About This Structure
The Man-made Stone Tunnel was discovered on Lot 25 of Oak Island, on land that formed part of the 18th-century homestead of Samuel Ball, the formerly enslaved Loyalist veteran who settled on the island in 1786 and became one of Nova Scotia's wealthiest men.
In Season 7 Episode 18, "The Turning Point" (March 24, 2020), Doug Crowell, Charles Barkhouse, and archaeologist Laird Niven oversaw a ground-penetrating radar scan of the Samuel Ball property conducted by GPR specialists Steve Watson and Don Johnston. The survey identified a tunnel-like anomaly approximately six feet below the surface, prompting Niven to obtain the heritage permits required for excavation of a protected archaeological site.
In Season 7 Episode 22, "Marks X the Spot" (April 21, 2020), Rick Lagina, Laird Niven, Charles Barkhouse, and Jack Begley began the hand excavation. Conservator Kelly Bourassa recovered a chest hinge with square nail holes indicating considerable age. Jack Begley then uncovered a configuration of stacked stones concealing a void and an opening resembling a small tunnel. Rick Lagina, Marty Lagina, and excavator operator Billy Gerhardt arrived to assess the find. Camera operator Derek Hale fed a pipe inspection camera 14.5 feet into the structure, confirming that the cavity extended beyond the visible opening and that its construction was deliberately stone-lined rather than a natural void.
The nature and date of the tunnel have not been confirmed on screen. No artifacts recovered from inside the tunnel have been laboratory dated, and no further excavation of the feature has been broadcast through Season 13.
Historical Context
Season 7 Episodes 18 and 22 (March–April 2020). GPR survey by Steve Watson and Don Johnston. Excavation by Rick Lagina, Laird Niven, Charles Barkhouse, Jack Begley. Pipe inspection camera operated by Derek Hale.
Where It Was Found
Found Near Samuel Ball's home — Oak Island, Nova Scotia, Canada.
