Archaeological Investigations

The iron mast is the principal feature of the site, measuring 56 feet in length, and 2.7 feet in diameter.  The second largest artifact is a metal boom, lying close by to the west of the mast.  Scattered around the site is a collection of smaller artifacts, such as iron knees, a truss yoke, a mast partner, chain links, a bilge pump handle, a yardarm, bronze drift pins, and copper sheathing fragments.  

This site holds great cultural and archaeological significance for ship construction and sailing, as many of these components are directly associated with both. The iron knees were used to reinforce and join deck beams to the hull, and the bronze pins were used as hull fasteners. Some iron knees on the site still have their bronze pins attached.  The metal mast, knees, fasteners, and other artifacts are indicative of a certain type of late 19th century wooden composite hulled sailing vessels, left behind after the wooden hull broke up and decayed in the shallow salt water.