1715 spanish galleon part?

[billinstuart]

Did spanish galleons c.1715 use square wrought iron nails w/ large square head as hull fasteners? Just found heavy timber, straight, heavy heart material with several wrought nails in a line, in vicinity of one of the 1715 plate fleet wrecks. Nails are ferrous, but very little oxidation. Timber is old, abraded, but no barnacles. Also found iron helmet.

Bill

[wreckdiver1715]

Yes; and our Spanish friends would even melt down silver and gold into the shape of nails and drive then into the ship timbers, retrieving them after the king?s men removed the treasure from the ships.

[JohninCT]

no pictures??

[gsmeiers]

Yes; and our Spanish friends would even melt down silver and gold into the shape of nails and drive then into the ship timbers, retrieving them after the king?s men removed the treasure from the ships.

That is very interesting tidbit of info WreckDiver1715.

Gold is pretty soft though... I couldn't see a gold nail being driven into a fresh piece of wood... Perhaps if they removed a nail, and replaced it with a gold one... Or maybe it would work... Either way -- very cool!

Definately gotta keep that in mind if I ever find one!

Garrett

[wreckdiver1715]

You make a good point about the gold being too soft to drive into the wood. However, they seemed to be very innovative people back in the day.

Merry Christmas 8)

[gsmeiers]

Thanks... Have a nice Christmas yourself WreckDiver!

Garrett

[TreasDvr]

Hello: who said it had to be pure Gold -- maybe the cut it with Nickel or Bronze. Contraband metal smugling was the thing to do -- lest ye be caught by the King of Spain and swing on the yardarm at sunrise.

Thanks...? Have a nice Christmas yourself WreckDiver!

Garrett