🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Ship Wreck Drift wood

[YachtCaptain]

I found this piece of drift wood on the beach in Bald Head Island, NC just after Hurricane Ian passed. I assume it's off an old wreck. The nail appears to be hand forged bronze. Any ideas about age or origin?

 

[Shakakka]

I have no idea about age or origin, but that is AWESOME!

 

[unclemac]

I second that ... AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tamrock]

Nice relic. Hope we find out how old it is from those who might know.

 

[RTR]

I would venture a guess....A 1700s ship wreck ,Maybe, just maybe, from a Spanish Galleon that finally found it way from the Florida coast . Sticking out in the ocean Bald Head is a perfect catch point .

That wood can be carbon dated .

 

[CRUSADER]

Looks 18th C to me. You can see the nail had been broken, which would have taken a massive force, suggesting a wrecking.

 

[Tony in SC]

Really nice find!!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Interesting find, now that's a real piece of local history right there.
I also couldn't help but be a little jealous of the background scenery where you live too.
Dave

 

[Bamasteve]

Awesome find.

 

[CaptEsteban]

This will help you ;

The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast. Copyright 2001 - 2026.

treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com

 

[YachtCaptain]

Interesting find, now that's a real piece of local history right there.
I also couldn't help but be a little jealous of the background scenery where you live too.
Dave

Yes, it's a beautiful view. Unfortunately it's not my house, just a rental!

 

[YachtCaptain]

This will help you ;

The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast. Copyright 2001 - 2026.

treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com

Thanks, thats helpful. The first photos of the bronze spike look almost identical to mine.

 

[Joe_NY_to_NC]

 

[Fossil_adult]

That is really cool, man! I'd be stoked to find something like that!

 

[Almy]

Interesting artifact and good pictures of it. I can see a few shipworm holes in the wood. The wood looks like softwood, perhaps white pine. I'm not sure how much of that species was used for ship frames. The erosion of the wood suggests great age and water immersion and the scarcity of shipworm damage suggests it was buried for a good part of that time. The species could be confirmed by microscopic examination of the wood anatomy.