Oak Island’s 2025 Discoveries Include Ancient Engineering and Flood Tunnel Breakthrough — Is This Finally the Year They Solve It?

The Biggest Oak Island Finds of 2025: New Artifacts, Ancient Engineering, and a Flood Tunnel Breakthrough

The search for Oak Island’s legendary treasure reached new heights in 2025 as The Curse of Oak Island delivered one of its most revealing seasons to date. Brothers Rick and Marty Lagina, along with their dedicated team of archaeologists, engineers, and researchers, uncovered a series of discoveries that strengthened the case for significant human activity on the island centuries before the famous Money Pit was discovered in 1795.

One of the most compelling breakthroughs came on Lot 26, where the team resumed excavation of a stone well believed to date back nearly 900 years. Archaeologists Laird Niven and Helen Sheldon, joined by Jack Begley, carefully pumped water from the well and manually removed layers of debris. What made the well especially intriguing was recent scientific testing that revealed unusually high traces of silver in the water—an anomaly that raised immediate questions about what may have been hidden there.

As the well was cleared, the team noticed distinct construction features: smooth, rounded stonework at depth, transitioning into angular rocks above. These differences suggested deliberate engineering rather than natural formation. When the extracted debris was later sifted, Helen Sheldon and archaeometallurgist Emma Culligan identified a hand-wrought iron object that did not resemble a standard nail. Early analysis suggested it could be part of a ship-related fastening or tool, potentially dating back to the early 1700s—or earlier.

Scientific testing at Saint Mary’s University confirmed the iron artifact contained no manganese, a key indicator that it predated industrial nail production. The results placed the object firmly before 1840, possibly as far back as the 1600s. This discovery reinforced growing evidence that organized, skilled labor took place on Oak Island long before recorded settlement.

Meanwhile, the team intensified efforts in the Money Pit area, installing their deepest caisson yet—dubbed “The One Thing” (TOT-1). Reaching nearly 195 feet underground, the shaft penetrated a massive solution channel filled with collapsed debris. The team vacuumed out tons of material, hoping to recover artifacts that could explain centuries of failed excavation attempts.

Their persistence paid off. While examining spoils from the shaft, metal-detection expert Gary Drayton uncovered a small but heavy iron tool fragment resembling part of a pickaxe. Remarkably, the find closely matched another pick fragment discovered earlier in the season. Blacksmithing analysis suggested the tools were used for tunneling and could date back to the 16th or 17th century—evidence that underground work occurred long before modern treasure hunters arrived.

Perhaps the most historic moment of the season came at Smith’s Cove, where the team finally confirmed the presence of coconut fiber—an essential component of the island’s legendary flood tunnel system. Scientific testing verified the fibrous material originated thousands of miles away, confirming it was intentionally transported and used as a filtration layer. This discovery directly corroborated historical accounts from early searchers who described massive coconut fiber deposits protecting stone box drains.

The confirmation of coconut fiber reignited belief that the team is closing in on the original flood tunnel designed to sabotage treasure recovery. Although excavation had to be paused due to permit restrictions and the removal of the cofferdam, the evidence suggested the team may finally understand why previous digs failed.

Elsewhere on the island, a surprising discovery on Lot 5 added another layer to the mystery. Archaeologists uncovered a round stone feature containing mortar that matched soil from deep within the Money Pit. Inside, the team found a small glass gemstone-like object. Laboratory analysis revealed it to be high-lead “paste” glass—an artificial gemstone popular among European elites in the early 1700s.

Experts linked the artifact to French high society and possibly the Duc d’Anville expedition, suggesting someone of wealth and status was present on Oak Island during the same era treasure may have been buried. The find raised new questions about whether Lot 5 served as a staging ground or encampment during a major operation.

The swamp also yielded dramatic revelations. A stone roadway and a vault-like structure were uncovered beneath layers of mud and water. Inside, the team found wrought-iron hardware, including a handle believed to have come from a chest. Metallurgical testing showed that parts of the structure predated known ownership of the land, challenging assumptions about former landowner Anthony Graves and hinting at an even earlier origin.

By the end of the season, Rick Lagina reflected emotionally on the team’s progress. While no treasure chest was pulled from the ground, the accumulation of evidence—ancient tools, engineered flood systems, foreign materials, and elite artifacts—painted a compelling picture of a vast, coordinated effort to hide something of immense value.

As 2025 closed, one conclusion became unavoidable: Oak Island was not the site of random digging or folklore-driven fantasy. It was a place of purpose, planning, and secrecy. And with new knowledge guiding future excavation, the team believes they are closer than ever to uncovering the truth buried beneath the island’s soil.