Skaneateles Lake Modeling Project

The Finger Lakes, a series of 11 glacial lakes located in central New York, are not often associated with shipwrecks. Carved out by receding glaciers during the last ice age, these north-south oriented lakes are between 3 and 38 mi (4.8 and 61.2 km) long. Prior to the development of railroads and modern turnpikes these lakes acted as highways carrying freight and passengers between scattered lakeside settlements and the many canals constructed in the mid-19^th century. Over the past 200 years these lakes have hosted private yachts, commercial schooners, canal barges, log rafts, and steamboats. The Skaneateles Lake Wreck Modelling Project sought to employ efficient, low-cost 3D photogrammetry methods to digitally document three wreck sites within the third largest of these lakes, Skaneateles Lake. The aim of this project was to both collect archaeological data and produce digital media to engage local communities in the stewardship of their cultural heritage.

A charter run by National Aquatic Service was used to access the three sites. The team first visited the “Log Jam”, which is a shipment of lumber likely from a capsized barge or log raft that sank on the West side of the lake. This site is located at the base of a 35 ft (10.7 m) high underwater cliff in 71 to 86 ft (21.6 to 26.2 m) of water. Over 2400 photos were taken over 20 minutes to create the model.

The second site was the wreck of the steamboat Ossahinta (1878–1914). This 68 ft (20.7 m) long by 11 ft 3 in (3.4 m) wide propeller driven steamboat was burned to the waterline near Ten Mile Point on the East side of the lake after being removed from service and partially salvaged in 1914. The site is located on a slope in 30 to 64 ft (9.2 to 19.5 m) of water. 2635 photos were taken over 22 minutes to create the model.

The third site was the wreck of the steamboat City of Syracuse (1901–1920). This 112 ft (34.1 m) long by 21 ft (6.4 m) wide propeller driven steamboat was the last steamboat on the lake, and was dynamited at the pier in the Village of Skaneateles on November 19, 1920 after the machinery and superstructure were salvaged. The site is in 8 ft (2.4 m) of water at the north end of the lake. Over 5500 photos were taken over 46 minutes to create the model.