Dumas Contracting arrives on the island, and Rick Lagina, Billy Gerhardt, and Scott Barlow lead the company to the Garden Shaft. Originally thought to be an 1800s searcher shaft, the structure has been redated to around 1735 based on wood samples from the 80-foot mark. Water testing also revealed gold in the shaft, and the team found a tunnel at 103 feet heading in its direction. Scott tells Dumas about the water testing program that started the previous year and the high gold readings from this shaft. Dumas will drain the shaft, remove backfill, install a new wooden lining with waterproofing to 80 feet, and tunnel out from any voids or tunnels they encounter during reconstruction.
At the Money Pit, Rick checks on Borehole L16, which will be tested for gold in the water and examined for evidence of the tunnel. Terry Deveau reports a small piece of wood in the core at a depth of 106.5 to 107 feet. The next morning Rick, Marty Lagina, and Craig Tester arrive after being notified of a find in Borehole D17: wood at 70 to 71.5 feet that could be a beam, with very soft material below and no wood beneath it. Marty suggests that if the tunnel is heading upward it is probably going toward an offset chamber, and he wants to follow it. Both wood samples will be sent for carbon dating. In the War Room, the team meets with Marty and Craig by video conference to hear the results. The piece from L16, found at 107 feet, shows a 52 percent probability of dating to 1724 to 1812 and a 21.8 percent probability of 1648 to 1695. The D17 sample returns nearly identical dates, and the team discusses the possibility that the tunnel at 70 feet could be leading to an offset chamber.
Dr. Ian Spooner reviews data from the LIDAR survey conducted the previous week by Phoenix Aerial Productions and tells the team that a geometric anomaly on Lot 30, measuring 100 by 150 feet, is not a natural feature and warrants investigation. Jack Begley suggests it could be a camp associated with the wharf on Lot 32. Archaeologist Laird Niven recommends small test trenches by hand before any larger excavation. Rick, Laird, and Helen Sheldon begin digging test pits across the anomaly on Lot 30, while Gary Drayton suggests searching a previously undetected area on Lot 32.
On Lot 32, Gary and Jack recover a piece of metal Gary thinks could be part of a fire grate from the 1700s, two pieces that could be fasteners or tools, and a large spike Gary describes as a possible wharf pin. All come from a single deep hole, leading Gary to conclude the area saw significant human activity. At the Interpretive Center, Gary shows the artifacts to Rick, Marty, and Laird. Marty thinks the spike could be a chisel, and Gary explains that the concentration of artifacts justifies using larger equipment. Laird agrees to bring in a backhoe. Back on Lot 32, Marty operates the backhoe while Laird supervises and Gary scans the spoils. Gary recovers a piece of lead sheathing from the hole, then what looks like a handle, followed by a hand-forged tool, a decorated piece of metal Gary believes is from a stove, and a metal strap that could be from a chest. Laird says the number of artifacts found warrants setting up a formal test unit in the area to determine whether the finds are significant.
