Dug Out Canoe

[Radar67]

On the way to Moultrie, GA, Don K and I stopped by a Visitor Center just inside the Georgia state line on Highway 84 W. This canoe was inside. It was made of Cypress and had really tight growth rings. The write up said it was built in the late 1700s to the early 1800s. It is worth the stop if you ever get down that way.

[metalspinner]

How did it survive?  Was it buried at the bottom of a lake?  That is amazing condition for something that old.

[Radar67]

It was buried in a river bank. Once it was found and removed, it was treated with PEG and dried, according to the write up on it. I'll see if I can get a readable version of the write up on here.

[SwampDonkey]

That canoe looks to be in good shape. And if your cypress in the south is anything like false yellow cypress on the Pacific coast it will stay in tact for a long time without decay, except maybe sapwood. I saw some huge yellow cypress on the Charlottes  cut and laid on the ground from some kind of growth and yield study. It was just like fresh cut, had that peeled carrots smell to the wood. The blocks were 4 feet through near the but end. Found it while cruising timber above the camp at Eden Lake.

Reminds me. I think in the news or a recent show or news report they told of an old birch bark canoe that ended up in England I think and it was stored in a shed or something. My memory seems a bit foggy on it. Gotta go Google.

[SwampDonkey]

"The Quebec", birch bark Canoe