Following the detection of silver in Money Pit water samples, Dr. Ian Spooner and Alex Lagina collect sediment cores from borehole C-1, hoping to pinpoint where the metals originate. Along the cobblestone pathway near the northeastern border of the swamp, Rick Lagina and Charles Barkhouse work with archaeologists Dr. Aaron Taylor and Miriam Amirault, heavy equipment operator Billy Gerhardt, and metal detection expert Gary Drayton. Taylor identifies annular ware dating to 1751 and creamware from 1762-63, and Rick pulls a heavy, round object from the ground bearing markings and what appears to be the number 55.
On Lot 32 near the southwestern border of the swamp, Gary, surveyor Steve Guptill, and Billy unearth old wood with a crude round hole they believe came from a ship, found near the possible ship's railing discovered weeks earlier and aligned with the 200-foot anomaly detected by seismic scanning in 2018. Rick's round object receives closer study: Doug Crowell identifies milled edges and markings inside indented ends under a microscope, and XRF confirms it is mostly copper at 45 grams. In a videoconference War Room session with Marty Lagina and Craig Tester, Crowell reports the weight aligns with a troy ounce, the unit historically used to measure precious metals, while Taylor notes its context alongside 1600s-era artifacts makes a modern origin unlikely.
Taylor and Miriam then reveal a charcoal-rich burn layer along the pathway with stones in a circular pattern, suggesting a hearth or forge. Coal and slag point to metalworking activity well before 1795. Taylor also confirms the cobblestone feature, roughly nine feet wide, appears to head uphill toward the Money Pit. On Lot 25, Rick joins archaeologists Laird Niven and Liz Michels with Alex and David Fornetti to finish the season's work at the Samuel Ball homestead, where the foundation's size, a British Royal Navy officer's button, and a 100-foot wharf suggest Ball's story extends beyond farming. Michels sees credibility in the theory that Ball found something, while Alex argues the button and wharf connect him to a group capable of a large-scale operation.
As the first snow falls, Rick gathers the team for a final War Room meeting. Guptill presents an artifact map showing 700 objects recovered, double the previous year, with patterns suggesting multiple hidden pathways. A trail of Gary's finds through Lot 15 may mark a route connecting the swamp to the Money Pit. Laird confirms the concentration is unique among Mahone Bay islands. Spooner delivers a key result: C-1 sediment came back low in metals, meaning the copper, zinc, and silver in the water are leaching not from soil but from something buried nearby. Combined with gold objects spotted in C-1, Crowell and Dr. Matt Lukeman's earlier water chemistry make the borehole a top priority.
Marty declares the silver findings the most significant development in 220 years and puts a large-scale excavation back on the table. Rick urges the team to let the science narrow the target first. Jack Begley voices confidence the pace will lead to the treasure, and Craig notes the volume of data to analyze over winter. In an emotional close, Marty credits Rick's leadership for results no one expected in a COVID-abbreviated year, echoed by Gary, Terry Matheson, and the full team. Rick, visibly moved, says he is humble and grateful, honoring Dan Blankenship, David Tobias, and the father of Tom Nolan among those who came before, and expressing deep appreciation for the team that followed his lead through one of the most rewarding seasons in the history of the search.
