Can someone help me on this spike?

JakePhelps

Silver Member
Jul 7, 2005
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Massachusetts
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Tesoro Cibola
I have a bronze square spike part that I found on a back in CapeCod. Near the spike was lots of broken tiles, brick, clay, wood, random stuff...But my question is, when did they use these spikes on ships? and how can i confirm that this spikes off of a ship? Is there a particular diameter or size of these spikes? I know its bronze or brass.
 

Its on the far right, a little bit twisted but still nice if its a ship nail.
 

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19 th century ships fastener. When they are bent and broken like yours it is indicative of shipwreck material. The other artifacts in the area may be helpful or the may be intrusions. The other stuff in your pix are of course modern.
 

Thanks for the help guys :) Not totally modern, thats a 1912 wheatie in there ;D I will have to ask my parents what beach we were at when I dug the spike and go back to detect it further :) I remember alot of false signals and stuff.
 

The piece of spike that you have is common shipwreck material from the late 1700's until approx. 1880. That size would be used for ships decking or hull sheathing. I live, dive and metal detect on Cape Cod. There are over 1000 shipwrecks documented in these waters. If you happen to remember the location I may be able to help you narrow down the known wrecks.
 

Thank you for the info roupfire! This is a big help :) I think it was on a beach in brewster, I remember a kind of harbor thing with lots of boats, there was a kinda trashy side beach alongside a jetty and there was bricks, clay, boards, and other debris. Next time I go there I will keep anything I find and get samples of the bricks or clay or whatever it was. What part of capecod do you live in? I own a vacation home in West Yarmouth on swan pond. The stuff was seperate from the water by a jetty, but that doesnt mean the harbor wasnt dredged and the artifacts strewn about there. Thanks a ton guys ;)
 

Sounds like either Rock Harbor in Orleans, or Sesuit Harbor in Dennis, both on Cape Cod Bay. Good luck hunting.
 

I will have to check to see if it was those. Have you ever detected Gray's beach in Yarmouth? I read on the internet that it was used as a schooner yard and such and also a viking or was buried there or something..alot of history there, hard to detect cause of the crazy currents but im sure if you figured them out you could find where they dumped all the goodies. I did find an 1828 half penny and stuff though.
 

JakePhelps said:
I have a bronze square spike part that I found on a back in CapeCod.? Near the spike was lots of broken tiles, brick, clay, wood, random stuff...But my question is, when did they use these spikes on ships?? and how can i confirm that this spikes off of a ship?? Is there a particular diameter or size of these spikes?? I know its bronze or brass.
What is a back?
 

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