Recently while working a stretch of the Maury River I came along a Iron piece that was hollow at the large end and tapered to a point. I did not know what it was when first found but knew it was old and had been in the water for some time.
The item sat next to my chair at home for a day or two and I picked it up several times looking at the craftmanship and rust from being in the river for a extended period of time. After being out of the water the rust oxidation grew as well as small flaking of the Iron...
The stretch of river where this was found was known to be used for river transportation by barges called "Batteaus". Long flat boats that could transport loads of up to 15,000 lbs in some cases and only draw 12-15" of water. These batteaus would steer themselves down the river by use of long rudder type poles on both the bow and stern but also guided by smaller poles on the port & starboard sides also.
It is believed that the Iron point found is a tip of one of these guide poles used on a batteau. The river where it was found is all bedrock and boulder with very little sand.
It was decided to place the Iron point into a electrolysis bath and after several days at low voltage the item cleaned up nicely. Showed the piece to Chief Diver Chet Nesley who cleaned it up some more and suggested further cleaning and then sealing it with polyurethane...
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