“Sinker” (Cypress, Juniper and Bay Magnolia) is simply a term for a log that fell from the riverbank or sank to the bottom of a waterway during transport down river to a mill. They’re also referred to as “deadheads.” These trees were typically 100-600 years old before they were cut/fell and sank into the water sometimes several hundred years ago where they remained until they are “rediscovered.” The bark and sapwood of the Sinker Log decomposes, but the inside is perfectly persevered. This interior wood is the “heartwood,” and is prized for its beauty and durability. 

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Cool river water, very little oxygen, and resin in the log, all combine to create a natural preservation process. As these Sinker Logs rest at the bottoms of swamps and rivers for decades, they slowly absorb minerals and tannins from the water, and the wood itself will take on a variety of hues. Sometimes the Sinker Logs can get completely buried in mud. A type of anaerobic bacteria will make its home in the log. This bacteria can cause dark coloration of the wood, sometimes making it completely green or black. When this happens it can have an even more profound effect on coloring of the heartwood. Because the mineral content will vary from one body of water to the next, the colors and shading of the logs are nature’s one-of-a-kind works of art and a coveted piece of history.