About This Artifact
An ornate iron lock plate with a clearly defined keyhole and a raised floral design resembling a rose, recovered by Gary Drayton on Lot 8 during Season 5. Rick Lagina and Marty Lagina were metal detecting an area that Fred Nolan had identified on his survey maps as one of 11 sites where he believed subsurface treasure had been concealed. The plate was handmade and asymmetrical, qualities Gary noted were unlike anything a farmer or tradesman would possess, and its decorative style suggested it came from a chest or strongbox of considerable value.
The lock plate echoed the folding skeleton key that Tom Nolan had recently given the team from Fred's collection, a key with a blade cut in the shape of a cross that became visible when folded. The pairing of a decorative keyhole plate and a cross-shaped key on the same property raised the possibility that a chest or locked container had once been present on Lot 8. The area had also been flagged by Fred Nolan as one of his 11 priority sites based on 50 years of fieldwork, and subsequent seasons produced additional significant artifacts from the same lot, including a rhodolite garnet brooch dated to 400 to 500 years old, a military-style cuff button from approximately 1780 to 1820, and two chest-type hinges found on Lot 12.
Historical Context
Gary Drayton
Where It Was Found
Found at Tom Nolan's lot — Oak Island, Nova Scotia, Canada.
