Road crews discovered the intact, centuries-old wreck embedded in a Florida highway during routine construction work earlier this month.
The 20-foot-long artifact, believed to date back to the 1800s, was buried under about eight to 10 feet of sediment near the Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine and was so persistent that the crew found the left leather boot.
“We believe the vessel may have sunk unexpectedly and, over time, silted up,” Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 2 Secretary Greg Evans said.
“That’s why it is well preserved. It is encased in soil and mud, so there is no air contact to decompose. It is truly an amazing discovery.”
Construction is temporarily halted while the Florida Department of Transportation works with SEARCH, a global leader in archeology that has completed more than 4,500 commercial and government projects in 48 US states and 36 other countries.
The ship’s origins remain a mystery, and it may take time to unravel the ship’s story.
Dr. SEARCH’s James Delgado, who led the excavation and restoration, said in a statement that they believe the ship “was a single-masted, shallow 19th-century sailing vessel.”
The 20-foot-long artifact, believed to date back to the 1800s, was buried under about eight to 10 feet of sediment near the Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, Second District. Workers dismantle the fragments one by one and all the wood will be observed in wet storage to stabilize. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, Second District. Part of ship’s nave ceiling boards with futtock stubs protruding. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, Second District. The ship’s origins remain a mystery, and it may take time to unravel the ship’s story. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, Second District.
“It may be used to extract fish and shellfish from coastal waterways and directly offshore,” Delgado said.
“With a dedicated team, including support from the local community and on-site construction team, we were able to get the vessel out to allow vital work on the community’s infrastructure to continue.”
In an interview with Newsweek, Ian Pawn, an archaeologist at the Florida Department of Transportation, detailed some of the amazing artifacts still intact.
Aboard the ship, they found leather shoes, coins (one dated to 1869), a coconut section “that may have been used as a cup” and part of an oil-lit lantern, Pawn said.
The carcass was well preserved, part of the skin show was found among other artifacts. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, Second District. Dr. SEARCH’s James Delgado, who led the excavation and restoration, said in a statement that they believe the ship “was a single-masted, shallow 19th-century sailing vessel.” Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, Second District. The wood of the hull remained intact, but had been impregnated with water and had the consistency of thick water-soaked cardboard. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, Second District.
QUEST archaeologists must race against time to preserve the ship before the elements dry out the wood, and the ship and its hidden treasures rot.
“The boat was opened, plank by plank, and taken out, taking care to keep every part wet,” Pawn said, according to Newsweek.
“The pieces will be observed in wet storage to stabilize while we determine future preservation efforts. We will work closely with archaeologists and the City of St. Augustine to find a permanent home for this unique find.”
FDOT’s Evans thanked SEARCH’s “careful efforts to preserve this vessel.”
The base of the oil-fired lantern is examined after being pulled from the wreckage. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, Second District. The shipwreck was found near the water, with the building closest to the construction site marking the former shoreline. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, Second District. An aerial view of the construction site, showing how far the boat was found. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, Second District.
“With every project we undertake, the Florida Department of Transportation is sensitive to the unique needs of the communities we serve, including the potential presence of historic sites and artifacts within construction sites,” Evans said in a statement.
“We look forward to learning more about its importance to the region.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
