Summary
UAB staff members
Richard Lawrence, Nathan Henry, Julep Gillman-Bryan and Chris Southerly
conducted a post storm event inspection of the Queen Anne’s
Revenge shipwreck site, October 2, 2003. Winds were NNE 20-25
but the seas were relatively calm (2-3) in the lee of the banks.
Conditions were generally favorable with visibility 5-6 feet diminishing
with the falling tide later in the afternoon. The site area itself
is scoured and exposed, more so than immediately prior to the storm.
Sand elevation data is included below for comparison. Newly exposed
ballast rocks along the baseline in the 60-70 range extend westward
into the site area. Previously unexposed ballast in the 70-80 range
extend from about 5 feet east of the baseline to the main ballast
pile. The southeast area of the pile is also exposed with rigging
elements and barrel hoops clearly visible. Timber/plank ends can
be seen beneath the pile along the south edge. Some sandbags can
be seen along the north side of the pile at the edge of past excavation
areas. The north anchor is exposed almost to the stock.
Details
The buoy was thrown
on the pile coordinates, Snapdragon was anchored NE of the buoy,
and RWL entered the water to locate the site. Once located, a mooring
line was fastened to the east screw eye and Snapdragon’s stern
secured to the mooring. RWL proceeded with general recon and cleanup,
collecting loose polypro, and restringing the baseline and reference
line to the east screw eye. All the reference lines were loose,
several baseline stakes were missing (missing data in the table
below), but location tags on the remaining stakes and artifacts
remained. RWL attached cross tapes on the 20N and 140N transect
stakes in preparation for shooting video. NCH and JGB entered the
water with the N-S tape and placed it at 15 east of the baseline
(115,20 to 115,140). CWS entered the water with camera and proceeded
to shoot video following the reference line. East of the tape going
north, west of the tape going south. Height 4-5 feet above the bottom,
widest view on the camera. Video was shot across the area moving
the reference line westward at 5 foot intervals. Once video coverage
was completed CWS proceeded to shoot video of the exposed site to
document details. Two pieces of lead bilge strainer were observed,
one near the 70 baseline stake the other just to the west. After
completing the video site breakdown took place with JGB and CWS
collecting the tapes and removing the baseline and reference lines.
Elevation data was collected to the south by RWL on the first dive
and CWS to the north on the last dive.
Observations
Newly exposed areas of the site need to be mapped as soon as possible.
For shooting video, the camera must be closer to the subject given
the visibility conditions. Lane spacing should also be closer, perhaps
3 feet rather than 5 feet. It may also prove useful to use a double
tape system with the camera shooting between, as it is difficult
to judge positioning with the camera to keep the reference line
in the edge of the video. Slower passes will also prove better for
video as the camera’s auto-focus initially has difficulty
not focusing on particulate matter in the water. This problem also
may be solved with better visibility, closer distances to the bottom,
or not using the auto-focus.
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Sand Elevation Data
As can be seen from sand elevations,
the southern end of the site remained
consistent with some deposition of sand.
The extreme northern end also remained
relatively consistent in sand levels.
However, locations with relief (the main
pile and north anchor) show evidence of
scouring. From 70 to 120 this is extreme,
over 10 inches at the ends and more extensive
around 90 and 100, as the stakes were
completely gone due to scour.
