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'The Curse of Oak Island' fans throw dig at Rick Lagina as History team discovers Pottery Shards and Shoe Sole along Stone Road in Swamps

While hunting for clues along the stone road in the swamp's southeast corner, Rick, Billy, and Gary found a potentially crucial find

NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA: On February 6, Gary Drayton and Rick Lagina discovered an abundance of pottery in the swamp. As Gary exclaimed eagerly, "Oooh, that's a big chunk!", 'The Curse of Oak Island' viewers, on the other hand, did not seem to be delighted about the China-find in the episode titled, "Tea Time." Rick, Gary, and Billy Gerhardt resumed their hunt for new clues along the stone path, also known as the ship's wharf, in the swamp's southeast corner on the Tuesday episode. Rick explained that he believes the credible collection of pottery has some type of story; therefore, they must do their homework.

They need to know how old the pottery is and what it was used for. They also need to determine whether there is a cultural-stylistic understanding of it and proceed from there.

Very contrast to Rick's excitement, 'The Curse of Oak Island' fans took to X to express their disappointment on the recent find. One wrote, "anyone make a guess of the China found tonight? Couldn’t tell anything from the shoe." While one asked, "No one finds it odd that lot five they are going through with trowels and sifting dirt and here they are digging with an excavator and running their hands through mud potentially missing major pieces?"

While mocking Rick, Billy and Gary's efforts, one user quipped, "Give Jack a shovel and hes gonna have dug the stone road out to the mainland. He would grow gills to dig underwater in the swamp and ocean if the good days of lax safety protocol was still present." A fourth user joked, "We're getting extended rock path/swamp action tonight everyone!!"

One furious user wrote, "More PO''ERY ? GARY needs some ME'AL ... At least they got a nice collection of PO''ERY SHARDS... Were the BRADY's on OAK ISLAND?" Others joked, "Portuguese Templars handling pottery on Oak Island."

Rick Lagina finds shoe sole in the Swamp of Oak Island

While exploring the stone road in the swamp's southeast corner, Rick, Billy, and Gary stumbled upon a potentially significant discovery. The sole of a potential antique boot near the stone road.  Questions arise about its age and ownership. Rick exclaims, "That's a very cool find." He suggests that the shoe's style, coupled with its proximity to the stone road, could provide clues about its maker. Understanding the artifact's age, along with pottery dates, is crucial for unraveling the mystery. Rick plans to take the artifact to the lab for proper preservation.

On X, fans too mocked this discovery saying, "Emma will definitely need to put that shoe in the Metaloscoper 3000!" While another chimed in, "A SHOE or a BOOT? The 'EEL Piece??"

One deduced, "It's a formal ox shoe." A fourth tweet read, "Hopefully that’s not the shoe of an unrecovered body." 

Pearlware Pottery discovered on Oak Island

The discovery of pottery shards 192 feet below ground is unprecedented on Oak Island, with no other human-made object found at such depth. Analysis indicates that the shards, featuring imitation Chinese porcelain on hand-painted pearlware ceramics, likely originated from Staffordshire, England, during the period of 1700 to 1800.

'The Curse of Oak Island' team discovered ancient First Nation pottery

In 2021, archaeologists Laird Niven and Liz Michaels made a remarkable discovery: a delicate piece of pottery with distinct characteristics of the Mi'kmaq, an indigenous American tribe of Nova Scotia. Estimated to be between 500 and 2500 years old, the find prompted Laird to follow the protocol outlined by Nova Scotia's Department of Communities, Culture, and Heritage (CCH), notifying both the organization and the Acadia First Nation council.

Upon learning of the discovery, the Lagina brothers were informed by Laird that the CCH might require a halt to their activities in the area. Subsequently, the CCH, along with the Acadia First Nation council, requested the team's data and maps, instructing them to "cease and desist immediately" until further analysis could be conducted by their own experts.

'The Curse of Oak Island' Season 11 airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on History