THE MICA SHIPWRECK: DEEPWATER NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
A Thesis
by
TOBY NEPHI JONES
Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF ARTS
May 2004
Major Subject: Anthropology
THE MICA SHIPWRECK: DEEPWATER NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
A Thesis
by
TOBY NEPHI JONES
Submitted to Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF ARTS
Approved as to style and content by:
______Kevin J. Crisman Donny L. Hamilton (Chair of Committee) (Member)
______William R. Bryant David L. Carlson (Member) (Head of Department)
May 2004
Major Subject: Anthropology iii
ABSTRACT
The Mica Shipwreck: Deepwater Nautical Archaeology
in the Gulf of Mexico. (May 2004)
Toby Nephi Jones, B.A., Oregon State University
Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Kevin J. Crisman
The purpose of this study was to describe the investigation of the Mica shipwreck. The objectives of the investigation, as identified by nautical archaeologists from the United
States Minerals Management Service and the Nautical Archaeology Program at Texas
A&M University, include determining the extent and limits of the wreck site, acquisition of diagnostic artifacts to identify the temporal period of the shipwreck and its mission at the time of loss, to identify the type of ship and its country of origin, and quantify the relationship between the vessel’s construction and function. The manuscript contains a thorough analysis of the equipment and approach used by archaeologists during the excavation.
The manuscript also briefly explores the use of metallic ship sheathing during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, focusing specifically on the pure copper sheathing found on the Mica wreck. Sheathing from numerous contemporary vessels will be analyzed and compared to the Mica shipwreck sheathing.
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To my parents, Howard and Kathy
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many people and institutions were instrumental in the planning and execution of the
Mica shipwreck archaeological investigation. Dr. Kevin J. Crisman, a professor in the
Nautical Archaeology Program at Texas A&M University, led the contingent of nautical archaeologists. His expertise, encouragement, and enthusiasm were instrumental in the successful completion of the project. Dr. William R. Bryant, of the Department of
Oceanography at Texas A&M University, provided expertise relating to geological site formation processes affecting the Mica shipwreck, as well as heading the group of scientists from the Department of Oceanography. Dr. Jack Irion, Dr. Richard
Anuskiewicz, and David Ball represented the Social Sciences Unit of the Minerals
Management Service, the federal agency whose responsibilities include managing offshore cultural heritage, including shipwrecks. Dr. Donny L. Hamilton, head of the
Nautical Archaeology Program at Texas A&M University, provided logistical support during the planning process. Brett Phaneuf, a research associate with the Department of
Oceanography at Texas A&M University, was the project manager and performed the bulk of the logistical planning. Peter Hitchcock served as the chief conservator. Chris
Felderhoff and Steve Christian, of the Offshore Technology Research Center, generously provided tools, space and expertise in the design and construction of the artifact retrieval system. Sandra K. Drews, of the Department of Oceanography at Texas A&M
University, was extremely helpful throughout the entire operation. Dr. Renald vi
Guillemette, director of the Electron Microprobe Laboratory at Texas A&M University, expertly performed the composition analysis on numerous metallic sheathing samples.
The Mica sh