\JOL 6 NO 3 INANEWSLETTER

Fall 1979 INA Activities Around The World ~~~~ 9f)~

BROWN'S FERRY

I FREMANTLE

Map by: M. Perreault 11)'1?

The close of the last summer field sea­ ongoing excavations and field school in­ SERCE LIMAN son of the 1970's seems an appropriate volvement to furnishing specific conser­ time to pause and reflect on the current vation help and providing assistance in The medieval shipwreck at Sen;e work of the Institute of Nautical Archaeol­ ship modeling and ship reconstruction for Liman was discovered during the Insti­ ogy. With its headquarters now firmly museum purposes. tute's first project, the 1973 shipwreck based at Texas A&M University, the na­ Some of these activities (notably the survey of the southwest coast of Turkey. ture and scope of Institute activities has Hellenistic Wreck at Sen;e Liman and the Excavation of the wreck, in a depth of begun a gradual and natural expansion. Cayman Islands Survey) will be the sub­ about 33 meters, was begun in 1977, con- Devoting the major part of this issue to a ject of major articles in forthcoming edi­ review of these INA activities provides tions of the Newsletter. In the meantime, longtime as well as newer Institute mem­ members are here provided with at least bers, supporters, and friends with a broad an introduction to these and other newly­ view of recently completed and ongoing developing projects, along with a review projects. of more familiar Institute work. A glance at the INA Activities Map indi­ In order to cover adequately all INA cates the wide geographic range of Insti­ work, the Newsletter, for this special edi­ tute involvement, while the accompanying tion only, has been expanded to 12 pages. text illustrates the diverse nature of INA The following reports were, for the most work on ships and sites dating from the part, written by the individual Project Hellenistic period to the 19th century. In­ Directors or by the principals involved in stitute activities now range from major, the other activities covered. INA President, George F. Bass. tinued in 1978 and completed during the pitchers, bowls, millstones and finally, the past summer. In order to ensure proper · first evidence of a preserved hull. Dr. Bass conservation and analysis of the artifacts hopes to complete the excavation of this recovered, Dr. Fred van Doorninck and a shipwreck in future seasons. small team of INA staff members, includ­ Rhys Townsend, a student at the Amer­ ing Texas A&M graduate student Sheila ican School of Classical Studies in Athens Matthews, remained at the Institute's who has worked on INA projects in the Turkish headquarters, in Bodrum, follow­ Mediterranean and on the East Coast of ing the 1978 season. This continuing work the U.S., was placed in charge of studying on the artifactual material is being carried a potential shipwreck site referred to as out in the Bod rum Crusader Castle where, the "Scatter Wreck". He was able to iden­ in recognition of the Institute's work, tify most of the broken pottery from this Turkish authorities have established a badly jumbled site as East Greek. museum of Nautical Archaeology and His­ Dory Slane, a Texas A&M graduate stu­ tory, under the direction of Oguz Alpozen. dent, and INA adjunct professor Don Frey In the opinion of Dr. George F. Bass, worked together to produce a photo­ principal investigator, the excavation of mosaic and plan of the entire seabed from the "Glass Wreck," as it has come to be the shore down to the Glass Wreck, known due to the nature of its cargo, is the gathering, studying and recording hun­ most successful INA project to date. Pre­ dreds of pieces of pottery in the process, liminary results of the excavation have to help unravel the history of the harbor. Cerna/ Pulak carries to the surface a small been published in several periodicals and handleless vessel from the Hellenistic Wreck. Other possible shipwreck sites have journals, including the International Jour­ Photo: D. Frey been discovered in the harbor, and infor­ nal of Nautical Archaeology, Archaeolo­ mal surveys of the valley at the north end gy, National Geographic Magazine, and The hull remnants were mapped and of the harbor and the surrounding hillsides the INA Newsletter; however, years of te­ raised. Most remnants have been re­ indicate the area was relatively densely dious conservation, analysis, reconstruc­ corded and prepared for conservation inhabited in the past, particularly during tion and research lie ahead before the with polyethylene glycol. The ship, a flat­ the Hellenistic period. At Ser9e Liman the final report can be issued. bottomed vessel some 16 meters long, harbor and its environs still hold many Principal cargo of the Glass Wreck con­ may well prove to be the earliest extant secrets. sists of finished glass vessels, flawed or ship with a completely skeletal-built hull, broken glass objects, raw glass cullet and and is therefore of considerable historical about 90 amphoras. In addition, the ship interest. Rigging elements, including carried eight iron anchors and approxi­ heart-shaped deadeyes and parts of mately two tons of ballast stones. perhaps one-half dozen pulley blocks, Small finds of particular interest include suggest that the ship may have been a spindle whorls, gold and silver jewelry, two-masted lateener. Three separate liv­ wooden chess pieces and a large number ing areas, located in bow, amidships and of swords, lances and javelins. Money re­ in the stern, have been recognized. Food INA's newly-acquired VIRAZON used in support covered consists of Fatimid gold coins, had been stored and prepared in the latter of work at Ser~;e Liman. Photo: D. Frey clippings from other such coins and two areas; food remains revealed a re­ Byzantine copper coins. Other objects re­ markably varied shipboard diet. lated to the ship's commercial activities include elements of three balances, some SHINAN-GUN 30 balance-pan weights and four Byzan­ In October 1977 Korean Navy divers tine lead seals. Dates legible on some of discovered the site of a Yuan period the glass weights point to a date shortly (1260-1368) Chinese shipwreck in a before 1025 for the ship's sinking. location between two islands on the southwest coast of the Korean peninsula known as Shinan-gun. The divers were working under the direction of govern­ Robyn Woodward working on Glass Wreck ment archaeologists who had been material in Bodrum Museum Conservation Lab. urged to come to Shinan by local fisher­ Photo: D. Frey men after they discovered encrusted, While the excavation of the Glass but intact, celadons (a type of stoneware Wreck was nearing completion, the INA with a blue-green glaze) in their nets, group turned its attention to other poten­ while fishing at the site. The divers man­ tial shipwreck sites within the harbor. aged to pinpoint the remains of the ship Cemal Pulak, veteran of several excava­ in water sixty feet deep, and to raise tion seasons with INA, was placed in more than 8,000 artifacts despite strong charge of testing a Hellenistic (or possibly winds, high seas, fierce currents and the Classical) wreck site near the harbor en­ complete absence of visibility under wa­ trance. Looted of many amphoras in the ter, before diving was curtail~d due to past, almost nothing of the site was visible sub-freezing temperatures. on the seabed before testing began. Re­ The Navy divers measured the por­ moval of deep sand uncovered hundreds tions of the hull projecting slightly above of amphoras identified as having been the bottom, and estimated the ship was The last sections of Glass Wreck hull remains made on the nearby island of Knidos. Be­ about 100 feet long and 25 feet wide. were raised in 1979. neath these were dozens of small jars, continued on page 4 2 CONSERVATION OF THE MONITOR PLATE PROJECT VISITORS

In August, 1973, the remains of the The INA summer tour of archaeologi­ USS Monitor were found, in 220 feet of cal sites in Greece and Turkey took 19 water, 16 miles off the coast of Cape Hat­ participants, including some Institute teras, North Carolina. Following photo­ Board members, to nine locations in grammetric survey of the wreck in 1977, those two countries. Highlights of the trip divers raised a number of artifacts from included major stops at the Bodrum the Monitor including a sample of the iron Museum and the "Glass Wreck" site at hull plating. The recovery of the plate was Sen;e Liman. The tour will be the subject undertaken to help develop information of a major article in the next issue of the on the condition of material on the wreck INA Newsletter. and to provide insight into the preserva­ tion problems which would be involved in MONITOR plate after conservation. the recovery of any additional material. Photo: D. L. Hamilton INA members Robert and Cynthia Car­ Dr. D. L. Hamilton, now of Texas A&M each regular change of the solution (see ter called again at Serge Liman in their University and the Institute of Nautical INA Newsletter 6:1) . auxiliary ketch Cynthia R. (see photo on Archaeology, agreed to undertake con­ After 81 days the plate was considered page 772 of the June 1978 National servation of the plate and it arrived at the sufficiently stabilized and was removed Geographic) . The visit proved especially newly-established Nautical Archaeology from electrolysis. The plating was im­ helpful when Bob pulled out his thick file Research Laboratory in July of 1978. mersed in a series of deionized water of notes on Serge Liman and the Prior to shipment from North Carolina, rinses over a three-day period and then surrounding area in antiquity, taken from ten samples were cut from the plate for dried through the application of isopropyl ancient authors, early travellers, and various analytical tests. After removal of alcohol. After drying, the plate was modern Classicists. Bob's new book, these samples the plate consisted of one painted with an aqueous 20% tannic Sail Far Away (Norton) , relates some of large piece and a small section of another acid solution which formed corrosion­ his own archaeological investigations on corner. The plate initially was kept in a resistant ferric tannate on the metal sur­ the Mediterranean coast. 0.1% potassium dichromate storage face. Finally, the plate was immersed in a solution then later mechanically cleaned vat of microcrystalline wax to provide it During the course of the summer, INA of barnacles, corals and other marine with a thin protective coating. The con­ friends and supporters Sumner Gerard, growths, primarily through the use of a servation treatment resulted in a very Marcia Cook Hart, Marjorie Parker, pneumatic air scribe. After all major en­ dark colored, aesthetically pleasing, sur· David Langworthy and sons Wilson and crustations had been removed, the plate face which will remain stable as long as it Keith, all stopped by to visit and lend a was thoroughly rinsed and placed in a is properly stored and displayed. helping hand on the Cayman Islands specially constructed mild steel vat. Us­ Treatment completed, the plate was re­ Survey project. ing a solution of sodium hydroxide, elec­ turned, in May of 1979, to Fort Fisher, trolytic reduction treatment was begun. In North Carolina, where it is now in storage. this process corrosive chlorides in the It is hoped that the plate, along with other metal are drawn out into the electrolytic items recovered from the USS Monitor, solution and ultimately disposed of with will be on display sometime in 1980.

PROFILE became aware of the Institute and its bean eventually led to his active partici­ work. pation in a major INA project. Born in Long Island, New York, Gerard It was natural, Gerard says, for him to was educated at the Groton School, Gro­ contact INA when officials in the govern­ ton, Massachusetts, and Trinity College, ment of the Cayman Islands asked him to Cambridge, England, where he earned help them find a scientific organization both B.A. and M.A. degrees. He later did which could conduct a maritime cultural post-graduate work at the University of resource survey of their islands. After Wisconsin. INA agreed to undertake the project, Gerard provided strong and enthusiastic Sumner Gerard. Photo: Department of State Gerard saw service in the U.S. Army in support. As the Cayman project began to 1941, and subsequently served as an During his term as Director of the U.S. roll , and his contact with the Institute in­ officer in the Navy and Marine Corps. In AID Mission to Tunisia in the early creased, Gerard quickly became a firm 1948 he moved to Montana where he en­ 1970's, Sumner Gerard became associ­ and vocal supporter of the Institute's gaged in cattle ranching and business ated with a British underwater group in­ works, philosophy and goals. ventures. While in Montana Gerard en­ terested in archaeological work. With this In October, 1978, Sumner Gerard group he made his first dive on a Roman tered the political arena, serving in the accepted an invitation to join the hard­ Montana legislature from 1955 to 1966 shipwreck site. The interest and excite­ working INA Board of Directors. Testify­ first in the.House of Representatives and ment stirred by this experience and other ing to his commitment to scientific under­ archaeological activities led him to con­ later in the Senate. water work is Gerard's recent acquisition tact Michael Katzev, INA Vice-President, Gerard entered the U.S. Foreign Ser­ of the 1 00-foot, 185-ton research vessel, to investigate the possibilities of cooper­ vice in 1969, working first in Rome, then Morning Watch. ating in the excavation of a Roman ship­ Tunisia, and ultimately serving from 1974 Married to the former Teresa wreck in Tunisian waters. Although this to 1977 as U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica. Dabrowska, Gerard has four daughters project did not come to fruition, Gerard His experience and contacts in the Carib- and a son.

3 THE DEFENCE

Since 1975 twenty-nine summer weeks have been devoted to excavating the hull remains of Defence, a Revolutionary War privateer that was scuttled in Penobscot Bay off the coast of Maine in 1779. More than thirty field school students have been involved in the excavation effort, and eleven have returned in subsequent sea­ sons to serve as expedition staff mem­ bers. The last Newsletter article on the Defence project (4 :4) was a report of the 1977 field season. Two more excavation seasons have taken place, the most re­ cent during the month of June in 1979. The inventory of finds is presently much more extensive than two years ago. Also since the appearance of the last article, Assortment of ceramics from Shinan-Gun. Photo: D. H. Keith there has been a considerable amount of information gleaned from the hull struc­ continued from page 2 ture, thanks to the efforts of David Wy­ They reported they had raised only a Since no shipwreck had ever before man, the assistant director and our struc­ small fraction of the ship's cargo, so been excavated in Korea, and no diving ture artist, Peter Hentschel. plans were made to return to the site the archaeologist was available, advice was The 1978 field season picked up where following summer. Staff members of the sought from outside the country. Korean we left off in 1977. The excavation proce­ National Museum of Korea, in Seoul, government officials asked the National dure did not differ from techniques em­ who undertook conservation and pre­ Geographic Society to recommend a ployed earlier. We did, however, incorpo­ liminary analysis of the finds, were nautical archaeologist who could travel rate a new theme with regard to the analy­ amazed at the diversity of the cargo and to the site and consult with the excava­ sis of the structure. Due to the enormous its degree of preservation. Among the tors there. The Society contacted the In­ cost of raising and preserving the hull finds were approximately 6,000 Chinese stitute, and I was selected for the job structure, the alternative suggested by the coins ; many types of ceramic wares, in­ since I had received some exposure to Maine State Museum and the Maine His­ cluding porcelains, celadons, earthen­ Oriental seafaring in coursework taken toric Preservation Commission (under wares, stonewares and painted wares; under Dr. Edwin Doran, Jr., adjunct pro­ whose auspices the Defence project is inkstones; grindstones; iron and bronze fessor of the Institute and recognized au­ being carried out) would be "preservation cooking utensils and tools; silver ingots thority in the field. National Geographic through documentation." This approach and cast art objects; a wooden bucket; a provided funding for two visits I made to involves documenting structure in situ and bamboo basket; many seeds, including a Korea, and subsequently reported the retrieving selected structural items to be large number of peppercorns, peach pits discoveries at Shinan in the August 1979 drawn and photographed topside. Upon and beans; cinnamon bark; fragrant issue of their magazine. the completion of documentation, these woods; and several wooden packing Since the original discovery, the Shi­ items are registered and reburied in des­ crates with their contents still intact. nan-gun site has been excavated every ignated repository areas within the hull. The dates of manufacture of the coins summer. By the end of the 1979 cam­ The excavation efforts of the 1978 ex­ were found to span more than six centur­ paign, the wreck had produced more pedition, the largest ever assembled - ies, the latest of them having been than 12,000 ceramics and other arti­ fourteen field school students and eleven minted in A.D. 1310-11. Since the ship's facts, as well as several tons of Chinese staff members - were concentrated in cargo was composed almost entirely of copper coins. The scientific committee the forward mid-section and at the main­ Chinese products, it was assumed she established to advise and assist the ex­ mast where the shot locker and bilge had been sailing from China. Her most cavators plans to return to the site in pump well had been partially exposed the probable destination was not Korea, but June of 1980 to finish the removal of the previous year. Japan, where temples and wealthy indi­ cargo. The following season will be Having earlier confirmed that the bow viduals collected Chinese art objects on spent investigating the hull of the ship, area of Defence had been utilized as a a grand scale. which they hope to raise, conserve and provision stowage area, one goal was to reconstruct in a special museum under find evidence that her seamen had been construction in the city of Kwangju, capi­ berthed in the midship or hold area. Rem­ tal of the province in which the ship was nants of at least one hammock were re­ discovered. covered, including a wooden support strut It is with keen interest that nautical and the remains of what appears to be the archaeologists follow the excavations at end of a hammock, a woven or grommet Shinan-gun. Perhaps the richest ancient loop with cords which once were attached shipwreck ever found, both in terms of to the strut. Further evidence of personal the modern value of the cargo and the items were leather shoes, mess gear - quality, completeness and uniqueness including pewter spoons, buttons, frag­ of the archaeological information pres­ ments of linen cloth, buckles and buttons, ent, the Shinan-gun shipwreck is also and tobacco pipe bowls and stem frag­ one of the most difficult and hazardous ments. underwater excavations ever attempted. Plan of Shinan-Gun wreck site. Also recovered from the forward mid­ Courtesy of: National Museum of Korea Donald H. Keith ship area were numerous sherds of fine or 4 delicate glass bottles. One bottle, recon­ Following the conclusion of the 1978 structed by Betty Seifert of the State field season, project participants met at Museum, is a Geneva gin bottle. The Augusta to discuss future plans. To pro­ others appear to be medicine or phar­ vide the time necessary for the conserva­ maceutical bottles. We had a hint as to tion staff to finish treating artifacts re­ their identity even before they were re­ covered in previous seasons and to get a assembled. One day, as divers were start on 600 registered finds of the 1978 working and the topside crew was sifting season, we decided that the 1979 season through ballast, a strange scent attracted would focus on further interpretation of the attention. "Smells like moth balls," some­ stern-most hull structure rather than the one remarked. The origin of the odor was retrieval of finds. During the month of June a small glass phial which, still stoppered, seven "old hands" returned to Castine contained oil of camphor. Another phial of and we set out to unravel the complicated the same provenance contains a yellow­ jumble of timber in the stern. Further cor­ ish orange powder. Although chemical roborative evidence of the whole mould analysis has yet to be completed , the construction method came to light as material resembles sulphur. frames, deadwood, and a portion of the Other unexpected finds from this area keelson were retrieved, reassembled on included a pair of brass dividers, parts of a the float, and drawn up in scale. Davis quadrant - a sighting vane and a A number of the mysteries of the stern lens, and a Gunter's scale in mint condi­ area were solved; however, the structural tion. On the day that we were visited by the David Wyman with working sheer plan of DE­ interpretive effort is far from complete. As Director of the Maine Historic Preserva­ FENCE. Photo: D. c. Switzer well, there remains much to be done con­ tion Commission, Earle C. Shettleworth, were surprised to find a number of indica­ cerning analysis and interpretation of the the excavators - seemingly on cue - tions of clumsy carpentry- mismeasured finds. 1980 has therefore been desig­ came up with intact red ware jars, and a boards as well as missing fastenings. nated as a study year. We will return to the red ware tankard . While there are many questions about Defence site in the summer of 1981 and Further aft the finds were equally excit­ the shot locker which still remain un­ during the field season our goal is to com­ ing. In the process of clearing an athwart­ answered, it was possible to gain some plete the excavation of the mud-imbedded ship trench at the mainmast, the working insight regarding the construction hull and complete the process of end of a deck brush was recovered as well methods employed in the building of De­ documenting the hull remains. as a T grip shovel handle and what has fence. Examination of frames, fully re­ Participants in the continuing Defence been tentatively identified as the handle of vealed through the removal of ceiling project include the Institute of Nautical a boarding ax. As the airlift and ballast planking, suggest that the privateer was Archaeology, Maine State Museum, removal buckets exposed the shot locker built on the whole mould method. Other Maine Maritime Academy and the Maine and the bilge pump well, the parts of a bits of evidence such as bark found on Historic Preservation Commission. stave-built tankard (1.8 liter capacity) some of the frames indicate that Defence David C. Switzer were revealed- a twin to ones which had was sturdily but hastily constructed. She been recovered from the forward area. was, however, designed to be a fast sail­ SHIP RESEARCH Of particular interest was the shot lock­ er. Indications of this trait were found in er/bilge well structure. Often depicted in the bow where the forward most frames Ship reconstruction continues to be a plans, shot lockers, I believe, have yet to are sharply canted with little outward vital part of INA activities. A dozen proj­ be recorded in a wreck. In order to be able curve. The structural evidence accumu­ ects, representing a time span of 2,000 to closely examine this unique assem­ lated to date points to the fact that the years, are being subjected to varying blage of inboard structure, the locker was design of Defence closely resembles the forms of research ranging from diorama disassembled board by board. Prior to "Virginia built" craft of the Chesapeake construction to studies in medieval and sending the parts and a bilge pump pipe to region. Defence may be the first example classical sciences. This year's most in­ the Museum, we reassembled the struc­ of the migration of that particular design teresting and time-consuming project was ture on the float. When checking details to trend northwards to New England during the construction of a large scale model of be incorporated into scale drawings we the 18th century. the 7th century Yassi Ada ship. It was built . to satisfy several requirements; to supply illustrations for three chapters in the final report of that excavation, to confirm data and construction drawings in the same publication, for the enlightenment of nau­ tical archaeology students in medieval and hull technology classes, and to even­ tually be placed in the museum in Bod rum, Turkey, alongside artifacts and cargo from the wreck. The model's hull had to be completely visible on the inside as well as the outside and deck. I decided to build a half-model, incor­ porating only the port side of the ship and leaving the interior completely open for inspection. Such a model is extremely dif­ ficult to build, since it tends to curl into the area of the half which is missing. Con­ Shot locker in situ and re-assembled on work float. Photos: D. c. Switzer struction began last autumn and was com- 5 FREMANTLE

The Batavia, flagship of the Dutch East India Company, came to grief on a remote reef off the west coast of Australia in 1629. Her shattered remains lay undisturbed until 1972 when archaeologists from the Western Australian Museum began ex­ cavation of the site. Among the wealth of artifacts recovered were 30 tons of tim­ bers from the Batavia's hull. With so much wood recovered the Museum decided to reconstruct part of the hull and place it on permanent public display in a specially designed gallery in Fremantle's new Mari­ time Museum.

Interior view of Yassi Ada ship. Photo: Bobbe Baker pleted in May, requiring 1,245 hours of supports for its reconstruction, what sort building time. Cost of materials was of fastenings the original fragments minimal- about 13 dollars. It is made of should be attached with, and how to de­ pine, weighs only 28 pounds, and is nearly sign the reconstruction appointments so seven feet long. Fabrication followed the that they are in harmony with the rest of same sequence we believe the medieval the museum environment. shipwright used. Each step was photo­ graphed for a complete record of the BATAVIA stern section during excavation. building process. Part of the galley hearth Courtesy of: Western Australian Museum was installed, tiles were placed on the Reconstruction of the Batavia's hull re­ deckhouse roof, and anchors stowed on mains has been an international co­ deck and bowers. Visitors to our work­ operative effort. Western Australian shop were numerous and frequent during the construction process. Museum curator of Maritime Archaeology and INA Research Associate, Jeremy Upon completion, the model was Green, visited the Institute's model shop "sailed" to the INA Board of Directors meeting in Dallas, floating on air mattres­ at Texas A&M University earlier this year and received valuable help in planning the ses in the back of a van. Returning to reconstruction. Mr. Dick Steffy provided College Station, it was allowed to clima­ tize for thirty days to prepare it for the an analysis of the Batavia's hull design and its form of construction, a partial con­ humid conditions in Bodrum. Meanwhile, struction plan, lines drawings and a scale a shipping crate demanded almost as model of the recovered portion, as well as much engineering as that which went into model construction. The crate was eight suggestions for scaffolding to support the reconstructed timbers. feet long, four feet high, and weighed 160 pounds. Its reinforced interior was de­ signed to prevent shock transmission. More than six bushels of styrofoam peanuts stabilized the half-hull on its cra­ dle within the humidity controlled box. The The Ser9e Liman hull remains, from a 1: 10 scale model was insured for 12,000 dollars, diorama. Photo: J. R. Steffy · about 80% of its value. We have already completed a diorama Oguz Alpozen, director of Bodrum showing how the Sen;e Liman ship Museum, personally transported the ship­ remains looked on the seabed. Since the ment from Ankara airport to the castle in wreck was never completely uncovered at Bod rum, where INA staff were on hand to one time, this is our only visual record of assist in unpacking and display. We hope the entire hull in situ. The diorama will be a it will enlighten visitors there for years to valuable reference source for students come. and project staff alike. A preliminary re­ Jeremy Green (left) and graduate student Paul Work on the Sen;e Liman medieval hull port, detailing construction features, is Hundley work on model reconstruction of BA TA­ is progressing at a rapid rate. As drawings being prepared for publication. VIA stern section. Photo: o. H. Keith arrive from Turkey, wooden hull frag­ Research on the 4th century B.C. Kyre­ The model made by Steffy and graduate ments are recorded and redrawn for our nia hull is also in high gear, involving draft­ students in the Nautical Archaeology use. Most of the fragments are also mod­ ing, structural tests, and the beginnings of program is now on display in the Museum elled in wood for installation in a research an important research and exhibition along with other Batavia material. The model we soon will build. This model will model. More about this one and the model represents an important stage in tell us what the old glass carrier looked Brown's Ferry model in a later issue. the reconstruction process, which should like, how we should design scaffolds and J. Richard Steffy be complete by 1984. 6 YORKTOWN

In the summer of 1976 the Virginia Re­ search Center for Archaeology con­ tracted for the Institute of Nautical Archaeology to conduct ·an archaeolo­ gical survey of a shipwreck in the York River, off Yorktown, Virginia. The project resulted from reports that sportdivers from the area had been diving on the wrecksite and raising artifacts from it of the Revolutionary War period. This led local historians and archaeologists to believe that the wreck might represent one member of a fleet of some fifteen vessels deliberately scuttled by Lord Earl Cornwallis in the fall of 1781 as a defensive measure to prevent an amphib­ ious landing by the Allied forces under Comte de Grasse. This last-ditch effort was unsuccessful, and Cornwallis was forced to surrender to General Washing­ ton on October 19, 1781, after the Battle Portable cofferdam. Photo: P. F. Johnston of Yorktown, the last battle of the Amer­ ican Revolution. formation was recovered concerning the With the completion of the survey, The survey and trial excavation, di­ ship itself, which was approximately 118 INA's involvement with the Yorktown rected by INA president George F. Bass, feet long on deck with a capacity of some project ended, although INA graduate lasted from May through July of 1976, 550 tons burthen. Since contemporary students Sam Margolin and Dick Swete and logged 425 man-hours underwater warships and merchantmen were simi­ have been employed as staff ar­ in visibility seldom exceeding twelve inch­ larly built, it was not possible to deter­ chaeologists under Project Director es. The primary objectives were to de­ mine to which category the 'Cornwallis John Broadwater, who was responsible termine the size and state of preserva­ Cave' shipwreck belonged. for the original remote sensing survey in tion of the sunken ship, and to survey the 1976. Efforts in the past few seasons immediate vicinity for further wrecks. have centered around locating more Trial trenches were limited to the bow vessels from Cornwallis' scuttled fleet; area, which was known to have been dis­ to date, nine contemporary wrecks have turbed by sportdivers, and to the stern, been found through magnetometer and which was located only after removal of sonar surveying on both the Yorktown nearly seven feet of overburden, eighty and Gloucester sides of the York River. feet upriver of the bow trenches. A large Of this group two sites are being consid­ variety of organic and inorganic material ered for salvage, due to potential ero­ was recovered, including the best pre­ sion from their proximity to the fast­ served leather and copper powder flask moving waters of the river channel. Also ever found in an archaeological context. Powder flask. under consideration is a plan originally In addition, a considerable amount of in- Courtesy of: Virginia Research Center tor Archaeology proposed in 1976, whereby a steel cof­

0 0 ferdam could be placed around one of 0 the wrecks, the water inside filtered to improve visibility, and a pier to the shore YORK RIVER SHIPWRECK PROJECT built to provide access to the site both for SURVEY JUN- SEP 1978 archaeologists and for the viewing pub­ FEET 0 100 200 300 400 GL 136 lic. The prototype for the cofferdam con­ 0 I cept was built and tested in the York Riv­ SCALE er during the 1976 survey. Funding for GLI06 / O the continuation of the project comes

0 lrom a 239,315 dollar Maritime Preser­ KEY• 0 0 vation Grant from the Heritage Conser­ () SONAR TARGET 0 MAGNETOMETER TARGET vation and Recreation Services. Assis­ 0 MAGNETOMETER TARGET tant project director Dave Hazzard re­ 'SHIPWRECK 0 ports that additional funding for the next

0 three years is being sought from NEH, 0 0 Ox,. YO 86 Y094 O /..,._ 0 and that a major National Geographic ~ 0 0 1i:..o 85 YOt2 I """ 0 ~ Y088 article is planned for 1981 . Further infor­ 0 () 0 mation on the Yorktown Shipwreck Archaeological Project is available from the Virginia Research Center for Archaeology, Wren Kitchen , College of n "fl William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23185. Map of remote sensing survey results: Map by: David Hazzard Paul F. Johnston 7 MOMBASA

History records that late in 1697 a Por­ tuguese frigate, armed with 50 guns, attempted to break an Omani siege at their stronghold, Fort Jesus in Momba­ sa. At this time Arab influence was ex­ panding along the East African coast and it was important for the Portuguese to resist this direct threat to their eastern trade routes.

Team members record curvature of Keelson. In 1976 the Institute for Nautical cavations. However, at the close of the Old Mombasa town harbor with expedition barge Archaeology was invited by Mr. Hamo first season in March, 1977, it became over site. Photo: R. c. M. Piercy Sassoon, of the National Museums of clear that a fourth season would be This frigate , the Santo Antonio de Tan­ Kenya, to survey a wreck off Fort Jesus needed in order to complete work on the na, came from Goa in India in answer to a and assess the site for further study. At site. At this time, three seasons have request for help from the commander of the conclusion of the survey we con­ been successfully completed. The work Fort Jesus. The first attempt to land men firmed the presence of a Medieval vessel of clearing and recording the hull has and supplies was executed under heavy similar in size to that of the 50 gun frig­ been achieved by staff from INA, the enemy fire and was only partially suc­ ate . Material which had been raised Western Australian Museum, Texas cessful. The anchorage outside the har­ from the site earlier was contemporary A&M University, Kenyan and British bor became untenable due to high winds with late 17th century artifacts exca­ Forces, and volunteers from the United and the frigate and her support ships set vated from within Fort Jesus. The wreck States, Sweden, South Africa, Cyprus sail for Mozambique to the south. was almost certainly that of the Santo and Germany. The relieving flotilla returned again to Antonio de Tanna but only future ex­ Fort Jesus several months later, only to cavation perhaps could confirm this. find that disease had taken a severe toll As a result of the survey, the National at the fort leaving only a handful of loyal Museums of Kenya invited the Institute Swahili and African defenders. Men and to direct a program of excavation on what supplies were successfully hurried has turned out to be the oldest shipwreck ashore, but due to a series of unfortunate yet found on the east African coast. mishaps that followed, the Santo Anto­ It was proposed to raise funds on a nio went aground and finally sank off the joint basis and anticipated that the pro­ coral reef in front of Fort Jesus. ject would require three, three month ex-

ZDF German TV crew film cannonball being re­ moved from concretion. Photo: R. Vincent · To date, over a thousand objects have been catalogued, several of which have parallels in Portugal, India, and Mozam­ bique - all known ports of call of the Santo Antonio. However, at this stage, positive identification of the wreck is still lacking. In the final season, 1980, it is intended to extend the excavation along the down­ slope perimeter of the hull where trial trenches have already shown that a con­ siderable quantity of material lies. ·Although the excavation itself will be completed during the coming season, several years of patient conservation 17th century Portuguese faience found deeply buried within SANTO ANTONIO hull. and study lie ahead. Photo: R. Vincent Robin C. M. Piercy 8 THE BLACK CLOUD LIPARI

The steamboat Black Cloud, a side­ The Hellenistic shipwreck at La Secca wheeler built in 1864 in Orange, Texas, di Capistello, off the coast of the island of operated on the Trinity River transporting Lipari, Italy, was surveyed and partially general cargo between Galveston and excavated by two INA teams in 1976 and various settlements along the river. In 1977. Located on a steep slope of about 1873, after an unusually long career on 45°, debris from the wreck is strewn over the river (the normal life expectancy of a an area ranging from 55 to 88 meters riverboat was only four or five years), the deep. Because of the great depth in­ Black Cloud hit a snag, sank, and was volved, conventional compressed air scu­ abandoned. ba diving techniques were not applicable. Although the general location of the The sophisticated diving technology Black Cloud was preserved in the memor­ Reconstruction of BLACK CLOUD paddle­ necessary to allow scientific investigation ies of a few of the older local residents, her wheel. Reconstruction by: P. F. Hundley of the Capistello site was provided during exact position in the Trinity River was lost photography was impossible due to the the two seasons by Sub Sea Oil Services until 1965 when dragline operations in turbidity of the river. Work was concen­ of Milan, an Italian commercial diving preparation for the installation of a pipe­ trated on the intact portions of the hull company. line brought up portions of a sidewheel, a projecting above the sandy river bottom, With the cooperation of Paola Pelagatti, hogging chain and other debris. Planned which included the starboard forequarter superintendent of archaeology for East­ installation of a second pipeline in 1974 and the entire stern of the vessel. ern Sicily, Luigi Bernabo-Brea, past su­ made it necessary to accurately define the A full report of the 1978 work was filed perintendent, and Madalena Cavalier, di­ limits of the wreck site in order to avoid with the Sea Grant office, providing maps rector of the Museo Eoliano of Lipari, disturbing it further. A remote-sensing showing the location and extent of the Michael Katzev directed the 1976 survey, survey carried out by the Texas Anti­ Black Cloud site, illustrations and descrip­ which determined that the main part of the quities Committee accomplished this pur­ tions of the exposed parts of the hull, and shipwreck lay between 55 and 65 meters pose and the second pipeline was laid a catalogue of artifacts which includes under the sea, with only displaced cargo without damage to the site. photographs, drawings and descriptions lying deeper. Sub Sea placed their deep­ Graduate students in Nautical Ar­ of the most significant items. All items diving vessel, NM Corsair, at the disposal chaeology at Texas A&M University car­ recovered during the 1978 work were of the survey, as well as the services of ten ried out a more detailed investigation of cleaned and conserved in the Texas A&M of their divers, who were undergoing train­ the wreck during two brief periods of field Conservation Research Lab under the di­ ing in the use of mixed-gas diving appa­ work at the site in the spring and fall of rection of Dr. D. L. Hamilton, and were ratus. 1978. This investigation was funded by returned to the Sam Houston Library and the Sea Grant office at Texas A&M. INA Research Center in Liberty, Texas. provided assistance in the form of staff The wreck of the Black Cloud clearly is a support and analysis of hull remains. significant resource in terms of the history In the course of the field work, a survey of transport and commerce on the Trinity of the river bank was conducted to deter­ River. Hopefully, the site can be placed on mine the precise location of the wreck. the National Historic Register, and further The extent of intact hull remains was scientific investigations will be under­ assessed and sections of these remains taken in the future. were measured and drawn. Underwater Robert Adams CORSAIR over site -submarine at surface. Photo: 0. Orzech INA staff members Robin Piercy and Donald Frey also dived on the site to pro­ vide archaeological control. Although the survey lasted throughout the month of Au­ gust, the divers managed only a total of five-and-a-quarter hours on the bottom. It was apparent that a full-scale excavation would require the longer working periods on the bottom possible only with satura­ tion diving. In August 1977, the NM Corsair again was moored over the Capistello site, ready to begin a month-long series of saturation dives that would represent the first application of saturation diving tech­ nology to nautical archaeology. Don Frey, veteran of the previous season, was pre­ sent as the INA Project Director, assisted by Donald Keith, Faith Hentschel and Sanna Biehl. In the month that followed, three four-person dive teams provided by Sub Sea spent a total of 21 days in satura­ tion, accumulating more than 157 hours of bottom time as part of their commercial Reconstruction drawing of BLACK CLOUD stern section. Drawing by: D. H. Keith and s. Matthews training. 9 gical Institute in Rome dated the wreck to LA SECCA 01 THE CAYMAN ISLANDS CAPISTELLO the first quarter of the third century B.C. 1977 - An original length of more than 20 meters In the spring of 1978, the Institute of has been estimated for the Capistello Nautical Archaeology was approached on wreck from the distribution of artifacts on behalf of the Government of the Cayman the seabed and a comparison of the size Islands to discuss the feasibility of an of the ship's timbers with those recorded archaeological survey of the waters sur­ from other excavations. rounding this Western Caribbean island group. As a Crown Colony of Great Bri­ tain, the Caymans have an Abandoned Wreck Law, which assigns ownership of Capistello site plan after 1977 season. shipwrecks to the Crown; however, no in­ Plan by: D. H. Kefth ventory of potentially significant historical Because all facilities were pre-empted sites has been available to assist in formu­ by the saturation teams, INA personnel lating a governmental policy regarding could not dive on the site. However, Sub cultural resources. Although island au­ Sea provided them with the use of a one­ thorities have received applications for person diving bell and a two-person sub­ commercial salvage of shipwrecks, they mersible equipped with a video camera have been hesitant to grant licenses with­ and recorder. In this way, the archaeolo­ out specific knowledge of the archaeolo­ gists were able to visit the site and to gical value of sites in their trust. In addi­ monitor the progress of the excavation. Black-glazed Campanian ware from Capistello tion, proposals to build a maritime The Sub Sea divers appreciated the site. museum, which would reflect the islands' significance of their unique assignment Although the full archaeological signifi­ unique seafaring tradition, have been dis­ and gave the excavation their best efforts. cance of the Capistello wreck has yet to be cussed in conjunction with the newly­ Under the archaeological direction of Don realized due to the limited nature of the formed Caymanian Heritage National Keith, the divers installed a metal grid excavation, the collaboration between in­ Trust. frame over the site and began to remove dustry and science, which made the sur­ Although INA previously had not under­ the sand overburden. The extent of the vey and excavation possible, introduces a taken research in the Caribbean, mem­ shipwreck site was surprising. Every­ new frontier for nautical archaeology. As bers of the Board of Directors supported where the divers removed the sand over­ deep diving techniques and equipment plans for a survey in the Cayman Islands burden, they discovered amphoras; when are made available to archaeologists­ because of the obvious need and because they removed the amphoras, extensive as they were at Lipari- sites deeper than the project would represent an opportun­ hull remains were exposed. It became 50 meters will become accessible for the ity to provide an example to other West apparent that the site could not be investi­ first time. These unexplored sites should Indian nations of how scientific scrutiny, gated adequately in the time allotted and contain information in a far better state of rather than the hunt for treasure, can bring the final days of the excavation were preservation than those lying in accessi­ aspects of national heritage to light. I was spent re-covering the site with sand bags ble realms, which so often are irreparably invited to direct the Institute's efforts in the to protect it. disturbed by looters. By extending the islands and proceeded to draft a proposal Based on analyses of the black-glazed practical working depth of underwater in­ for a two-season project to inventory and pottery known as "Campanian" ware and vestigations, the nautical archaeologist assess shipwreck sites, in order to pro­ the amphoras recovered from the site, has multiplied the available resources vide the Cayman ian government with rec­ Horst Blanck of the German Archaeolo- manyfold. ommendations for the appropriate reg ­ ulation and protection of their resources. The proposal was accepted, and with the guidance, assistance and support of many interested organizations, business firms and private individuals, the first sea­ son of the survey commenced in May 1979 on Little Cayman, the smallest of the three islands. Inhabited by only fifteen persons, Little Cayman once was the busiest of the group, hosting small fleets of turtle fishing vessels and coconut trad­ ing schooners. Over the years, however, the island has been overlooked by mod­ ern progress, her maritime past camou­ flaged by the all-consuming jungle and coral reefs. Shallow, sand-filled lagoons alternate along the shoreline with a labyrinth of fringing coral formations, which drop down into thousands of fathoms of open ocean. In centuries past, the warm, pro­ tected waters of the lagoons were a haven for multitudes of sea turtles grazing on the plentiful beds of marine grass, breeding Capistello site with ship's hull emerging from beneath amphoras and sand- taken from submarine. unmolested, and returning each year to Photo: D. H. Kefth lay eggs on the quiet beaches. As the 10 region became familiar to mariners during the early stages of New World coloniza­ tion, Little Cayman's resources and advantageous location along trade routes attracted generations of sea-hardened sailors in need of fresh meat and water or a secure haven in which to refit and repair their ships. However, the island's low pro­ file on the horizon and treacherous reefs represented serious dangers to the un­ wary mariner. Thus, Little Cayman be­ came known on charts of seafaring men as a convenient but dangerous source of turtle meat and, later, as a sanctuary for loosely organized groups of pirates. Much of this early history has been obscured by time and the remoteness of these islands, affording a challenge to archaeological in­ vestigation. The survey crew, comprised of ten

archaeology students and experienced Team members measure anchor from a 19th century wreck. Photo: KC Smith volunteers, set up INA headquarters on the shore of the largest lagoon, South conducted to obtain diagnostic artifacts occurred in 1670 and represents one of Hole Sound, and organized the necessary useful in determining a general date or the earliest known battles in the history of boats and equipment for an exploration of possible cultural affiliation for each site. the Cayman Islands. A small community the island. Survey strategy included com­ These artifacts often mcluded pottery of English fishermen suddenly were set prehensive coverage of areas most likely sherds, clay smoking pipe fragments, bits upon by a squadron of Spanish corsairs to contain shipwrecks - the outer peri­ and pieces of the ship's equipment, or flying false colors; their huts and fishing meter of the reef, which almost entirely crew's possessions. The majority of arti­ vessels were destroyed and some prize surrounds the island, and certain terres­ factual material was returned to the area ships and prisoners were taken. Oral his­ trial locations, which according to local from which it was recovered, after being tories relate a similar incident on Little oral histories, were alleged to have been examined, measured, typed, and photo­ Cayman, alleged to have occurred around used by early settlers. A combination of graphed. Some, however, were retained the same time, however, the roles are re­ electronic sensing apparatus and posi­ for further analysis because of their poten­ versed; a "pirate" community was at­ tioning systems was employed, in con­ tial for public display. INA was given tem­ tacked by the English. junction with visual search methods and porary custody of these materials, which Archaeological evidence of conflict and local information from island inhabitants, included a brass thimble, matchlock mus­ destruction, such as the discovery of dis­ to locate archaeological sites. ket, Spanish olive jar, and various uniden­ carded arms and spent ammunition, tified objects, in order to properly treat burned ship's timbers and charred turtle them in the new conservation laboratory. bones, suggests that field research in the They presently are being cleaned and sta­ future, as well as historical clarification bilized for return to the Cayman Islands. from continuing efforts to collect archival A total of 17 distinct archaeological information about early island activities, sites, as well as indications of several will provide a fuller understanding of others, were encountered on Little Cay­ Caymanian ancestry. In the meantime, man. The remains of small colonial sailing recommendations for the protection of vessels, several merchant ships which these sites have been presented to the struck the reef, 19th century composite­ Government of the Cayman Islands in a built (wooden hull reinforced with iron detailed report of the first season's find­ frames) trading vessels and modern ings. Olive jar and heavily concreted musket barrel wrecks all were given the same degree of Roger C. Smith in situ. Photo: KC Smith attention due to the mission of the project, which was primarily to record the charac­ After a site was discovered, its precise ter of each site. location was surveyed from existing The most important discoveries were benchmarks and plotted on a master chart found buried under the sandy floor of For information on the Institute of of the areas covered by the investigation. South Hole Sound. A series of sites, tenta­ Nautical Archaeology write to: Careful examination of each site was tively dating from the middle of the 17th Institute of Nautical Archaeology undertaken to determine the extent of the century, most likely are the remains of a P. 0. Drawer AU wreckage and to record major features conflict that took place between the Eng­ College Station, Texas 77840 such as anchors, cannons, ship's struc­ lish and the Spaniards over possession of U.S.A. ture and fittings. Limited testing by selec­ the island. One recorded incident, which tive excavation or surface sampling was needs further historical documentation,

The Institute of Nautical Archaeology is a nonprofit scientific/educational organization whose purpose is to gather knowledge of man's past as left in the physical remains of his maritime activities and to disseminate this knowledge through scientific and popular publications, seminars, and lectures. The INA Newsletter is published periodically by INA and is distributed to its members and Supporting Institutions to inform them of INA's activities. INA is an equal opportunity organization. 11 INSTITUTE OF NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY

OFFICERS George F. Bass, President Catherine Meyer, Secretary Michael L. Katzev, Vice-President James G. Hooton, Treasurer

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Orin E. Atkins John C. Calhoun, Jr. Harry C. Kahn II John H. Baird Ronnie Chamness Michael L. Katzev George F. Bass Claude Duthuit Jack W. Kelley Harry W. Bass, Jr. Cynthia J. Eiseman J. M. Lewallen Richard D. Bass Harrison Eiteljorg II , Vice-Chairman Jarvis E. Miller Fletcher A. Blanchard Sumner Gerard Melvin M. Payne Duncan Boeckman Nixon Griffis, Chairman G. Kenneth Sams Alan L. Boegehold Simeon Hutner Elizabeth Whitehead Mrs. John Brown Cook

STAFF AND RESEARCH ASSOCIATES ADJUNCT PROFESSORS

George F. Bass, Ph.D. Donald H. Keith, M.A. Karl Bergin, D.Sc. Carolyn Koehler, Ph.D. Kenneth A. Cassavoy Robin C. M. Piercy Carl J. Clausen, M.A. David I. Owen, Ph .D. Donald A. Frey, Ph .D. Donald Rosencrantz Edwin Doran, Jr. , Ph.D. Joseph W. Shaw, Ph .D. John A. Gifford, Ph .D. Roger C. Smith Henry B. Graham, Ph.D. David C. Switzer, Ph .D. Jeremy Green J. Richard Steffy D. L. Hamilton, Ph .D. Tufan Turanli Michael L. Katzev, M.A. Frederick H. van Doorninck, Jr., Ph.D.

SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS American University in Cairo Corning Museum of Glass University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Boston University Grupe de Buceo Arqueologico de Ia E.N.A.H., Mexico University of Texas, Austin Brown University Kittery Historical and Naval Museum New York University, Institute of Fine Arts Bryn Mawr College University of Maryland, Baltimore County Stanford University University of California, Berkeley Massachusetts Institute of Technology Maine Maritime Academy University of Cincinnati University of New Hampshire Texas A&M Research Foundation Gornell University University Museum, University of Pennsylvania

Non-profit Organization INSTITUTE OF U . S. Postage PAID NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY Permit No. 19 P.O. Drawer AU College Station, Texas College Station, Texas 77840

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