Highway crews found an intact, centuries-old shipwreck wedged into a Florida highway during routine construction work earlier this month.
The 20-foot-long artifact, believed to date to the 19th century, was buried under eight to 10 feet of sediment near Lions Bridge in St. Augustine and was so well preserved that teams found a left leather boot .
“We believe the vessel may have sunk unexpectedly and, over time, became silted up,” said Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 2 Secretary Greg Evans.
“That’s why it was so well preserved. It was encapsulated in dirt and mud, so there was no contact with air for it to decompose. “It is truly an incredible find.”
Construction has been 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 U.S. states and 36 other countries.
The ship’s origin remains a mystery and it will likely take time to uncover the ship’s stories.
SEARCH’s Dr. James Delgado, who led the excavation and recovery, said in a statement that they believe the ship “was a small, shallow-draft, single-masted sailing vessel from the 19th century.”
The 20-foot-long artifact, believed to date to the 19th century, was buried under eight to 10 feet of sediment near Lions Bridge in St. Augustine. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) and Florida Department of Transportation, District Two. Workers dismantled the remains piece by piece and all the wood will be observed in a humid warehouse to stabilize. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) and Florida Department of Transportation, District Two. A part of the ship’s roof hull planks with a piece of futtock sticking out. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) and Florida Department of Transportation, District Two. The ship’s origin remains a mystery and it will likely take time to uncover the ship’s stories. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) and Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.
“It was probably 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 construction team on site, we were able to remove the vessel to allow important work on the community infrastructure to continue.”
In an interview with Newsweek, Ian Pawn, an archaeologist with the Florida Department of Transportation, detailed some of the artifacts that were surprisingly still intact.
On top of the ship, they found leather shoes, coins (one dates back to 1869), coconut halves “that were probably used as cups” and a part of an oil lantern, Pawn said.
The wreck was so well preserved that a portion of a leather exhibit was found among other artifacts. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) and Florida Department of Transportation, District Two. SEARCH’s Dr. James Delgado, who led the excavation and recovery, said in a statement that they believe the ship “was a small, shallow-draft, single-masted sailing vessel from the 19th century.” Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) and Florida Department of Transportation, District Two. The wood of the hull remained intact, but was completely soaked with water and had the consistency of thick, water-soaked cardboard. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) and Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.
SEARCH archaeologists must race against time to preserve the ship before the elements dry out the wood and the ship and its hidden treasures decay.
“The boat was disassembled, board by board, and removed, with great care to keep every part wet,” Pawn said, according to Newsweek.
“The pieces will be observed in wet storage to stabilize them as we determine the future preservation effort. “We will work closely with archaeologists and the city of St. Augustine to find a permanent home for this unique find.”
FDOT’s Evans appreciated SEARCH’s “careful efforts to preserve this vessel.”
The base of an oil lantern is inspected after being removed from the rubble. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) and Florida Department of Transportation, District Two. The shipwreck was discovered near the water, and the building closest to the construction site marked the ancient shoreline. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) and Florida Department of Transportation, District Two. An aerial view of the construction site shows how deep inland the ship was found. Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) and Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.
“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 historical 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: vtt.edu.vn