Objectives

Last years field activities were very successful. Given the clarity of the water a considerable amount of time was expended on mapping the site's exposed portion, or main mound, which consisted of anchors, cannons, ballast and miscellaneous remains. Exploratory probing and test excavations provided researchers with a since of the amount of the shipwreck that is buried. Sediment covering cultural materials is shallow, probably not exceeding three feet, and consists of highly mobile sand. In relation tot he exposed mound, it appears that the main portion of the ballast pile and hopefully, intact portions of the ship are on the east side. Those remains extend out to the east approximately 50 feet, 100 feet to the north and 100 feet to the south. Very little seems to exist buried on the west side of the mound. Therefore, the major focus of the 1998 field work will be to explore the buried remains and get a better understanding of the site layout and condition.

Testing equipment also remains an important goal of the project in preparation for future full-scale archaeological excavations. This year a larger dredge and/or airlift system (6") will be employed to remove the sandy overburden from portions of the wreckage. A smaller 3" dredge will be used to excavate the layer containing artifacts. The use of digital video imaging will be tested to determine its applicability in documenting field work. It is hoped that controlled video will be able to greatly assist mapping exposed remains, especially in this sandy environment where artifacts cover over almost as quickly as they are uncovered.
Specific objectives are as follows:

1. The installation of a permanent reference system based on findings from last years efforts. A north/south baseline, consisting of 1/4" chain will be anchored in place on the east side of the main mound.
2. Test units or trenches will be excavated on the east side of the mound where the ballast pile and hull remains are thought to rest. These units will remove the highly mobile sand layer from the top of cultural remains to determine their extent and nature.
3. Additional excavation unites will be employed to further explore diagnostic remains, hull structure and areas with vertical stratigraphy.
4. As the opportunity presents, samples of wood from structural timbers will be gathered, as well as ballast rocks for identification of type and origin. Organic materials will be systematically collected for radiocarbon dating. Although general artifact retrieval will be kept to a minimum, diagnostic pieces will be brought up for analysis and identification.
5. Sediments will be collected for geological analysis and a biological survey will be conducted on the artificial reef created by the exposed mound.
6. Remote sensing and target assessment will continue in the vicinity of 31CR314 in an attempt to locate a second shipwreck site that may represent the remains of Blackbeard's other vessel, which was "lost within a gun shot" of Queen Anne's Revenge.