LEVEL 5

Level 5 extends from 5 to 6.05 feet below datum 3 and ends on the lower deck (Figure 26). The following recoveries extend into this level from above: 68, 71, 72, 73, 80, 81, 82, 84, 88, 89 and 92. Five new recoveries appear in this level: 67, 76, 78, 79 and 93. Several boxes and artifact concentrations rest on the lower deck including 67, 68, 76, 78, 79, 86, 88, 89 and 93.

Generally, the artifacts found in the lowest recoveries have a high mass and are made of dense material such as glass, ceramic or metal. Recoveries were either packed on the deck or settled after the vessel sank. In either case, the heaviest packages probably did not move very far from their original positions.

The packing arrangement noted in Level 4 continues in this level. Containers are positioned on the longitudinal axis of the ship with tent poles placed along each side. The poles define the space occupied by the containers. Presumably, the tent poles were used much like dunnage. They were stacked around the boxes to stabilized the ship's cargo.


RECOVERY 067
Type: artifact concentration
Location: the concentration is centered 8 feet south/0.0 feet east/6.05 feet deep.
Diagnostic Artifacts: shells, metal foil, leather knapsack strap, brush handle, brush fragments, rubber blanket fragments, earthenware jar lid, hatchet head, tin button, 2 white glass buttons, 2 cavalry cuff buttons, 1 cavalry coat button, 1 general service cuff button, 1 New York State cuff button.
Discussion: this is a discrete concentration, found under a plank on the lower deck. The plank suggests the original container holding the artifacts was a box. However, this is not conclusive proof of the type of container. The artifacts are of a personal and military nature associated with a New York State regiment. The cavalry buttons are unexpected, as there was no equipment from cavalry regiments loaded on the Maple Leaf at Folly Island.

RECOVERY 076
Type: boot
Location: the boot is located 11 feet south/7.4 feet east/6.05 feet deep.
Diagnostic Artifacts: Wellington style leather boot, 2 inkwells, toothbrush, food condiment (unidentified) in a sealed glass bottle.
Discussion: the boot was found on the lower deck wedged under fragments of broken boxes. It is a match to the boot (Recovery 85) found at the top of the cargo hold near the barrel which apparently floated as the ship filled with water. The boot found on the lower deck had several heavy items packed inside and could not float. They were placed inside for protection against breakage. Whether the pair was packed in a container or placed loose in the hold could not be determined.

RECOVERY 078
Type: ammunition box
Location: top northwest corner of the box is 7.9 feet south/8.4 feet east/5.05 feet deep. It extends vertically from 5.05 feet to 6.05 feet below datum.
Diagnostic Artifacts: 283 Minie' balls (.574 cal. as marked on the ammunition box), 10 musket balls (.65 cal. as measured), percussion caps, "Watervliet/1861" ammunition box.
Discussion: this box, laying on its side, rested on the lower deck when found. It measures 16 1/2 inches long, 12 inches wide and 8 3/4 inches high. The early date and mixture of Minie' balls and musket balls indicates a long period of use (Babits and Mannesto 1994). The lid is also carved "Co B 13" for Company B, 13th Indiana Regiment. This is one of three packing boxes associated with the 13th Indiana (the others are Recoveries 83 and 84).

RECOVERY 079
Type: artifact concentration.
Location: the upper northwest portion of this material begins 7.5 feet south/4.25 feet east/5.19 feet deep. It is contained in an area measuring roughly 3.25 feet athwart ship, 3 feet bow to stern and .9 feet thick.
Diagnostic Artifacts: stoneware jar and rubber rain hat.
Discussion: this artifact cluster is material from a fragmented trunk that settled on the lower deck. See Recovery 80 and 81 for associated material.