Major Recovery Begins at QAR site

Mark Wilde-Ramsing, QAR Project Director

As we near the ten-year mark since the discovery of shipwreck site 31CR314, believed to be that of Queen Anne's Revenge, finally all the pieces are in place to begin major excavation designed to document, recovery, transport, catalogue, and store the entire assemblage of artifacts and the information they contain. Those pieces include: a thorough understanding of the shipwreck and its condition; long-term state appropriations to support a professional staff; a fully equipped conservation facility; and major funding to get started. The archaeological expedition begins October 2nd and runs through November 9th as the first part of a lengthy archaeological marathon. During this first leg an estimated 60 5' x 5' excavation units will be completed beginning at the offshore side or where the vessel's stern is located and proceeding toward the center of the site. The recovery of four cannon and a rich artifact assemblage associated with the captain's cabin lying within the planned excavation will make for an exciting project. If projections are correct, archaeologists will cover over 15% of the site and bring up as many as 1000 objects. Most of these will contain many individual artifacts placing the total number of specimens into the tens of thousands. The challenge is formidable and will require a dedicated team.

Fortunately, many of our project archaeologists and support crew will return and joined by several very talented new members (see Field Operation Plan for a staff list). The expedition would not be possible without the support of NC Marine Fisheries (research vessel), USCG - Ft Macon (vessel berthing, operations staging), East Carolina University (conservation facility, vessel support, graduate student assistants), NC Ft. Macon State Park and Comfort Inn (housing), NC Maritime Museum and Intersal Inc. (public communication). As we make this archaeological voyage we will provide periodic expedition log updates to keep you informed on our progress and reveal the latest findings. You can start by reviewing the recovery and operations plans linked below. Thanks for coming along for the ride and WELCOME ABOARD!!

Entry 02- 06 October 2006 Expedition Log
Chris Southerly, QAR Archaeological Supervisor

The Fall Expedition began early Monday morning October 2006. The project is operating for a third season from the US Coast Guard Station at Fort Macon. Not only is the station the closest dockage to the shipwreck site making it ideal logistically but an outstanding crew of men and women there continually do their best to help us whenever possible. Our operating platforms are again R/V Shell Point - (the Shell Point crew) from theNC Marine Fisheries with support from the NC Underwater Archaeology Branch's research vessel Snap Dragon.

 

 

Archaeologists have worked in two rotating teams all week working in the southern most area of the site extending between 0' and 50' north-south, and between 65' and 100' east-west. Excellent weather with light winds from the north, good visibility on the sight and the addition of four experienced, temporary underwater archaeology technicians has greatly increased team productivity. In four days over 100 dives have already been made to excavate and map twenty-two 5x5 test units. While many of these are peripheral units and have not contained any artifacts eighty concreted objects have been recovered from the units. Most artifacts are indistinguishable, being hidden within the encrustation, but researchers have been able to identify one, possibly two, pipe stems, some lead shot, pieces of ceramic, cask hoops, and what appears to be degraded leather.

By next week test units should reach the southernmost cannon, one of fourcontained in the planned excavation area and designated for retrieval. Check back for the next update from the field.

 

 

 

Entry 09- 13 October 2006 Expedition Log
Chris Southerly, QAR Archaeological Supervisor

    Monday         Tuesday         Wednesday         Thursday        

 

 

Monday 9 October

 

 

Marginal weather from the weekend lingered into Monday morning so the crew took advantage of the poor conditions to do some shore work. Recently constructed artifact tanks were picked up from Parker Marine Enterprises where they were being coated and transported to the conservation lab in Greenville. Minor maintenance was done on Shell Point's pump, dive gear, and the sluice-screen system. Supervisors also caught up on paperwork and other project details.

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 10 October

Winds were still strong out of the north but conditions at the site were relatively calm despite poor visibility. Archaeologists completed units 47 and 48 along the east side of the site before setting up and beginning excavation on units 49, 50, and 51 further east and north to define the eastern site boundary. Work continued in the south units 43, 44, and 45 with the 3" sluice-screen system. Lead patching was recovered along with lead shot both on the bottom by divers and in the sluice-screen recovery system on the surface.

 

 

Wednesday 11 October
Sea conditions were remarkably calm allowing work to continue in units 43 and 44 with the sluice-screen system, while archaeologists completed units 49, 50, and 51 along the eastern site boundary. Researchers began excavation on units 52, 53, and 54 across the reference baseline, working west and south from the eastern boundary units. Unit 55 was also excavated in the south to better define the southern site boundary.

The artifact highlight of the day was when large quantities of small lead shot as well as gold flakes and dust started being recovered in the sluice-screen from unit 43. Lead patching and iron concretions were also mapped and recovered from units 43 and 44. Larger diameter lead shot also began showing up in unit 52 further east and ceramics in unit 53.

 

 

 

 

 

Work continued late into the day with the prospects of marginal weather on Thursday.

 

Thursday 12 October

Strong southwest winds did not bode well for site conditions and after heading out to check the wind and seas proved too rough for safe operations. Taking advantage of another weather day project staff continued to pan sediments collected from the sluice-screen recovering additional gold and small lead shot. Additional dive equipment repairs were made while planning for the surface-supply/hookah system being added next week. The surface-supply system will allow excavation divers and documentation divers to extend their bottom time while reducing the number of daily SCUBA cylinder fills. Construction also began on a custom tank to accommodate the sternpost first discovered in May 2005. Archaeologists are examining the possibility of only recovering one or two cannon this fall rather than the planned four, in favor of recovering the sternpost.

Supervisors continued working on paperwork and documentation checking completeness and accuracy. Good documentation of not only what is being found but where is it coming from on the site is essential. Archaeological excavation to uncover, document, and recover artifacts destroys its site context forever. Artifacts can never be put back, so one of the key elements of archaeology is to preserve/record the relationship between the artifacts and with their environment with the least possible disturbance. Every effort is made to record all features and relationships before they are lost by removal.

Entry 16-20 October 2006 Expedition Log
Chris Southerly, QAR Archaeological Supervisor

    Monday           Tuesday         Wednesday     Thursday    Friday  

 

 

 Monday 16 October

 

Long time Underwater Archaeology Branch volunteer Jim Dugan and Florida state underwater archaeologist Roger Smith joined the team for this week. Excavation, documentation and recovery of artifacts continue on units 52, 53, 54, 57, 58, 59, 60, and 61.

 

 

 

Tuesday 17 October

 

Overcast with light winds today but good working conditions. On the way out Shell Point attaches to the warning buoy, which had gradually moved inshore from recent storms, and reposition it back at the site. On site, archaeologists continue on open units.

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 18 October

Poor weather conditions delay departure so the crew shares a large team breakfast at the Ft. Macon barracks waiting for the winds to die down. Work continues on open units, recovering more lead shot and gold from the sluice/screen. The weather picks up again in the afternoon cutting the workday short.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday 19 October

 

Light variable winds today make up for the lost time earlier in the week. Units 64-70 are completed and archaeologists set up units 71-74 to the southern side of the planned excavation area and units 75-77 to the northern side of the excavations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday 20 October

 

Weather again prevents fieldwork so most of the crew takes the option for a three day weekend. Excavations next week should begin uncovering the first of the cannons within the planned recovery area. New units will also be moving into the area where two intact glass onion bottles, as well as brass artifacts and scientific instruments were recovered during the 1998 exploration trench. More to come....

 

 

 

 

Entry 23-27 October 2006 Expedition Log
Chris Southerly, QAR Archaeological Supervisor

    Monday          Tuesday         Wednesday     Thursday    Friday  

 

 

Monday 23 October

Weather did not look promising as the crew was heading out. Winds were north-northwest 15-20 knots. Visibility on the bottom was very good, 10+ feet. By mid-day the winds died down and work progressed will with improved visibility. Units 71, 72, 73, and 80 were completed while overburden was removed from units 75, 76, and 77. Cannon C16 is beginning to be exposed by the excavations in 75 and 76.

Original plans for the fall field season included the recovery of as many as four cannon from the site (C12, C16, C17, C18). Expansion of the excavation area east to west and the logistic difficulty of arranging a lifting/recovery vessel will likely result in delaying cannon recovery until the spring expedition.

 

 

 

Tuesday 24 October

 

Winds were too strong to go out today so the crew worked onshore. Part of the crew panned sediments collected from the sluice/screen, recovering more gold and small lead shot. Others worked on the final testing of the surface-supply diving system for use with the teams AGA full-face dive masks (Ocean Technology Systems Divator Mk II).

 

Wednesday 25 October

 

 

Clear and cold with winds light and variable, primarily from the northwest, allows work again on site. Visibility was excellent varying between 10 and 15 feet all day. Units 77, 78, and 79 were completed and unit 81 was finished other than final cleanup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday 26 October

 

 

Clear and cool again, winds from the northwest. Researchers finish final cleanup and sand sampling of unit 81 and complete three additional recovery units (82, 83, and 84). Testing was done of a 6" sluicing system to compliment work being done with the 3" system. The 6" sluice was moderately successful collecting an excess of sterile sediment while being difficult to maneuver and handle on the bottom around artifacts. Researchers decided do discontinue use of the 6" and rely on the 3" sluice system for careful excavation and recovery.

 

 

 

Friday 27 October

 

 

The marine forecast is marginal but the crew decides to try to get as much work done before the weather conditions turn. Units 85 and 86 are completed before the swells increase to make work too difficult. The crew cleans up and secures the site for the predicted weekend gale. Researchers anticipate much of the coming Monday will be spent cleaning up the site and removing slumping sand from excavation areas.

 

 

 

 

Entry October 30-November 3 2006 Expedition Log
Chris Southerly, QAR Archaeological Supervisor

    Monday          Tuesday         Wednesday     Thursday    Friday  

 

 

Monday 30 October

As anticipated the strong winds and waves from the weekend gale affected the site. The excavation unit grids were all buried from slumping sand and much of the morning was spent uncovering them and getting back the previous depth of excavation. The main baseline and the reference lines from the east mooring and west mooring were also broken. Reconnaissance dives also revealed extreme scour to the west and south of the main ballast pile. Ballast, concretions, and cannon were all exposed to a depth previously unobserved.

One team worked re-establishing lines and resetting excavation units, while another began documenting new areas of exposure. Near the end of the day researchers were back to previous levels and could resume working on unit 87.

Tuesday 31 October

Very light wind from the south gave the team calm seas but poor visibility dominated the day as low tide was early in the morning. Work continued completing units 87 and 88. Extensive artifacts as well as lead shot and gold flakes/dust came from unit 88. Researchers worked on unit 75 containing much of cannon C16 mapping and recovering artifacts and lead shot.

Exposure recon recovers two large earthenware fragments, another piece of glazed ceramic, and shows hull structure (pine sacrificial planking) extending at least as far south as cannon C1. Estimates are that the normally exposed area of the site has doubled with the recent scour.

Wednesday 01 November

Weather was sunny with light winds from the south with moderate swells. Visibility on site was only 2-3 feet with a moderate surge. Site cleanup and repair continues today, checking moorings and other lines. Work is finished in unit 75, leaving only cannon C16. Excavation in unit 76 showed multiple concretions and layers of lead shot, especially under concretions.

Divers had a disagreement with the site's resident octopus this morning. Overnight he had taken up residence in the intake hose of the 6" dredge. It took quite some time to convince him that being in the intake when the suction started was not a good idea. He eventually moved without injury or inking to the octopus or the divers. Once the octopus moved to under the lead sheet attached to cannon C16 divers used the 6" dredge to uncover the 5'x15' reference grid and move it to its new location on units 14, 91, and 92.

 

Thursday 02 November

Wind light and variable, mostly from the north. The 10'x10' reference grid is repositioned over units 8, 93, 94, and 95. One team works using surface-supply, mapping newly exposed area of the site. The second team works on excavation, documentation and recovery, completing units 93 and 94. A complete cluster of cask hoop concretions was recovered from 94/8 along with numerous other smaller concretions. The greatest quantity of lead shot yet is recovered from units 93 and 94. The recovery sluice had to be stopped several times during the excavation process as it was completely full of lead shot.

 

Friday 03 November

Strong winds from the north and cold temperatures convince the crew to call another shore day. The large quantity of concretions and artifacts recovered during the week are packed and loaded for transport to the conservation lab in Greenville. Other crew members pan the sediments from the week's sluicing for additional lead shot and gold. Others work on equipment cleaning and maintenance and getting the teams second 3" dredge/sluice system configured.

Afternoon conditions improve as the winds die down and everyone is optimistic for good weather for the final week of the project. With 70 units completed the team has already exceeded the fall project goal and with the exception of cannon recovery we may still reach the 50' baseline goal.

 

 

Entry 06 - 08 November 2006 Expedition Log
Chris Southerly, QAR Archaeological Supervisor

    Monday           Tuesday         Wednesday     

 

Monday 6 November

Weather today is cooler with moderate winds out of the north-northeast. While not ideal, the conditions are certainly workable. With the forecast for the remainder of the week not promising work focuses on cleaning the lead shot left in unit 8 after the May 2005 expedition, and completing unit 92. As the day progresses winds pick up from the northeast making the seas choppy and causing a moderate surge to build on the bottom.

As it always seems, we inadvertently save the best until last. Excavation in unit 92 exposes quite a bit of material. First and foremost is the discovery of a bell incorporated in a larger concretion. This is the second bell located on the site and although small (approximately 8.5 inches in diameter) appears to be more of the type to have been a ships bell. Along with the bell a nearly intact crank jack, similar to one recovered previously from the site, as well as a lead cannon apron. Numerous smaller concretions also come from the unit including a buckle identified on the bottom.

While all the excitement of new discovery is happening, we have five visiting divers taking a tour of the site from NC Marine Fisheries examining the exposed remains from the perspective of a near shore artificial reef.

Tuesday 7 November

The crew is on site by 7:45 and divers begin setting up for unit 91. By 8:15 the winds are already beginning to turn to the south. With the swells building and the marine forecast for the next few days very marginal for work the decision is made to begin cleaning up the site rather than starting a final unit. One team begins recovering mapping frames, reference lines, and securing/removing moorings, while a second team finishes mapping in and recovering potentially endangered isolated finds from newly exposed areas of the site near the main pile.

The crew returns to dock by midday and offloads and stows the gear from R/V Shell Point. Once unloaded, one team heads back out hoping to be able to detach and bring the warning buoy in for maintenance before the coming storm. Conditions prove too rough already to safely retrieve the buoy and fieldwork for the fall expedition officially comes to a close.

Wednesday 8 November

Strong winds and heavy rains overnight have passed by morning with only a lingering breeze. The crew spends the morning cleaning gear, and packing and stowing equipment for transport and storage. The final field processing of artifacts takes place as they are checked, loaded, and secured for the trip to the lab in Greenville. Everything is complete by early afternoon and the Fall 2006 field crew breaks for the final time to go their various directions.

 

With over 25-percent more area covered than planned, excavation-documentation-recovery methodology refined, new equipment tested, and many potentially significant artifacts discovered the Fall 2006 Field Expedition was without a doubt an outstanding success. Stay tuned as more information becomes available about newly recovered artifacts as they are processed and examined at the conservation lab.