by RRD2 on Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:55 pm
One similarity between the cove and the South Shore is the presence of original vertical shafts. The shaft at the cove was discovered by Restall and explored during the two month period that Restall and RDI worked together. This shaft is closer to the drain system than OH#3, and in line with a drilled rock marker and the cave-in shaft.
Oddly enough, if we were to extend this line towards the beach, it intersects exactly where Restall discovered the 1704 stone, at the low tide mark (1965). This same line, projected inland, intersects another drilled rock marker, 41 feet north of the MP. (A separate discussion of markers will begin shortly....).
These vertical shafts are original to the depositors and are positioned with respect to the flood tunnel system in a unique way. When the shaft at the cove was discovered, the thinking was that it may prove to be the location of a treasure cache. The same thinking existed when RDI discovered the South Shore shaft, but "nothing" in either shaft was discovered.
Each shaft was filled with beach rocks and foreign material, with a circular lining of larger stones. Both were obviously dug a very long time ago and as each was excavated, the digging was easy relative to the surrounding ground. For the most part, everyone was left scratching their heads. Nobody could explain why they were there. All of the available data from previous search attempts was reviewed, as well as discussions with Chappell, and both were confirmed to have been in "virgin ground". Shafts, trenches and drill holes from previous work were plotted, but the original shafts had not been previously intersected or excavated.
Could these shafts have been access points to a shut-off mechanism for the flood tunnels? Both shafts are thought to be in line with the flood tunnels that exist from the beaches to the MP and both filled quickly with sea water when excavated. If they are part of a water control system is still not known, but oddly enough, both shafts are in line with rock markers and other points of interest. On the South Shore, the shaft is related to a "flat rock marker" and no less than the stone triangle.
At the cove, Restall confirmed the existence of an area of paved stones buried under the surface of the beach. This is a large area, about the shape of a guitar pick, measuring 206 feet by 247 feet. The outline of this paved area is visible on the 7/25/65 RDI field sketch of the cove. It is comprised of a single layer of stones, covering the entire drain system. The structure was found at 6 feet deep inland, 4 feet deep at high tide mark and 2 feet deep at the low tide mark. The area was once covered entirely with eel grass, oak twigs and rotting branches from island trees.
Evidence of a basin, or paved area has not been confirmed to exist on the South Shore, but as this area is likely as complex as the cove, but deeper, we can expect to find something easily as incredible. More on this and other unique features of the cove and South Shore drain system to come....
Comments anyone regarding the flood system so far?
RDII