
Browns Ferry Ferries
The site was extremely disorienting as the water was very dark with lots of particulates and a quick current. At least one day was spent becoming familiar with the sites before recording of each one began. Once we felt comfortable with our orientation, we laid a baseline on Ferry 2 to begin recording. In addition to the use of dive slates and measuring tapes, we took many underwater photos and video to record the site.
The team discovered that Ferry 2 had two disarticulated (unattached) stanchions with pulley wheels. This definitively made it a ferryboat. It seemed it was likely a rope ferry based on the construction, which makes it one of the older style ferries at the location. More research on the construction will need to be pursued to define a time period for the vessel. While Ferry 1 is probably a ferry, we are still not certain. This vessel is missing many attributes that would indicate, for certain, it is a ferry. It does exhibit two stanchions, but there are no pulley assemblages remaining if they existed at all. Both vessels are approximately 40ft long and 15ft wide.
For photos of the project, please visit our Black River Project page.
Related Information
2013. Deming, Ashley M. "The 2013 Black River Project." Legacy. Vol. 17, No. 2. November. South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. University of South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina. pp. 16-17.
2013. Deming, Ashley M. "2013 Black River Project." Quarterly Reporter. Vol. 4, Iss 3. October. Maritime Research Division. South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. University of South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina. pp. 7, 11.
2013. Sawyer, Catherine. "A Week on the Black River." Quarterly Reporter. Vol. 4, Iss 3. October. Maritime Research Division. South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. University of South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina. p. 8.