The latest official excavation on Oak Island’s Lot Five has uncovered pre-1700 artifacts, including rare metals and ancient coins, revealing that the island was inhabited or used long before the Money Pit era, shocking historians and reigniting global fascination with its mysterious past.

Oak Island, Nova Scotia — In a stunning turn of events that could rewrite the history of one of the world’s most infamous treasure sites, the latest official excavation on Lot Five has uncovered artifacts suggesting human activity on the island long before the 1700s.

Led by Marty La-gina and his team, the dig, conducted in late December 2025, has shifted attention from the legendary Money Pit to a seemingly ordinary patch of soil, revealing objects that challenge centuries of assumptions about Oak Island’s past.

According to La-gina, the breakthrough came after meticulous surface excavation and careful sifting of the soil.

“We’ve always assumed the story started with the 18th-century settlers,” La-gina explained during a press briefing.

“But what we found tells a different story.

This land was being used, and possibly inhabited, centuries earlier than anyone expected.

” Among the most remarkable finds are metallic artifacts that should not exist in this soil, including what appears to be a form of phosphorus iron—a rare material suggesting advanced metallurgy.

Additionally, preliminary identification points to a collection of coins, some possibly dating back to Roman or Portuguese origins, which would imply transatlantic contact long before previously documented European settlement in the region.

The dig on Lot Five, part of the ongoing official Oak Island investigation, employed a combination of modern excavation techniques and traditional metal detection.

Katya Drayton, a key member of the team, described the moment the artifacts were unearthed: “We started finding pieces that didn’t match anything we’ve seen in the Money Pit.

At first, we thought it might be contamination, but every piece has been analyzed and confirms pre-1700 origin.

” Gary Drayton, the team’s metal detection expert, added that the unique composition of the iron and the craftsmanship of the coins indicate sophisticated techniques not commonly associated with early North American settlers.

Historically, Oak Island has been synonymous with the Money Pit and the supposed buried treasure left by pirates, the Knights Templar, or early explorers.

Excavations have focused for over two centuries on locating deep caches of gold, silver, and artifacts below the surface.

However, the Lot Five discovery shifts the narrative, emphasizing that the island’s history may have included sustained activity on or near the surface long before the Money Pit was even conceived.

This finding raises questions about who these early inhabitants were, what technologies they possessed, and how far-reaching their trade or influence might have been.

Social media and the treasure-hunting community responded immediately to the news, with thousands of enthusiasts speculating about the implications of the discovery.

Some suggested that the presence of phosphorus iron and ancient coins could confirm theories that Oak Island was part of a larger network of early European exploration, possibly involving Portuguese sailors or even remnants of Roman artifacts brought across the Atlantic.

Other observers emphasized that the find complicates the long-standing narrative focused on buried treasure, instead highlighting a rich, pre-18th-century history that has gone largely unexamined.

The official excavation team has stressed that further analysis is required to confirm the full historical significance of the artifacts.

Laboratory testing, carbon dating of surrounding soil, and metallurgical analysis are ongoing.

“We’re treading carefully,” La-gina stated.

“The last thing we want is to misinterpret the evidence.

Every piece of metal, every coin, every fragment tells a story, and we have to ensure it’s accurate.”

While the Lot Five findings do not immediately yield the long-sought treasure of the Money Pit, the implications are potentially more profound.

If confirmed, the artifacts suggest that Oak Island was a hub of human activity hundreds of years before previously thought, potentially altering the historical record of North American exploration.

The discovery also reinforces the importance of examining the surface and surrounding areas of the island, not just the legendary pit, in uncovering its mysteries.

For historians, treasure hunters, and viewers of the History Channel’s “Curse of Oak Island,” the Lot Five excavation is a dramatic reminder that the island continues to defy expectations.

Each dig, each metal scan, each carefully unearthed object adds layers to a narrative that spans centuries, blending history, legend, and mystery.

The La-gina team’s dedication to uncovering the truth, while employing scientific rigor alongside traditional treasure hunting techniques, ensures that Oak Island’s secrets are revealed piece by piece—and that each discovery has the potential to rewrite history.

As analysis continues and further excavations are planned for the new year, Lot Five has firmly established itself as a focal point for Oak Island research.

With metals and coins that should not exist in this context, the island’s story grows ever more complex, capturing the imaginations of those who have followed its mysteries for generations.

This remarkable find promises to keep scholars, treasure hunters, and enthusiasts on edge, eagerly awaiting the next revelation from Nova Scotia’s most enigmatic island.