This collection of in situ ship’s propellers presents several prime examples of important structural elements of the steamship in its heyday. Examining this collection of Montana, USS Aster, and Agnes E. Frye, as well as related other collections, allows archaeologists to explore questions of social issue and material culture, including structural elements of ships, ship engineering, and navigation, as the use of steamships allowed ships to travel in shallower depths than traditional sailing vessels.
While this is only a small subset of the vast numbers of in situ ship’s propellers on submerged shipwreck sites, it presents a sampling of propellers in varying conditions, sizes, and uses. Expanding this study to include other shipwreck sites would increase the value for knowledge potential and historical inventory of the different types and uses for propellers in the age of the steamship.
