Carmen Legge Evaluates Rare French Artifact on Lot 5 | The Curse of Oak Island S11E2

In Season 11, Episode 2 of The Curse of Oak Island, Rick Lagina and Gary Drayton revisit Lot 5, continuing their methodical investigation into one of the island’s most artifact-rich zones. The episode centers on the recovery and analysis of two iron items: one resembling a broken tool, and the other a decorative metal strap.

The items are brought to the Oak Island Interpretive Centre for evaluation by blacksmithing expert Carmen Legge. Upon inspecting the first object, Carmen remarks, “This is much older,” indicating its significant age based on its composition. Jack Begley later suggests the form resembles “some sort of a chisel,” potentially used in tunneling or mining, a theory Carmen considers viable.

The second artifact—a curved, stylized strap—piques additional interest. Carmen identifies it as a “bowtie strap,” historically used to decorate wooden chests. When questioned on origin, he confirms, “Yes. French.” This attribution adds another layer to the growing list of Lot 5 discoveries linked to European craftsmanship.

To complement Carmen’s analysis, Emma Culligan performs materials testing using modern scanning equipment. Her results confirm the absence of modern elements, supporting the likelihood that both artifacts are pre-industrial in origin.

These finds reinforce Lot 5’s emerging profile as a focal point for early European activity on Oak Island. They also renew connections to the late Zena Halpern’s controversial but compelling theory involving Templar voyages and French cartographic references. As Rick Lagina reflects, “We have long puzzled about the possibility that these French items… were associated with some depositional work.”

Carmen Legge concludes his evaluation by acknowledging the uniqueness of the Oak Island collection: “There’s artifacts coming out of Oak Island that I haven’t seen anywhere else.”

This episode highlights the contributions of Rick Lagina, Gary Drayton, Carmen Legge, Emma Culligan, and Jack Begley, each playing a vital role in expanding the historical framework surrounding Lot 5. As physical evidence accumulates, so too does the possibility of rewriting the accepted timeline of Oak Island’s mysterious past.