Nor'easter Exposes 19th-Century Shipwreck Remnants on Nantucket Shore

Key points

• A nor'easter storm over the weekend stripped away sand on Nantucket's south shore, revealing splintered timbers fastened with rusted iron.
• The fragments are located near the recorded site of the Warren Sawyer, a three-masted schooner that ran aground in December 1884 while carrying cotton and scrap iron from New Orleans to Boston.
• The Egan Maritime Institute is sending staff to examine the site and will prepare a report for state archaeologists to help identify the vessel.
• The Warren Sawyer's crew of seven was rescued in 1884, but the ship broke apart in January 1885, scattering debris across more than half a mile of beach.
• Massachusetts law prohibits removing or damaging underwater archaeological resources, and the Egan Institute has urged visitors not to disturb the newly exposed wreckage.

Background

Nantucket is known as a 'graveyard of the Atlantic' due to its treacherous shoals and inclement weather, which contributed to over 750 wrecks during the 19th century. Previous remnants of the Warren Sawyer, including a 42-foot section of hull and a 15-foot section of the lower stern, have emerged from the sand in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The current discovery follows a pattern of shifting sands exposing parts of the ship over time.

Why it matters

The exposure of the Warren Sawyer's remnants highlights the ongoing impact of severe weather on coastal archaeological sites. It underscores the need for careful documentation and preservation of historical artifacts, as well as the importance of respecting legal protections for underwater archaeological resources.

What to watch

The Egan Maritime Institute will send staff to examine the newly exposed fragments and prepare a report for state archaeologists. The goal is to confirm whether the timbers are indeed from the Warren Sawyer and to document their condition before they are potentially buried again by shifting sands.