We've recently completed an archaeological survey of a portion of the
Charleston, SC waterfront which documented the remains of three Colonial era
wharves.  Two were cobb style construction, built of unhewn palmetto logs with
a fill composed primarily of ballast stones with occassional inclusions of
brick, coral, and other building stone.  The third was actually found within
one of the cobb wharves, which had apparently been extended across its
location.  It was built of cribb construction with the outer edges braced by a
series of palmetto pilings on approximately 4 foot centers and the outer crib
walls formed of alternating layers of cedar planks and boards (two of each)
which were all pegged together.  Its original fill was almost certainly dirt,
possibly blue marl clay found in the marshes.

I'm interested in obtaining references for comparable colonial era waterfront/
wharf studies along the eastern seaboard. Please contact me off list.  I can
offer for report trading a data recovery study we did a few years back of the
Mobile, Alabama waterfront with good information on 19th century landfill and
wharf construction.

J. W. (Joe) Joseph, PhD, RPA - New South Associates, Inc.- (770) 498-4155/fax
(770) 498-3809   www.newsouthassoc.com