Discovery of a Neches River Ferryboat Big Thicket National Preserve

In September 1991, Big Thicket National Preserve staff received a report of remains of a river craft exposed in the west bank of the Neches River about a mile downstream from the Sheffield boat ramp (Figure 1). Rangers from the Upper Neches River corridor Unit investigating the report found the remains of a small wooden craft projecting from the river bank--at that time about 6 to 7 feet above water level and almost 14 feet below the top of the river bank. Photographs of the craft were taken and sent to Regional Archeologist Ronald Ice. Although scheduling prevented immediate investigation by his staff, a visit to the park allowed documentation of the site on December 12, 1991. Site recordation was conducted by Mr. Ice and the author, both from the Division of Anthropology, with assistance by Mr. Jim Trott, Division of Conservation, Southwest Regional Office. Post-field consultations also were held with Dan Lenihan and Larry Murphy of the Submerged Cultural Resources Unit in Santa Fe. The remains are recorded as site 41TL39 in the Texas state site system.