'The Curse Of Oak Island' Season 8 Episode 2 Review: Who used tar kiln to seal Money Pit in 1700s and why?
We've returned to the Oak Island again, after what seems like a long break. The Fellowship have had a difficult year, due to the coronavirus pandemic that threw spanner in the works. Nevertheless, after quarantining for two weeks, Rick and Marty Lagina are ready to solve the burning mystery of the Oak Island once and for all, and they're determined to solve it in this season. So...you know, you can expect several more seasons of the Oak Island treasure hunters scouring the same old grounds for artifacts.
In the previous episode, the Laginas seemed to have found "gold shiny things", which gave many hope about the buried treasure on the island. That hunt was left aside, and instead in the second episode, the team found some thrilling discoveries on the island. On Lot 15, archaeologist Laird Niven and his team investigate a circular structure as they're sure that's connected to the original Money Pit. While it is too early to say anything, "the project is still underway" as Rick Lagina says, and he's sure that their findings will bear fruits.
They spent a considerable amount of time trying to understand the circular stone, and come to the conclusion that it isn't natural. It's man-made for sure, going by the cut-edges. Treasure hunters have found these drilled stones earlier, and are looking for more, as they believe it is part of an elaborate treasure map. Was it brought from somewhere else, and if so, what's the specific purpose? They believe that it could have been tied to something. More questions, and no answers.
Meanwhile, they also have to investigate the Barringer survey, that apparently identified the location of a number of possible tunnels leading from the swamp to the Money Pit. It also indicated four targets of non-ferrous metals located below ground. There's also discovery of leather, and tar kiln, which probably makes them wonder whether the tar kiln coated the legendary treasure vaults. Though tar might have been made on Oak Island to waterproof ships, the strange placement of tar kiln on LOT 15, was meant to be waterproofing an underground tunnel and shaft. This was used in construction of the Money Pit, but why?
During the 18th century, Daniel McGnnis and his friends noticed a bonfire at the Oak Island. By the time they reached it, they found a circular identation at the Oak Island — the identation is known as the Oak Island Money Pit. So, the Fellowship come to the conclusion that pine tar was used to seal the Money Pit. Oh and Gary Drayton's "top pocket find" was hailed as a great discovery by the Laginas, and they're certain that there was a lot of industrial activity on the island.
'The Curse Of Oak Island' airs on History Channel on Tuesdays at 9 pm.