The Curse of Oak Island: Are the Knights of Malta Behind the Mystery?

A New Discovery on Oak Island

A group of explorers stumbles upon a remote island off the coast of Nova Scotia. They uncover strange markings, hidden passageways, and a deep pit that has baffled treasure hunters for over 200 years. But what if the true mystery of Oak Island didn’t begin with The Money Pit? What if the island’s secret dates back much further—to the 18th century and possibly even to the enigmatic Knights of Malta?

In The Curse of Oak Island Season 12, Episode 14, the team uncovers shocking evidence: ancient shipbuilding materials, specifically copper nails that predate the discovery of The Money Pit. These aren’t just ordinary ship remnants; they are linked to large European vessels from the 1700s. If a ship that old was connected to Oak Island, the real question is:

• Who brought it there?
• What were they trying to hide?

A Game-Changing Clue: 18th-Century Copper Nails

The Lagina brothers and their team have spent years digging through layers of history, uncovering one clue after another. But when they stumble upon a set of copper nails in Lot 5, nails that have resisted corrosion for centuries, it sparks a whole new set of questions.

These are no ordinary nails. They are sheathing tacks, typically used to fasten protective copper sheets to the undersides of ships, protecting them from saltwater damage. This means one thing: whoever arrived on Oak Island centuries ago did so aboard a large seafaring vessel. But why does the evidence suggest they were here before the infamous discovery of The Money Pit in 1795?

The Knights of Malta Connection

The team consults blacksmithing expert Carmen Legg to analyze the copper nails, and the results are shocking. The nails date back to somewhere between 1720 and 1760, potentially decades before anyone was known to be on Oak Island searching for treasure.

Then, a startling connection emerges: the time period matches another mysterious group known for their secretive movements and connections to lost treasures—the Knights of Malta.

If you haven’t heard of them, the Knights of Malta were a powerful and secretive order that survived the fall of the Knights Templar. They controlled vast wealth, had immense influence, and some historians believe they inherited the Templars’ lost treasure. Could it be possible that members of the Knights of Malta sailed to Oak Island in the 18th century to safeguard something of great value?

A Sunken Ship Beneath the Swamp?

Meanwhile, back at the swamp, the team is closing in on another mystery. They have long suspected that the swamp is not a natural formation but a man-made feature designed to conceal something. And now, with the discovery of 18th-century ship parts, the theory is gaining traction.

What if an old European ship didn’t just pass by Oak Island, but was intentionally sunk there? Could the Knights of Malta have deliberately scuttled a vessel, hiding its cargo beneath the murky waters of the swamp?

It might sound like something out of a legend, but secretive orders like the Knights Templar and Knights of Malta were known for elaborate deception tactics. If they were trying to conceal something on the island, what better way than to sink an entire ship and cover it with layers of dirt, water, and time?

Danger Strikes at The Money Pit

As the team pushes forward with their most ambitious dig yet, disaster strikes. While drilling deep into The Money Pit area, the ground begins to collapse. The entire operation is suddenly at risk. The team faces a difficult decision:

• Continue pushing forward despite the dangers?
• Or pull back and risk losing everything they’ve worked for?

This isn’t the first time Oak Island has “fought back.” Over the years, searchers have encountered cave-ins, mysterious floods, and even tragic losses. Some believe it’s the island’s curse, a supernatural force protecting its secrets. Others see it as engineering traps left behind by those who built the hidden chambers.

One thing is clear: something is down there. And if the team can push past these obstacles, they might finally get the answers they’ve been searching for.

A Hidden History Waiting to Be Uncovered

With each new artifact, the mystery of Oak Island grows more complex:

• The 18th-century copper nails
• The possibility of a sunken ship
• The connection to the Knights of Malta

These discoveries suggest Oak Island’s mystery may not just be about treasure—it could be about a hidden history that challenges everything we know.

If the Knights of Malta or another secretive group were on Oak Island in the early 1700s, what were they doing there? The presence of 18th-century ship parts suggests they didn’t just make a brief stop—they may have been carrying out a carefully planned mission.

One possibility? They were transporting something of great value—gold, religious relics, or even ancient documents—and needed a secure hiding place. The island, with its remote location and natural defenses, would have been the perfect spot. But instead of simply burying a chest, what if they engineered an elaborate system to protect it? Could the infamous flood tunnels and booby-trapped shafts date back even further than we thought?

On the Verge of a Breakthrough?

As the team analyzes the copper nails, an exciting pattern emerges:

• The materials, craftsmanship, and metal composition all point to high-quality European shipbuilding techniques.
• These weren’t ordinary trade vessels—they were built to last, meant for long and dangerous voyages.
• Historical records show that European military and religious orders were active in the Atlantic during the early 1700s.

Could a Knights of Malta ship have reached Oak Island? And if so, what did they leave behind?

Meanwhile, the discovery of possible ship remnants in the swamp strengthens the theory that the area was deliberately altered to hide something. History is full of examples of hidden treasures protected by deception, and sinking a ship to disguise an entire treasure site would have been an ingenious solution.

A Critical Choice: The Swamp or The Money Pit?

While the discovery of the copper nails raises new possibilities, the team faces a major obstacle at The Money Pit. As they push deeper into the TB1 shaft, the ground suddenly gives way, causing a dangerous cave-in.

For a moment, everything hangs in the balance:

• Years of excavation
• Millions of dollars in equipment
• A dream that has spanned generations

It could all be lost in an instant. But the team isn’t giving up. They quickly regroup, reinforce the area, and decide on their next move. The setback is frustrating, but it also confirms something critical: they are disturbingly close to something significant.

Meanwhile, another shocking discovery emerges from the debris—a mysterious man-made material resembling concrete. If this is what the team suspects, it could be the strongest evidence yet that they are closing in on the legendary Chapel Vault, a structure rumored to contain chests of treasure.

The Mystery Deepens

Every time the team gets close to answers, Oak Island throws another challenge in their way. But with each setback, they gain more insight.

• The discovery of 18th-century ship materials
• The connection to secretive European orders
• The possibility of a deliberately hidden shipwreck

All point to a much older and more complex mystery than previously believed. The deeper they dig—both literally and historically—the clearer it becomes that Oak Island’s secret isn’t just about treasure. It’s about forgotten history, secret societies, and a trail of clues left behind by those who never intended them to be found.

With limited time before excavation season ends, the team must decide:

• Risk collapse at The Money Pit?
• Or shift focus to the swamp, where a sunken ship may hold the key to everything?

One thing is certain: Oak Island is not done revealing its secrets—and if the team keeps pushing forward, they may finally uncover a truth that has remained buried for centuries.