1148 and 1216. Lower probability results suggest dates as early as 1047.
Marty notes that this timeframe aligns with research presented by Professor Adriano Gaspani, whose astronomical analysis suggests Nolan’s Cross may have been constructed in the early 1200s. Additionally, the paved area discovered in 2019 also dated to the 13th century.
This period corresponds with the height of the Knights Templar before their dissolution in 1307.
In an unusual move for the series, the carbon dating company will clean the samples and repeat testing to confirm the results.
Rick concludes that the data provides justification for continued excavation in the swamp.
Looking Ahead
The next episode, “Raising the Stakes,” airing March 3, 2026, will feature the long-awaited lifting of the massive Lot 8 boulder and the discovery of an artifact potentially connected to the American Revolution.
Episode 17, “The Missing Links,” scheduled for March 10, promises further developments tied to the elusive survey stakes.
With new data emerging from both the swamp and the Money Pit, Season 13 continues to build toward what may be one of its most significant turning points.
The search presses on—guided by science, persistence, and the enduring hope that the next dig may finally uncover definitive proof.
