Legacy, Vol. 3, No. 3, December 1998, p. 19.
The Wee Boat
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Over the
years, sport divers have found
some unusual items as they cruise along the
bottoms of South Carolina’s rivers and creeks. Everything from a Revolutionary
War silver hat pin to a brass barrel from a flintlock pistol has been reported on quarterly
artifact report forms. But Darrell Taylor of Moncks
Corner (hobby license #2962) has found perhaps the most unique item to date.
Diving in 28 feet of water in the East Branch of the
Cooper River
recently, Darrell discovered a hand-carved model of what appears to be a 17th century sailing vessel nestled in the sandy bottom (Figure 1).
recently, Darrell discovered a hand-carved model of what appears to be a 17th century sailing vessel nestled in the sandy bottom (Figure 1).
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The model is 7.25 inches long, 3.25
inches wide, and 2.5 inches tall and is carved from a solid block of
wood (Figure 2). Hatches, gunwales, and gun ports are all visible
on the model, along with a distinctive keel, stempost, and cutout for a
rudder. Darrell first thought the ship model could be a child’s
toy, however SCIAA staff members think more likely the model was made
either by a sailor who wiled away his time carving his ship or a
shipbuilder who carved the model in anticipation of full-sized
construction. Either way, the ship model is as exciting and
unusual a find as we have seen in a long
time. Darrell has been a licensed hobby
diver since 1991, and has extensive experience diving in the Cooper
River. He is presently preforming conservation on the model boat.
Maritime Research Division, South Carolina Institute
of Archaeology and Anthropology, USC
