Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Artifact Showcase & Interpretation

Lakes & Projects Builders Ship Types Artifacts References SYSTEM DIRECTORY Artifact Showcase The Shotline Artifact Showcase is a technical reference library for identifying common shipwreck components found across the Great Lakes & St. Lawrence. Use it to turn “mystery objects” into documented evidence: construction method, era, builder signature, and operational role. Every entry supports a…

SYSTEM DIRECTORY

Artifact Showcase

The Shotline Artifact Showcase is a technical reference library for identifying common shipwreck components found across the Great Lakes & St. Lawrence. Use it to turn “mystery objects” into documented evidence: construction method, era, builder signature, and operational role.

Every entry supports a stronger archive: cleaner sketches, consistent terminology, better photo notes, and tighter cross-referencing to wreck pages and source material.

Browse Artifact Library Random Artifact Sample
System Snapshot Coverage: hull & framing • rigging hardware • machinery • deck gear • cargo fittings • tools & personal items (ethical documentation)

How to Use This Page

Field Workflow

  1. Photograph first: wide → mid → close, include a scale.
  2. Note context: location on wreck, orientation, nearby structures.
  3. Identify: match the part to known examples and terminology.
  4. Cross-reference: link to wreck page + sources (books/archives/databases).
  5. Archive cleanly: consistent tags, credits, dates, and usage notes.

Preservation Standard

Shotline documentation follows no-touch, no-take. Artifacts are recorded to preserve the site and the story: accurate IDs, careful measurements, and ethical photography — not disturbance.

If something looks “loose” or “collectable,” treat it as historical evidence and leave it where it belongs.

Artifact Library

A technical index of artifact pages, intended to be expanded into a full tag-driven directory. For now, this shows the most recently updated artifacts so you can keep the library moving while we build the taxonomy structure.

  • Rudder

    William Jamieson Associated Wreck / Site: William Jamieson Location: Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario. Amherst Island Ontario. Date documented: 2022 Photographer / Surveyor: Matthew Charlesworth Description & Context…

  • Bow

    Varuna – Kingston ON Associated Wreck / Site: Varuna Location: Kingston, Ontario Date documented: 2010 Photographer / Surveyor: Tom Rutledge/Chris McMullen Description & Context The bow is mostly…

  • Capstan

    Capstan Associated Wreck / Site: Kinghorn – St. Lawrence River Location: Top Deck Date documented: 2001 & 2003 Photographer / Surveyor: Tom Rutledge – SLD Description & Context…

Random Artifact Sample

A quick “what’s in the archive right now” pull. Useful for QA: credits, tags, and naming consistency.

[shotline_random_artifact size=”large”]

Next Step

Link Artifacts to Wrecks

The library becomes powerful once artifacts are consistently tagged and linked back to wreck records. When we wire up the taxonomy + relationships, you’ll be able to open a wreck and instantly browse: rigging, machinery, hull structure, and deck gear photos and IDs.

Browse the Master Wreck Index Open References Archive