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Interspersed in the ship’s ballast were examples of rough-hewn wood that appear to represent a portion of the ship’s dunnage that was used to pack and cushion cargo in the ship’s lower hold atop the ballast stones. The small wooden branches occur in various lengths and range in diameter from 2 cm to 6 cm. A considerable number retain a golden-colored bark. Two species of wood were identified from samples sent for identification: persimmon and hornbeam (Newsom 1995:1-2).
The persimmon-type dunnage exhibits a definite ring-porous structure indicative of a temperate species. Newsom (1995:1), relying on geographic range and history of cultivation, believes that there are four possible candidates for the actual species match: Diospyros virginiana (common persimmon), Diospyros texana (Texas persimmon), Diospyros kacki (Chinese date-plum, persimmon), and Diospyros lotus (date-plum). The latter two originated in Asia; unfortunately, it is not known how long these particular species were known or cultivated by Europeans. However, persimmon seeds from the wreck (see below) have dimensions (17 mm - 18 mm long by 9mm - 12 mm wide) that fit the range for common persimmon (12 mm - 20 mm long by 7mm - 12 mm wide), but are much too large for Texas persimmon (06 - 8 mm long). Therefore, the presence of common persimmon seeds is a possible indication that the wood is from the same species. If in fact this vessel was supplied with common persimmon dunnage the Emanuel Point Ship may have been provisioned (or reprovisioned) in the New World prior to its voyage to Florida.
The second dunnage type, Carpinus sp. (hornbeam) compares well with Carpinus caroliniana (ironwood, blue beech), a tree found in bottomlands, swamps, and river margins of eastern North America, including the Florida panhandle. A second possibility is European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus). However, this species varies slightly (frequent presence of biseriate rays) from the archaeological specimens (whereas the latter conform in every detail with North American C. caroliniana).
Specimen |
Taxa |
Common Name |
Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
* Data and analysis by Lee Newsom, Center for Archaeological Investigations, | |||
Keelson* |
Quercus sp., white group |
white oak anatomical group |
Old World and |
Tail Frame 6 |
Unidentified |
hardwood |
|
Dunnage* |
Diospyros sp. |
persimmon |
OW&NW |
Dunnage* |
Carpinus sp. |
ironwood, |
North America |