Why Archeologists Are Leaving The Curse Of Oak Island - Looper (2024)

Why Archeologists Are Leaving The Curse Of Oak Island - Looper (2)

Why Archeologists Are Leaving The Curse Of Oak Island - Looper (3)

Why Archeologists Are Leaving The Curse Of Oak Island

Why Archeologists Are Leaving The Curse Of Oak Island - Looper (4)

History/YouTube

ByChristian Schoon/Dec. 10, 2021 2:25 pm EST

The History Channel's popular reality series "The Curse of Oak Island" is a long-running staple on the network, bringing viewers back weekly to check out the treasure-seekers' latest discoveries — and speculate about what they might find next. This small island in the North Atlantic has been the focus of both documented historical finds and wild rumors about fabulous but ingeniously hidden wealth for over 200 years.

Following brothers Marty and Rick Lagina, the show chronicles their nine-season quest to unearth the truth about various archeological secrets, including the central mystery of the island's purported "money pit." Located on the island's eastern side, the pit is a shaft apparently over 100 feet deep, with various stories claiming it was first found by a local teen in 1795 (per History.com). Since then, the Lagina brothers along with previous treasure hunters have attempted to plumb the pit's depths, only to find it booby-trapped with tunnels supposedly designed to flood any excavation with seawater. And while the brother's investigations have been supported by the work of professional archaeologists in a number of the show's past seasons, it now appears that the pros are being cut out of the action. So, why would the valuable input of these experienced experts suddenly be excluded from the show?

Official red tape ties the archeologists' hands

Why Archeologists Are Leaving The Curse Of Oak Island - Looper (5)

History

As noted by Monster and Critics, the recent discovery of Native American pottery on the island appears to be the reason further archeological work has been suspended. It turns out that in the aftermath of Canadian archeologist Laird Niven turning up a shard of First Nation Mi'kmaq pottery, Nova Scotia's Department of Communities, Culture, and Heritage and the Acadia First Nation Council has ordered that archeological activities in a large part of the island be stopped pending their own independent survey.

As a result, just as filming on the most recent episode neared its end, archeologists Mirium Amirault, Liz Michaels, and Helen Sheldon were gathered together and given the news. Their services were to be terminated, and Niven would be kept on, but only in an advisory capacity. While the brothers were reluctant to lose the expert analysis and guidance of the archeological professionals, they felt that the current regulations as to what archeological work was allowed and what was off-limits were simply too complicated and confusing to adhere to. So, just when the pro's insights about the newly uncovered cobblestone "roadway" and other finds were most needed, the three archeologists had to abandon the hunt to crack the mystery of "The Curse of Oak Island."

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Why Archeologists Are Leaving The Curse Of Oak Island - Looper (2024)

FAQs

Why did the archaeologists leave Oak Island? ›

So, just when the pro's insights about the newly uncovered cobblestone "roadway" and other finds were most needed, the three archeologists had to abandon the hunt to crack the mystery of "The Curse of Oak Island."

Is Laird Niven a real archaeologist? ›

Laird graduated from Dalhousie University in 1981 and has been working since then as a professional archaeologists in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Who pays for the archaeologist on Oak Island? ›

9A The Government of the Province shall select an archaeologist to monitor any site on Oak Island at which the holder of a heritage research permit undertakes archaeological, historical or palaeontological explorations or excavations, and the permit holder shall pay all expenses in relation to the appointment of the ...

What do archaeologists think about Oak Island? ›

Professional archaeologists have for the most part concluded that the Oak Island story is bogus, while many of those engaged in or by that centuries-long treasure hunt regard archaeologists as has having missed the boat. Be that as it may, the story itself makes for an interesting case study in archaeological thinking.

Did the laginas buy Oak Island? ›

In 2006, Rick and Marty purchased a 50% stake of Oak Island Tours Inc., the company that owns the island, with Oak Island resident Dan Blankenship retaining the other 50%. That was when their treasure hunting days began. Before that, the brothers had two very different careers.

Did the laginas find anything on Oak Island? ›

Swages. The Laginas found two iron objects in Lot 21, on the western end of the island. These were later specified as swages, a type of blacksmith tool and dated as far back as the 14th century. The team saw the equipment as evidence of intense mining operations on the island.

Who owns Oak Island map? ›

Today, Oak Island is 50% owned by Rick and Marty Lagina, with the other 50% owned by elderly treasure hunters David Blankenship and the heirs of competing hunter Frank Nolan - maker of this map.

Who is the female archaeologist on Oak Island? ›

Miriam Amirault: Self - Archaeologist.

Why are Oak Island tours cancelled? ›

Recently, the Friends of Oak Island Society released a statement on their website that due to continuing concerns around the Covid-19 pandemic, they would not be holding tours of Oak Island this year.

How much do the guys from The Curse of Oak Island get paid? ›

With an average of 20 episodes per season, that would mean that the brothers are paid about $2 million each season.

What does Bravo Tango mean? ›

Some viewers have joked that the phrase could mean “beef tacos” or “bulls—t theories." But given the nature of the show and the context in which the phrase is normally used, we're going to go ahead and say that “Bravo Tango” is code for either “big treasure” or “buried treasure.”

What is the most significant thing found on Oak Island? ›

Considered one of the biggest finds, this lead cross was discovered at Smith's Cove. Testing showed that the material in the lead is from Southern France and dates back to the 1300s or 1400s. This artifact supports the theory that the Knights Templar may have been on the island.

Why can't they dig on Oak Island? ›

However, the main reason they can't just dig up the entire island is because such an operation would wreak havoc on the ecosystem of the island and its surroundings.

Who owns Oak Island? ›

The owner of the Oak Island lots may surprise you

According to the Oak Island Tours website, which is owned by Rick and Marty Lagina, the Nova Scotia island is entirely privately owned. The majority of the island is owned by The Michigan Group, which is also run by the Lagina brothers.

How many lots of Oak Island do the Laginas own? ›

Who owns Oak Island? We know that the island is privately owned and split into 32 lots. The majority of these, allegedly all but six, belong to the Michigan Group which is owned by two brothers, Rick and Marty Lagina.

Who lives on Oak Island permanently? ›

Dave Blankenship still lives on Oak island itself as a member of the Oak Island team. People can catch The Curse of Oak Island on the History Channel every Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST. The Curse of Oak Island review is 7.1/10 on IMDB, however, 93% of Google users have liked the TV show.

How wealthy are the Lagina brothers? ›

Although Rick is a retired United States postal worker who has a net worth of $2 million, Marty is a highly successful businessman with a net worth of $100 million. He founded Terra Energy, which eventually sold for $60 million.

Who owns the most land on Oak Island? ›

Reportedly, the Oak Island Society owns about 78 percent of the land, including the Money Pit that put the island on the map. The other 22 percent is owned by island inhabitants. There are a few homes on the island that some people own and live in seasonally.

Who funds Oak Island treasure hunt? ›

Moreover, as owners of a 50% stake of Oak Island Tours, Inc., the company that owns Oak Island, Marty and Rick Lagina fund a good deal of the Oak Island drilling and digging operations themselves (via History).

Who left the treasure on Oak Island? ›

The most popular theory claims Oak Island holds the buried treasure of a 17th Century pirate named Captain Kidd. According to local legend, a dying sailor on Kidd's crew claimed that £2 million worth of treasure was buried on the island.

How much was the Oak Island treasure worth? ›

The original story by early settlers involves a dying sailor from the crew of Captain Kidd (d. 1701), in which he states that treasure worth £2 million had been buried on the island.

Are you allowed to visit Oak Island? ›

Book an Oak Island walking tour (returning in 2024)

Oak Island is a privately owned island on Nova Scotia's South Shore. Visitors are provided the opportunity to visit the island to learn about the ongoing treasure hunt through guided tours offered by Oak Island Tours Inc.

Where do the Lagina brothers live? ›

(Click for background info.) But before he was a reality television star, Lagina, who lives in Traverse City, channeled his impressive energy toward extracting natural gas and extracting wind in Northern Michigan.

What happened to Miriam on Curse of Oak Island? ›

Miriam was let go from the cast of "The Curse of Oak Island" in Season 9, and it's clear fans desperately want her to return. It's always possible she'll return in the form of flashback footage, but it appears that anything new from the young archaeologist simply wasn't meant to be.

How much is Gary on Oak Island worth? ›

1 He's worth around $2.5 million (ish)

He's estimated to be worth between $2 million and $3 million, so – as we're not privy to his bank balance – we'll average things out and call it $2.5 million.

Who is the geologist in The Curse of Oak Island? ›

The Curse of Oak Island (TV Series 2014– ) - Terry Matheson as Self - Geologist, Self - IMDb.

What is the most visited archaeological site? ›

Located just outside of the outskirts of Cairo on the esplanade known as the Giza Plateau, the Great Pyramids of Giza is Egypt's most famous archaeological site.

What is one of the oldest archaeological sites in the United States? ›

Cactus Hill is one of the oldest and most well-dated archaeological sites in the Americas, with the earliest human occupations dating to between 18,000 and 20,000 years ago.

Will there be tours of Oak Island in 2023? ›

Tours will, therefore, also be postponed during the 2023 season. The Owners remain committed to sharing the Oak Island story and are moving forward with an exciting new building to house an Archaeology Centre and Science Lab. Once complete, the Interpretive Centre will be prepared to reopen to the public, date TBD.

Will Oak Island return in 2023? ›

The eagerly anticipated return of The Curse of Oak Island is just around the corner with season ten of the iconic treasure hunting show premiering on Sky HISTORY on Wednesday, 4 January 2023.

Who is Lagina's wife? ›

What do The Curse of Oak Island Brothers do for a living? ›

1 Marty is a lawyer as well as an energy magnate

Most Oak Island aficionados will know that Marty is a self-made multi-millionaire who made his fortune extracting natural gas in Michigan. But that's not all. After the young Marty completed his engineering degree, he decided to go ahead and take a law degree as well.

What does Craig tester of Oak Island do for a living? ›

Craig is Marty's former college roommate and now his partner in their energy business. He is an engineer and an expert with drilling and resistivity (earth scans) and has been instrumental in researching, locating and planning new dig operations on Oak Island.

How much is Greg Tester worth? ›

Per Showbiz CheatSheet, Craig Tester's estimated net worth currently lies between $2.5 million and upwards of $5 million. Craig Tester is known for producing and occasionally starring in the long-standing History Channel reality series The Curse of Oak Island.

Why do soldiers say tango down? ›

In the NATO phonetic alphabet, established by the 1930s, the letter T is tango and became slang for target, or “enemy.” To down a target is “to shoot” them, especially when grounding an aircraft, but also “to neutralize” or “kill” them. Tango down thus means the enemy has been defeated.

What is a Bravo foxtrot? ›

Answer: A Blue Falcon is also sometimes called a Bravo Foxtrot and is someone who messes things up for other members of their squad, either by causing drama or by betraying other members. It is not a complimentary term.

What does Bravo Foxtrot Delta mean? ›

The Phonetic Alphabet is used widely in military maritime communications. The phonetic alphabet, a system set up in which each letter of the alphabet has a word equivalent to avoid mistaking letters that sound alike, such as B (Bravo) and D (Delta) or F (Foxtrot) and S (Sierra).

Who found the stone slab Oak Island? ›

The stone was discovered at the island s Joudrey s Cove by locals some time ago. Noticing strange carvings on it, they blew it up, believing the treasure lay buried beneath. Treasure hunter Gilbert Hedden recovered fragments of it in 1936, one of which had Rune symbols similar to the letters H+O .

What was the brooch found on Oak Island? ›

Treasure has finally been found on The Curse of Oak Island, in the form of a brooch containing a 500-year-old faceted red gemstone. The rhodolite garnet was found by metal-detecting expert Gary Drayton on the penultimate episode of Season 5.

What do archaeologists think of Oak Island? ›

Professional archaeologists have for the most part concluded that the Oak Island story is bogus, while many of those engaged in or by that centuries-long treasure hunt regard archaeologists as has having missed the boat. Be that as it may, the story itself makes for an interesting case study in archaeological thinking.

How did the Restalls died on Oak Island? ›

ON TUESDAY, Aug 17, 1965 Robert Restall's six-year hunt for the treasure of Oak Island ended. The 59-year-old Restall, his son, Bobbie, 24, and two helpers were overcome by fumes and died in the water-filled bottom of a 27-foot deep pit they were digging to help draw water from the main treasure shaft.

Why move to Oak Island NC? ›

Living in Oak Island offers residents a rural feel and most residents own their homes. In Oak Island there are a lot of restaurants and parks. Many retirees live in Oak Island and residents tend to be conservative. The public schools in Oak Island are above average.

Where did the Lagina brothers get their money? ›

How did the Lagina brothers make their money? In 2006, Rick and Marty purchased a 50% stake of Oak Island Tours Inc., the company that owns the island, with Oak Island resident Dan Blankenship retaining the other 50%.

What was found in the money pit on Oak Island? ›

The most exciting items dug up from the pit include several coins, some dating to the 16th century; some gold links; and, in a find that has been confounding treasure-hunters and researchers alike for two centuries, a stone bearing indecipherable inscriptions.

What was found under Oak Island? ›

Shards of pottery were discovered at an astounding 192 feet underground. No other human-made object has been recovered on Oak Island at that depth. The imitation Chinese porcelain on these hand-painted pearlware pottery fragments suggest that they originate from Staffordshire, England from 1700-1800.

Who is the female archaeologist on Curse of Oak Island? ›

Miriam Amirault: Self - Archaeologist.

Who owns Oak Island now? ›

The owner of the Oak Island lots may surprise you

According to the Oak Island Tours website, which is owned by Rick and Marty Lagina, the Nova Scotia island is entirely privately owned. The majority of the island is owned by The Michigan Group, which is also run by the Lagina brothers.

How much of Oak Island is owned by the Laginas? ›

owns 50 percent of the island. In 2006, the Lagina Brothers bought a 50 percent stake in the tour company, making them partial owners. According to Looper, several lots are owned by producers of the show. For all intents and purposes, the Langina brothers are shared co-owners of Oak Island with other people.

Who gets the treasure from Oak Island? ›

The Lagina brothers would probably get most of the treasure

The first detail is that the Lagina brothers' current search of Oak Island is covered under the Treasure Trove License, a government act stipulating that licensed treasure finders can lawfully keep 90 percent of whatever treasure they find.

Which Lagina brother has the most money? ›

The brothers have been obsessed with Oak Island since they read about it in 1965. Although Rick is a retired United States postal worker who has a net worth of $2 million, Marty is a highly successful businessman with a net worth of $100 million.

How do the Lagina brothers have money? ›

Rick had a career as a postal worker in Michigan prior to his retirement and move to full-time Oak Island explorer, while his brother had a much more lucrative career in his early life. Marty studied to be an engineer at Michigan Tech and worked for a major oil firm after graduating in 1977.

Where does Marty Lagina live now? ›

But before he was a reality television star, Lagina, who lives in Traverse City, channeled his impressive energy toward extracting natural gas and extracting wind in Northern Michigan.

Where is Billy Gerhardt from? ›

Gerhardt was born on January 30, 1936 in Green Cove Springs, FL to parents, William and Della Gerhardt. An engineer, Billy retired after 33 years with Gulf Life Insurance Company.

Do the guys on Oak Island get paid? ›

With an average of 20 episodes per season, that would mean that the brothers are paid about $2 million each season. But according to Rick and Marty, they aren't in the treasure hunting business for the money.

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