Old Wooden Crate and Barrel From the Sea

[UnderMiner]

I excavated this barrel (actually a 1/4 barrel called a firkin) two days ago. It once had 6 steel rings holding it together which have since disintegrated. It was designed to hold 9 gallons, a capacity which was standardized in 1824. It's about 70% complete. It may be quite old but just how old is difficult to say, late 19th century to mid-20th century, though the presence of glass bottles from 1890-1910 in the same area likely mean it's from within this more specific date range.

In situ:

Mud and clay removed:

Pieces removed, cleaned, and organized:

I also excavated an old crate, but unfortunately couldn't take:

 

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[Blak bart]

Thats so cool....I would display that thing also....looks great !!

 

[pepperj]

That is so cool! Well done on the recovery of the barrel and bottles.
What a great display stand or something-it has history foreshore.
Love the dovetailing on the crate-too bad you couldn't grab that one as well.
The mud really preserved the wood well considering the time it has been exposed to the elements.

 

[gunsil]

Looks like a nail keg. When I was a kid the hardware stores all had small kegs of nails.

 

[PetesPockets55]

Looks like a nail keg. When I was a kid the hardware stores all had small kegs of nails.

I wonder if the number of steel bands was an indication of whether it held liquids or solids?

 

[devldog]

Very nice save, recovery, and restoration of the wood barrel, and the glass bottles. They look great. Congrat's. If I may ask, what prevented you from taking the wooden crate?

 

[UnderMiner]

Very nice save, recovery, and restoration of the wood barrel, and the glass bottles. They look great. Congrat's. If I may ask, what prevented you from taking the wooden crate?

Thanks! To answer your question the crate is alot bigger and heavier than it appears in the photos. I still had over a mile hike to get back to civilization through a salt mash, and the sun was setting. So I could only take the barrel (which I fit entirely into a single back pack) the mud got on everything. I even had to leave some of the bottles I found behind too. But I stashed everything, including the crate, on dry land for a potential future retrieval.

 

[Bamasteve]

Great finds and best of luck getting the crate and remaining bottles out! Keep us posted.

 

[devldog]

Good deal. Glad you were able to save the crate and other bottles for a future return visit. Well Done.

 

[billb]

So so nice
Beautiful recoveries

 

[detectorcowboy]

Nice save