When a powerful nor’easter stripped away sand on Nantucket’s shore in late September, it uncovered weathered wooden beams that quickly captured the attention of historians and the public alike. Initial speculation pointed to the historic three‑masted schooner Warren Sawyer, which sank in December 1884 while carrying cotton and scrap iron from New Orleans to Boston.

New analysis challenges the original identification

David Robinson, director and chief archaeologist for the Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources (BUAR), explained that a closer examination revealed several inconsistencies with the Warren Sawyer. The wooden ribs of the exposed section are noticeably larger, the timber types differ, and iron fastenings appear to date from after the schooner’s 1884 sinking.

“Those clues led us to believe that this probably was not from the same vessel and not Warren Sawyer,” Robinson said.

What the wreck might be

State archaeologists now believe the 50‑foot‑long fragment likely belongs to a large merchant vessel, possibly a schooner barge, that operated along the East Coast in the late 19th or early 20th century. Such barges were commonly towed through Nantucket Sound rather than venturing into the open ocean, making the exact identity uncertain.

Robinson emphasized the unusual size of the piece – a 50‑by‑11‑foot section of a ship’s hull – which is rare among the many smaller wreck fragments that periodically surface along Massachusetts’ coastline.

Preserving maritime heritage

The Nantucket find also marks the first shipwreck in the state to receive a tag under a new monitoring program that invites the public to help track and protect submerged cultural resources as they shift along the shore.

“Each of these shipwrecks has a story to tell,” Robinson said. “It’s important for us to study, document, and learn as much as we can from them and to treat them with the considerable care and respect that any elder would deserve.”

Next steps for researchers

Archaeologists are now turning to historical records, hoping to narrow down a list of candidate vessels and apply a weight‑of‑evidence approach to reach a conclusion. While the identification remains tentative, the discovery underscores the rich maritime legacy that surrounds Nantucket and the ongoing need for diligent preservation efforts.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.