Rick Lagina and Gary Drayton Uncover Roman-Inscribed Musket Part on Lot 5 | The Curse of Oak Island S11E3

In Season 11, Episode 3 of The Curse of Oak Island, Rick Lagina and Gary Drayton return to Lot 5 with a renewed sense of purpose. The site continues to yield intriguing finds—this time, a small lead shot and an unusual copper artifact that soon draws comparisons to military hardware.

Following the discovery, archaeologist Helen Sheldon suggests the copper item could be a gun sight, while Rick notes it might align with prior military-linked artifacts found in the area. They agree to have the object analyzed further.

The investigation deepens at the Interpretive Centre, where the team is joined by archaeologist Laird Niven and archaeometallurgist Emma Culligan. Emma uses a high-resolution CT scanner to visualize the artifact’s details. What the scan reveals surprises the team: faint but distinct Roman numerals etched into the musket component. Alex observes, “It looks like there’s Roman numerals,” a statement that adds historical intrigue to the find.

The numerals evoke memories of a 65-foot-long U-shaped wooden structure unearthed by Dan Blankenship in the 1970s at Smith’s Cove—another artifact that bore similar markings. The connection raises eyebrows and possibilities.

Laird Niven identifies the object as a ramrod guide from a musket, used to support the loading rod for muzzle-loaded firearms. He estimates the artifact dates from the 1600s to the 1800s and notes a small hole in the guide—an uncommon feature—which makes the find even more notable.

Rick reflects on the potential link between this discovery and Dan Blankenship’s earlier findings: “Finding the Roman numerals carved on that little bit of ramrod guide… we’ve never found Roman numerals before on any other artifact, to date.”

As Gary Drayton puts it, “Absolutely fantastic. This has given us hope that there’s more finds on Lot 5.”

This discovery on Lot 5, led by Rick Lagina and Gary Drayton and supported by analysis from Emma Culligan, Laird Niven, and Helen Sheldon, adds to the growing body of physical evidence tied to Oak Island’s historical mystery. With Roman numerals etched into a musket component and connections to earlier finds at Smith’s Cove, the investigation gains another concrete clue in the ongoing search for answers.