A Treasure Trove of Expertise: Laird Niven Joins The Curse of Oak Island
The long-standing battle to bring expert archaeologists on board for The Curse of Oak Island has finally paid off with the addition of Laird Niven to the series. He makes a triumphant return to your screens, taking on the primary responsibility of overseeing future excavations on the show. Niven will also lend his expertise to the team in their treasure hunting endeavors. Fans may recall his appearance in the 4th season’s 2nd episode, where he examined a mysterious “hatch” that had been unearthed.
As one of Nova Scotia’s top archaeologists, Laird has participated in numerous thrilling digs in the past. Alongside a team of fellow professionals, he was involved in an excavation in Halifax, where they investigated the city’s early origins at the historic Bellevue House, built in 1801. Over the years, Niven has made headlines for his work on projects that have uncovered valuable artifacts and historical treasures. Here, we reveal five lesser-known facts about Laird Niven, the expert archaeologist on The Curse of Oak Island.
1. A Passion for Football: Laird Niven, the Newcastle United Fan
When Niven isn’t planning or participating in excavations, chances are he’s cheering on his favorite football team. The caps he frequently dons on the show reveal his allegiance to Newcastle United, a British soccer team.
2. A Well-Educated Expert: Laird Niven, the University Graduate
Laird Niven’s expertise extends beyond a single site, as he has contributed his knowledge to multiple locations across London. Based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Niven also attended university in his hometown.
3. Unconventional Methods: Laird Niven’s Work on The Curse of Oak Island
Typically, archaeology work requires experts to proceed with caution, meticulously documenting their findings and often working on their hands and knees with small tools to get as close as possible to the layers they’re examining.
However, things are a bit different on the island, as Niven works with heavy industrial equipment responsible for shifting tons of spoil. Professionals accept this approach because extensive excavation work has already been done in the past, rendering a more cautious method less relevant.
4. A One-Time License: Laird Niven’s Unique Arrangement on the Island
On the island, Laird has struck a compromise, needing to apply for a license only once instead of for each individual dig. Additionally, Gary can detect metals without the assistance of an expert archaeologist, as long as he isn’t doing any digging himself.
5. Putting a Halt to Excavation: Laird Niven’s Observant Eye
Laird Niven’s arrival on the show led him to halt the excavation of specific rocks. He noticed some unusual stones where a tree had recently been uprooted and decided to stop the dig, suspecting that the rocks could have been part of the foundations of a building. The episode also revealed the discovery of a spoon bowl, which the team speculated might have been a door hinge.
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