Shipwreck Fragment Discovered In 'Sconset After Weekend Nor'Easter

Karen Russell was walking the beach on Tuesday like she usually does after big storms to find "the best stuff." Even Russell, however, was surprised to discover what she noticed poking out of the sand between 'Sconset Beach and Low Beach on the east end of the island.

It was there that Russell spotted what is believed to be a fragment of a shipwreck weighing an estimated 400 to 500 pounds. She believes it may be the sternpost and part of a rudder, with the pintals still attached, of a 19th-century vessel. The Egan Maritime Institute, along with state archeologist Dave Robinson, are now investigating her find.

"Egan Maritime Institute is currently investigating what is believed to be part of a wrecked vessel discovered on the beach on Nantucket," the non-profit stated on Tuesday. "Led by Tony Dumitru, Museum Collections and Exhibitions Manager, Egan team members and trusted volunteers have visited the site to conduct an initial assessment and documentation...In accordance with Massachusetts state law and best practices for underwater cultural heritage, Egan Maritime has contacted the Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources (BUAR) and Dave Robinson, Director and Chief Archaeologist, to report the find and ensure that all appropriate steps are taken to protect and further study the site."

After Russell's discovery, she contacted her friend Ed Shultz, a maritime expert, who offered his own assessment of the find:

"Based on my observations, I believe that the rudder may be oak and the sternpost is probably pine," Schultz told Russell in an email after visiting the site. "There is no evidence of copper sheathing on the rudder and - except for the two bronze pintals -all of the other fittings are iron. Judging from the size of the pintals, the ship was likely less than 100 feet in length. These findings are all pretty consistent with a vessel built in the northeastern U.S. or Maritime Provinces of Canada during the last half of the nineteenth century - although it could be older than this estimate. (Most 17th and 18th century pintals were usually made of iron; it wasn’t until the latter part of the 18th century - following the widespread introduction of copper sheathing to prevent hull damage from shipworms - that bronze pintals were introduced in order to prevent accelerated electrolysis from occurring due to the proximity of the two dissimilar metals.)"

Egan Maritime Institute executive director Carlise Jensen added, "At Egan, our mission is to preserve and share Nantucket’s remarkable maritime history. This discovery offers an exciting opportunity to deepen our understanding of the Island’s past while reinforcing our commitment to bringing history to life through storytelling and education.”

Other recent shipwreck sightings on Nantucket include the February 2023 discovery of portion of the 19th-century coastal schooner Warren Sawyer, a wooden ship that wrecked near Miacomet Beach on December 22, 1884.