The Mystery Wreck

The Mystery Wreck. Nags Head Wreck | Nags Head, North Carolina. , History Behind the Mystery , The Nags Head Wreck was brought to Nags Head Town Hall in 1978 after reoccurring disappearances due to coastal storms. The wreck was first found on shore in 1975, but after time it was buried by sand until 1977. In April 1978, a storm carried the wreck back out to sea causing it to damage Jeannette’s Pier. Once it reappeared on shore, it was carried to its current location. The structure may be from one of many wrecks in the area including, Florence Randall, Thomas Goddard, and Francis E. Waters; however, no ship has been a perfect match. The wreck’s identity still remains a mystery., Pump Box , Over time, water would accumulate in the bilge of a ship. In order to stop the hull from slowly filling up, manual pumps were installed. The remains of the lower part of the pump assembly, the “pump box” can still be seen., Teredo Navalis Damage , This is an example of damage caused by a species of saltwater clam. They are called “naval shipworms” for the worm like appearance and because they are very adept at eating through wood. The damage can be found throughout the shipwreck. , , Deterioration , When a ship's remains are underwater, the cells of the wood slowly degrade over time and are filled with water. When a shipwreck is removed from the ocean and is not put through a conservation treatment, the water comes out of the cells. As a result, the cells collapse, and the wooden structure begins to distort and fall apart. This process, in addition to other environmental forces, is why the waterlogged wood degrades., Iron Drift Pins and Fasteners , The pins help keep the keelson in place. They are flattened at the head, which shows where they were hammered in place. Considering that the pins and fasteners are made of iron, which marine life love, they are prone to corrosion and may appear to be “concreted” due to the actions of microbes., “Trunnel” , A wooden pin, or “treenail,” is an ancient construction technique used to fasten a piece of wood together which persists to the modern day., Copper and Brass Fasteners , These were used to attach the vessel’s strakes (outer hull planks). Strakes are a part of the ship’s hull that keeps the water out and the vessel afloat.