Copper spike?

[streakert]

Ok got to the east coast MD today and came across this 40 lbs of dead wood ha-ha. It bothered me to know what it was or how old it may be ! Why would someone use a large copper spike to hold what looks like planking to a post, my guess is the spike is about a foot long. If this is from an old ship how old. If it's not copper what then I will remove it after this months club meeting.

 

[SkaBa]

Plank to a post sounds like a wharf or dock.

 

[mcl]

Copper spikes driven into wooden posts have long been used as benchmarks. Just a thought.

 

[johlar]

railroad tie