The Templar Connection

The episode features an extended examination of the Knights Templar theory and its connection to Oak Island. With commentary from Theology professor Amir Hussain, authors Clive Prince, Sanford Holst, Kathleen McGowan Coppens, James Wasserman, and researchers including Jerry Glover and Paul Troutman, the episode traces the history of the Knights Templar from their founding after the First Crusade through their suppression in 1307. The narrative covers the theory that Templars conducted secret excavations beneath the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, their first headquarters, where they allegedly discovered priceless relics from the First Temple of Solomon, including the Ark of the Covenant and the golden Menorah. The episode examines how some outlawed Templars reportedly escaped France to Scotland with their treasures, and how theorists believe they subsequently voyaged to the New World with the aid of Scottish-Orcadian nobleman Henry Sinclair and Italian mariners Nicolo and Antonio Zeno, possibly burying their treasure on Oak Island. The narrative revisits key Templar-related discoveries from previous seasons: Zena Halpern's maps and documents from Season 4, researcher Ralph de Sudeley's supposed 12th-century voyage, the New Ross Castle ruins in Nova Scotia, and the cross pattee stone found near New Ross. The lead cross discovered at Smith's Cove is placed in this broader context, alongside the H/O stone's symbols and their potential connection to Templar imagery at Domme prison and the Chateau de La Rochefoucauld. On Oak Island, the DMT shaft excavation continues in the Money Pit area while Gary Drayton and Jack Begley metal detect on various lots. The episode serves as a comprehensive summary of the Templar evidence accumulated across five seasons, connecting European historical sites with Oak Island artifacts and documentary evidence.