Gary Drayton of ‘The Curse of Oak Island’ on Discoveries That Could Rewrite North American History

Fans of The Curse of Oak Island are always eager to see what discoveries await treasure-hunting brothers Rick and Marty Lagina and their team. From exploring new areas of the island, located off the south shore of Nova Scotia, Canada, to using advanced technologies and uncovering new clues, the team continues its quest to solve one of history’s greatest mysteries.

Metal-detecting expert Gary Drayton, known as the “Metal Detecting Ninja,” plays a key role in the search, working alongside the team to uncover artifacts and clues that could bring them closer to the truth.

Drayton spoke with HISTORY.com about the fellowship of the dig, his most intriguing discoveries and how findings on Oak Island could potentially rewrite North American history.

Drayton: That is why I always wanted to go to Oak Island. To me, it's so special because it’s the longest running treasure hunt in North America. I just can't believe I'm so lucky every [time] I drive across that causeway [to the island]. I take that enthusiasm with me every day.

Drayton: I was reading a book about treasures as a boy. I was supposed to be working on the farm and spend my life on a farm, but all I did was dream about faraway exotic islands and pirate treasure. When I first read about Oak Island, I clearly remembered reading about pirate treasure. That's why I have to pinch myself sometimes. I read about this as a boy in England, and I'm now I'm here on Oak Island.

No. I raced home to give this interview. I'm actually covered in swamp mud. The team on Oak Island seems like a tight-knit crew.

The fellowship of the dig to me is kind of different because metal detection isn't really a team activity. This is the first time I've ever been involved in a treasure hunt with other people. [It] was a new concept and new to get used to it, and I love it.

The people on the dig all bring something special to the table. You have an opportunity to learn something and add to your specialty. Everybody's a normal guy. There's no ego, and everybody has the same goal. It's like working with your best friends. It's fantastic.

Recovering artifacts, knowing that you are the first person to touch Bobby Dazzlers or a top pocket find in 100 or 150 years…I think about the person who lost that coin or button or buckle or especially the Bobby Dazzler, like a brooch. They must have been heartbroken when they lost that, because that must have been worth a lot of money back in the day.

Even if it's just an unforged square nail. I also think, 'Wow, this is beautiful.' Some craftsman made this unforged nail by hand two, three, 400 years ago and it was probably tedious. It was…hard work, and I get to see the craftsmanship. They could never imagine the future and me standing there using this high-tech metal detector and getting excited about something that, to them, was probably mundane [work] back in the day. That connection to the past is why I get so excited.

I can't kiss and tell, but let's just put it this way: I have got a zipper on my top pocket, and I'm in danger of wearing that zipper out. This has been a fantastic year for Bobby Dazzlers and top pocket finds for sure.

It appears the C1 tunnel excavation is back in the spotlight this season. There has been a lot of focus on C1 over the years: The cameras picked up on the gold shiny object, then there was a hammer grab that brought up wood, then divers were sent down to explore the cavern at the bottom but came up empty-handed. I hear the team is digging around there again. What are they looking for?

It's that shiny gold thing. And we've also had some more information and test results come back that made us revisit C1 again, but it's that shiny gold thing that is actually in play. What last season taught us was it's actually the chimney, but it's the way that artifacts migrate underground there. It's caverns and [underground] chambers. We do believe that treasure is on the move at the bottom of the money pit and C1 and that shiny gold thing, it's somewhere.

I can't say too much…Where one door closes, another one opens. What we found in the swamp this year is going to blow everyone away and potentially rewrite North American history. We're all baffled. What we have found was hidden in plain sight. What better place to hide something fabulous than a swamp.