A submerged rectangular wooden structure, resembling a log cabin without a roof,
is currently a home to many river fish in the bend river near Mepkin Abbey. It is an
example of a typical wooden dock structure historically used by early riverside residences
in South Carolina. A dock or wharf served as a platform to load and unload plantation
boats. Inter-locking palmetto logs were used to construct a crib which was weighted down
and sunk in the river. The logs are attached by means of long wooden guide posts visible
at the bottom of the cribbing structure. In addition to the cribbing forming the sides of
the rectangle on the Mepkin dock, a layer of cribbing was added to the middle of the
rectangle dividing it into two compartments. This provided extra stability and strength
for the structure.
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Information for this page taken from
the
South Carolina
Institute of Archeology and Anthropology's Website.
Cooper River
Heritage Trail Sites
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AP News Article South Carolina unveils
first underwater diving trail
SOUTH
CAROLINA UNDERWATER ANTIQUITIES ACT OF 1991
South
Carolina Dive Laws Page