LEVEL 4

Level 4 extends from 4 to 5 feet below datum 3 (Figure 25). Only Recovery 77 extends into this new level and it ends before the bottom of the level is reached. The area below Recovery 77 contains tent poles and remains unexcavated.

A large number of recoveries appear in this level, primarily wooden boxes. They rest on, or just above the lower deck due to the weight of the articles packed inside. Most of the artifacts found in these containers are made from high density materials such as metal, glass and ceramic.

Figure 25 shows several wooden boxes clustered longitudinally along the axis of the ship. These containers are probably very close to their original position as placed in the hold. Some of them are very heavy and could not move far following the sinking. Also, there is no indication of disturbance or damage caused by post sinking activities.

Tent poles are located along each side of the clustered boxes clustered in the center of the trench. The poles seem to confine the boxes in a linear space. This appears to be evidence of the packing technique used to load the hold on the Maple Leaf's last trip. While boxes packed higher floated off or broke apart, heavier items remained in place wedged between stacks of tent poles. In addition, a layer of tent poles (Recovery 87B) is sandwiched between Recovery 83 above and Recoveries 89 and 78 (level 5) below.


RECOVERY 068
Type: mess box
Location: top northwest corner of the box is 7.55 feet south/1.44 feet east/4.87 feet deep. It extends vertically from 4.87 feet to 6.04 feet below datum.
Diagnostic Artifacts: 6 nested pots, 8 frying pans, 1 sauce pan, 1 tin basin, 2 coffee pots, 5 tin plates, 10 tin bowls, 1 tin cup, 1 tin mucket, 1 ladle, 1 tin condiment container, 1 fork, 27 tin spoons, 1 silver plated spoon, 4 knife fragments, 2 tin cans, candle mold, hatchet, glass bottle, 3 shoe brushes, shell collection in a round wooden box, file and sheath, assorted cut nails and screws, 1 staff officer cuff button, 1 staff officer coat button, cap pouch, and a cartridge box with a U.S. belt plate and 22 Minie' balls.
Discussion: this large wooden box rested on the lower deck. It measured 30 1/4 inches long, 22 5/16 inches wide and 16 1/4 inches high. The material inside is the cookware for a fairly large group of people. The large number of spoons indicates that soups, stews and other pot meals were common in the soldier's diet. The cooking equipment was found in a neatly packed arrangement of nested pots and pans. The personal and military items were found around and on top of the cookware. One stack of nested pots contained a round wooden box filled with a collection of shells.

RECOVERY 072
Type: wooden box
Location: top northeast corner of the box is south 11.32/west 2.49/depth 4.44. It extends vertically from 4.44 feet to 5.27 feet below datum.
Diagnostic Artifacts: glass tumbler, 2 tin buttons, cloth fragments, 3 general service coat buttons, rope fragment, brass sling hook, musket nipple, Napoleon style leather boots, mirror, spoon, rubber blanket fragment, sheet metal stove and stove pipe
Discussion: this wooden box is labeled "ARMY BREAD" and has been reused for packing a collection of personal items. It measures 25 1/4 inches long, 18 1/2 inches wide and 10 inches high. The material packed inside represents a wide range of artifact categories: personal, military, clothing and architectural.

RECOVERY 073
Type: wooden box
Location: top northwest corner of the box is 5.25 feet south/1.23 feet east/5.78 feet deep. It extends vertically from 5.22 feet to 6.04 feet below datum.
Diagnostic Artifacts: 2 brass knapsack hooks, 1 axe head, a fragmentary cloth bag and a massive concretion of nails inside the bag.
Discussion: this box contains a large, heavy bag of cut nails and rests on the lower deck. It measures 17 3/4 inches long, 13 inches wide and 9 7/8 inches high. The nails are assorted sizes and appear unused. The axe head is contained in the nail concretion.

RECOVERY 080
Type: cigar box and surrounding artifact cluster.
Location: The upper northwest portion of this material begins 8.91 feet south/5.02 feet east/4.19 feet deep.
Diagnostic Artifacts: cigar box, toothbrush, toothpick, straight edge, bayonet scabbard tip, 4 brass finger rings, carpet bag lock, water filter mouthpiece, rubber comb, sealing wax (3 bars), tin can with wooden matches inside, round wooden box, pocketknife, folding corkscrew, gimlet, leather shoe fragment, brass ink well, brass locket, 3 tin buttons, wooden button, general service coat button.
Discussion: this box has fallen out of Recovery 81, a trunk. The associated artifacts were found inside the box or in close proximity. Most of the material would easily fit into the box and represents an assortment of personal items. The larger items are from the trunk.

RECOVERY 081
Type: trunk
Location: the upper northwest corner of the trunk is 7.24 feet south/5.02 feet east/4.19 feet deep. It extends vertically from 4.19 feet to 5.19 feet below datum.
Diagnostic Artifacts: round wooden box, water filter, candle holder, brass straight pins, brass locket frame, 2 pencils, toothbrush, 2 dice, 4 neckerchief slides, wooden matches, pistol cleaning rod, musket nipple, three .22 cal. bullets and 2 casings, one .32 caliber rimfire casing, folding knife, seam ripper, small wood picture frame, ambrotype frame, 3 tintype frames, claw hammer, watermelon seeds, 3 spoons, skeleton key, 2 rasps, leather boots, tin button, 10 white glass buttons, 1 white glass stud, 1 black glass button, 3 wooden buttons, 1 New York State Militia button (circa 1825), 5 New York State coat buttons, 8 New York State cuff buttons, 1 staff officer cuff button, 3 general service coat buttons, 1 infantry coat button, 1 infantry cuff button.
Discussion: this is a small trunk found in fragmentary condition and dimensions are unknown. A large concentration of artifacts intermixed with the fragments including Recovery 80, an intact cigar box. This group of artifacts represents a large collection of personal items. The military buttons suggest the owner was an officer from a New York State Infantry regiment. An artifact concentration is located directly below Recovery 80 and 81 in Level 5. This material is designated Recovery 79 and is a continuation of the artifacts that spilled from the trunk, Recovery 81. All three recoveries are closely associated.

RECOVERY 083
Type: wooden box
Location: top northwest corner of the box is 7.5 feet south/9.6 feet east/4.05 feet deep. It extends vertically from 4.05 feet to 4.55 feet below datum.
Diagnostic Artifacts: 5 general service coat buttons, tin type frame fragment, uniform fabric fragments with 3 general service buttons,
Discussion: this box is stenciled "Fresh Peaches" and has been reused as a packing crate. It measures 16 1/2 inches long, 12 1/2 inches wide and 11 inches high. The top is marked "Co A 13th IND." denoting Company A, 13th Indiana Regiment. This is one of three packing box associated with the 13th Indiana (the others are Recoveries 78 and 84). The box was falling apart when found and may have lost many artifacts originally packed inside (see Recovery 86). This accounts for the small number of artifacts in the box. It apparently held personal items and a coat from an Indiana soldier. This box was stacked on top of Recovery 89.

RECOVERY 084
Type: wooden box
Location: top northwest corner of the box is 7.22 feet south/7.7 feet east/4.38 feet deep. It extends vertically from 4.38 feet to 5.76 feet below datum.
Diagnostic Artifacts: finger ring, brass straight pins, cut glass stone, glue bottle, flask, 5 drumsticks, toothbrush, 2 shoe brushes, cigar holder, 2 cigar boxes, swivel hook, candle holder, folding combination spoon/knife, ambrotype frame, Union ambrotype case, pen, sealing wax, cap pouch, 2 rubber blankets, cloth fragments, tin candle holder, "AMERICAN DESICCATING CO/EGG NOG" glass bottle, 6 pistol percussion caps, powder flask, musket sight, mainspring vice, 2 bayonets, 2 canteens, cartridge box sling, musket sling, 2 forage cap chin straps, forage cap brim, forage cap lining, leather belt, assorted knapsack straps and buckles, U.S. belt plate, leather belt and bayonet scabbard, tin buttons, 1 white glass button, wood button, 1 infantry coat button, 3 general service coat buttons,
Discussion: this box contained personal and military items. The dimensions of the box cannot be determined until conservation treatment is completed. Four different artifacts from the collection have carved initials from four separate individuals. In addition, a wooden brush is marked "Co B 13 Ind" for Company B, 13th Indiana Regiment. This suggests the artifacts belonged to four different men from the 13th Indiana whose belongings were packed in the same box. These men may have shared the same tent, accounting for artifacts owned by several people mixed in one box. This is one of three packing boxes associated with the 13th Indiana (the others are Recoveries 78 and 83).

RECOVERY 086
Type: artifact concentration
Location: area is centered 9 feet south/9 feet east/4.55 feet deep. It extends vertically from 4.55 feet to 6.05 feet below datum.
Diagnostic Artifacts: brush fragments, 1 white glass button, 2 sea urchins, shells, 1 general service coat button, 1 infantry coat button, watch chain with charm, 3 wooden buttons, mirror & frame, watch winder, tin button, cap pouch
Discussion: this amorphous artifact cluster is located under Recovery 83 and around Recovery 89 and 78. It extends north to Recovery 88. The personal and military items in this recovery belong to an infantryman and may have fallen out of Recovery 83. Similar items found among the tent poles in Recovery 87B may also be part of this recovery or Recovery 83.

RECOVERY 087B
Type: tentage.
Location: Recovery 87B begins approximately 7.4 feet south/8.8 feet east and extends into the east wall. It is confined to level 4, extending from 4.5 to 5.0 feet below datum. See Level 3 for Recoveries 87A and 87C.
Diagnostic Artifacts: upright poles, ridge poles, white glass button, tin-type frame, fabric fragments, rubber blanket.
Discussion: Recovery 87B is a single layer of assorted ridge poles and upright poles that rest on top of two boxes (Recoveries 78 and 89). Another box, Recovery 83, rests on top of the poles. They are oriented east/west on the longitudinal axis of the ship. Intertwined among them is a rubber blanket, a glass button, a tin-type frame and fabric fragments. The smaller items may have been wrapped in the rubber blanket. This cluster of artifacts is not related to the tent poles and represents a group of personal belongings that have fallen out of another container. The material is probably associated with Recovery 86 and may have fallen out of Recovery 83.

RECOVERY 088
Type: wooden box
Location: top northwest corner of the box is 6.9 feet south/9.0 feet east/4.05 feet deep. It extends vertically from 4.05 feet to 6.05 feet below datum.
Diagnostic Artifacts: small glass tumbler, glass mug, transfer print earthenware bowl, blue feather-edged bowl, pearlware bowl, pearlware plate, pearlware saucer, child's pearlware plate, 9 tin plates, 3 tin bowls.
Discussion: this box was found resting on one end on the lower deck. It measures approximately 24 inches long, 12 inches wide and 5 inches high. The artifacts inside represent foodway items. Tinware is indicative of the military cargo while the ceramic pieces are personal belongings. The ceramics may have been acquired on raids, sent from home or bought during periods in camp.

RECOVERY 089
Type: large wooden box
Location: top northwest corner of the box is 8.5 feet south/9.3 feet east/4.8 feet deep. It extends vertically from 4.8 feet to 6.05 feet below datum.
Diagnostic Artifacts: shoe brush, 2 musket percussion caps, fabric fragments, rubber blanket fragments, 6 nested pots, 3 white glass buttons, 13 wooden buttons, 3 tin buttons.
Discussion: this box was found sitting on the floor of the cargo hold. It is a reused box marked "Army Bread" on the side. Dimensions are roughly 26 inches long, 18 1/2 inches wide and 19 1/2 inches high. It contained two nested stacks of large pots: one stack with 4 pots and the other with 2. The other artifacts found among the pots were placed there to utilize the extra packing space.

RECOVERY 092
Type: tent poles
Location: this group of tent poles begins 5 feet south/3 feet east and stretches east to 12.7 feet. It extends vertically from 4.05 feet to 6.05 feet below datum.
Diagnostic Artifacts: ridge poles and octagonal upright poles.
Discussion: this group of tent poles forms the base of the north wall. They were aligned west/east with the longitudinal axis of the ship and located below the poles in Recovery 87. While Recovery 87 was removed for analysis, Recovery 92 was relocated to the southwest corner of the trench for on site storage. None of the poles were removed from the ship. Otherwise, there is no difference between the two groups.