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What are the stone and timber structures at Smith's Cove?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·Part of Are the "flood tunnels" man-made?·4 answers·0·0 following
Most likely: the structures are wharves, slipways and coffer dams left by nineteenth- and twentieth-century searchers and…Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

Where it stands

Four answers have been proposed. The structures are wharves, slipways and coffer dams left by nineteenth- and twentieth-century searchers and… leads, with evidence 1 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible.

Why it matters

The cove's "finger drains", coconut-fibre layer and the timber structures exposed since 2017 are the only features on the island with a physical form that could be surveyed and dated⁠[1]⁠[2].

Answers 4

Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Most likely
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Disputed
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible

History

  1. McCully puts forward: the drains are the intake of an engineered flood system built before 1795.
  2. Joltes puts forward: the structures are wharves, slipways and coffer dams left by nineteenth- and twentieth-century searchers and…
  3. Prometheus Entertainment / History (A+E Networks): television has reported timber dates for the 'slipway' in the 1700s.Against: The structures are wharves, slipways and coffer dams left by nineteenth- and twentieth-century searchers and…
  4. Asked on this site
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