Emma Culligan Finds 400-Year-Old Buckle That Could Lead to Oak Island’s Legendary Treasure!
The Curse of Oak Island: A Game-Changing Discovery on Lot 5
The Discovery That Changed Everything
In Season 12, Episode 11 of The Curse of Oak Island, the team uncovers a mysterious copper artifact that could finally link the island’s legendary treasure to real historical figures.
Emma Culligan, the brilliant archaist and rising star of the show, has just analyzed a 400-year-old buckle—possibly connected to a 17th-century treasure expedition.
But is this copper and gold artifact the missing link? Or just another clue in a centuries-old mystery?
Why Lot 5 Matters
Lot 5 has become a hotspot for the team—and for good reason. It’s yielded everything from 17th-century Venetian trade beads to iron tools possibly tied to the infamous British naval officer, Sir William Phips, known for recovering treasure from the Concepción shipwreck in 1687.
Could Lot 5 be the hiding place for that treasure?
Gary Drayton’s Big Find
It all begins when metal detection expert Gary Drayton, alongside Peter Fornetti, starts scanning a pile of spoils from a stone foundation. The detector beeps—fast.
They dig.
And what they pull out is electrifying: a small, broken copper plate with rivets. Gary suspects it could be part of a military uniform or satchel plate—maybe even from the 1600s. It’s damaged, yes, but it could hold serious historical weight.
Emma Culligan Steps In
Enter Emma Culligan, Oak Island’s metal artifact expert and archaist. Alongside blacksmithing expert Carmen Legge, Emma runs advanced tests on the artifact using a high-tech CT scanner.
The results?
The plate is made of copper, zinc, iron, lead… and arsenic—a chemical often used in metalwork in the 1600s.
That means this artifact could pre-date the Money Pit itself.
The Phips Connection
The composition of the artifact strongly points toward the 17th century, possibly tying it to Sir William Phips and his crew.
Historian Scott Clarke has long theorized that Phips, along with fellow Freemason Captain Andrew Belcher, could’ve transported treasure from the Concepción shipwreck to Oak Island.
Now, with this artifact in hand, that theory feels closer than ever to being proven.
More Than Just One Clue
But this isn’t the only metallic mystery on the island. Over the years, Oak Island has revealed:
- A 1317 copper coin found in the Money Pit
- A 1598 Spanish coin
- Copper wire buried deep in the earth
- The mysterious lead cross that resembles Templar designs
- Even a supposed Roman sword found off the island’s coast
Could all these artifacts be pieces of the same puzzle?
👩🔬 Who is Emma Culligan?
Emma Culligan isn’t just another expert—she’s a metal detective.
Born in Japan and trained in Canada, she holds a double degree in Engineering and Archaeology from Memorial University.
Her expertise in archaeometallurgy lets her scan ancient objects and reveal their composition—without damaging them. Since 2022, Emma has been quietly revolutionizing the hunt for treasure on Oak Island with cutting-edge tools and a sharp scientific mind.
She’s not just supporting the dig—she may be the one who cracks it wide open.
The Big Question: Is This the Smoking Gun?
This copper artifact—potentially a belt plate or name tag from the 1600s—might finally tie Oak Island to historical events and explorers like Phips. It may even reveal a hidden military expedition connected to buried treasure.
But as Marty Lagina says, “This could be an integral part of the story… but we still need more.”
And that’s the essence of Oak Island: Every answer leads to another question.
Final Thoughts: Are We Getting Closer?
With each metallic clue, Emma Culligan and the team inch closer to the truth. Could the copper buckle from Lot 5 be the breakthrough we’ve all been waiting for? Or is it simply the beginning of something even bigger?
One thing’s certain—this mystery is far from over.
Your Turn
What do you think the copper artifact really is?
Could it prove the existence of treasure hidden by Phips and the Freemasons?
Or is something even older buried beneath Oak Island’s soil?
👉 Drop your theories in the comments below.
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