New Discovery Along Nantucket’s Coast

Archaeologists originally thought they had found a well-known shipwreck off the coast of Massachusetts, but a more detailed examination brought about a new predicament.

In late September, stormy weather exposed the remains of a vessel on the shores of Nantucket, drawing significant interest nationwide. Officials at first believed this wreckage was from the Warren Sawyer, a three-masted schooner that sank in 1884. In fact, remnants of the ship had been documented in the same area in previous years, specifically 2022 and 2023, as reported.

The Warren Sawyer was transporting over a thousand bales of cotton and a hefty amount of scrap iron from New Orleans to Boston when it struck land on December 22, 1884. The Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources noted that the captain and seven crew members were saved, while local residents worked for weeks to retrieve cotton bales from the wreck.

But after more than a century, recent findings complicated matters. Officials shared that the wreckage didn’t correspond with what had previously been discovered about the Warren Sawyer.

In a news release from October 8, the Egan Maritime Institute announced that archaeologists determined the remains were distinct from earlier findings related to the Warren Sawyer. Instead, after an assessment conducted on October 7, it appears to be a roughly 50-foot-long section of a large merchant vessel from the late 19th or early 20th century.

The identity of this new wreck remains a mystery, prompting researchers to delve into historical documents for clues. David Robinson, who leads the Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources, shared his initial thoughts about the wreck’s misidentification.

While assessing the wreck, Robinson observed that the wooden ribs were significantly larger compared to the Warren Sawyer’s remains. He also noted discrepancies in the wood types and found iron fastenings that seemed to date from after the Warren Sawyer’s sinking.

“Each shipwreck often has its own story,” Robinson remarked, highlighting the uniqueness of each find.

He indicated that these factors collectively suggested that this wreck was likely not related to the Warren Sawyer. Instead, it may have belonged to a schooner barge, a common type of ship used for transporting goods along the East Coast during that period.

Interestingly, while shipwrecks are frequently uncovered along Massachusetts’ coastline, Robinson mentioned that the size of this particular fragment was somewhat unusual, making it notable.

“What’s particularly striking is the size of this large piece of wreckage,” he stated. However, he reminded everyone that the identification of the vessel is still uncertain.

Robinson explained that it is plausible that this wreck could be from a different type of vessel than a typical schooner barge, as such ships would likely be towed through Nantucket Sound instead of navigating the open ocean south of the island. He emphasized that the best outcome might be to narrow down potential candidates and utilize available historical and archaeological evidence to draw informed conclusions.

This wreck also marks the first in Massachusetts to be tagged under a shipwreck monitoring initiative, which allows the public to contribute to tracking these historic remains as they move along the coastline.

Robinson reiterated the importance of preserving shipwrecks as they represent vital pieces of history. “Every shipwreck has something to tell us,” he noted, underscoring the need to study and document these artifacts responsibly.