About This Artifact
A French military cap badge recovered in two pieces on Lot 21 by Jack Begley, Peter Fornetti, and Gary Drayton during Season 6. The badge featured a fleur-de-lis design that Gary dated to the 1700s based on its construction and style. The fleur-de-lis, a stylized lily, served as the emblem of the French monarchy from the 12th century onward and was widely used on military insignia, religious objects, and heraldic devices throughout the French colonial period.
At the research center, Gary presented the find to Marty Lagina, Alex Lagina, archaeologist Laird Niven, and Paul Troutman. Laird connected the French artifact to the Duc d'Anville expedition of 1746, documented in ship's log pages that Doug Crowell had presented the previous season. The log described a French naval force with Templar family connections constructing a deep treasure pit on a wooded island off Nova Scotia's coast, an account that matched details of the Oak Island Money Pit. The expedition, led by Jean-Baptiste de La Rochefoucauld de Roye, Duc d'Anville, sailed from France with a fleet of over 60 ships carrying thousands of troops. The fleet was devastated by storms and disease, and d'Anville himself died near Halifax in September 1746.
A second fleur-de-lis artifact was recovered during Season 10 on Lot 26, approximately 100 yards from a well. Emma Culligan's CT scan and XRF analysis revealed a brass-iron alloy containing lead-potassium glass, with no elements indicating a date after 1850. The piece consisted of two parts: a copper wire section and a floral element with lead glass. A third fleur-de-lis connection emerged during Season 12 when a pottery fragment bearing the design was recovered from the RP2 spoils in the Money Pit area, prompting Rick Lagina to reference the Duc d'Anville ship's log once again. The repeated appearance of the French royal symbol across multiple locations on the island supported the theory of organized French activity on Oak Island during the 18th century or earlier.
Historical Context
Peter Fornetti, Jack Begley & Gary Drayton
Where It Was Found
Found at Lot 21 — Oak Island, Nova Scotia, Canada.
