The Queen's Report
Update from the
Queen Anne's Revenge Shipwreck Project
Volume 1, Number 3, September 2001
| QAR DiveLive Returns
The QAR Project will again host the popular interactive Web event known
as DiveLive. October 1st-5th students and museum participants can
again ask archaeologists questions as they work on the wreck site. This
year's event promises to be even better and more exciting with assistance
and support from: Apple Computers, Carteret Community College, Carteret
County Economic Development Council, Comfort Inn of Morehead City, Duke
Marine Lab, Marine Grafics, Nautilus Productions, NC Department of Public
Instruction, NC Division of Marine Fisheries, NC Maritime Museum, NC Museum
of History, NC State CMAST, NC UAB, the towns of Beaufort and Morehead
City, University of NC Institute of Marine Sciences, University of NC
Wilmington, US Coast Guard Station Fort Macon, Virginia Polytechnic Institute,
Wachovia Foundation and Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation.
Last year an estimated 1,600 students from across North Carolina and the country
participated in DiveLive for five days. This year, taking the excitement
of archaeology and history into the classroom, we hope to involve even
more students. Twice daily, from 10:00-10:45 am and again from 1:00-1:45
pm students will be able to interact with scientists as they work via
live streaming audio and video. The first three days will be spent working
on the alleged Queen Anne's Revenge shipwreck site. The final two
days will focus on the cannons, planking, and other large artifacts in
the QAR Project lab facility at Carteret Community College. DiveLive
will once again blend scientific study with historical research and discovery.
Students under the supervision of their instructors can register for specific
times during the week to participate in the live question and answer sessions.
To register for the event, please visit the QAR Project Website
at www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/qar/default.htm
and follow the link to the DiveLive page.
We invite everyone interested in participating this year to register for the classroom sessions! If you are interested in learning more about this event please visit the QAR Website. You can also contact either Sim Wilde (DiveLive Registrar) at simschul@coastalnet.com, or Kim Eslinger (DiveLive Coordinator) at kim.eslinger@ncmail.net or call 252-726-6841 ext 165. Panning for Gold? In the Atlantic Ocean?
He was panning for gold, not in a California stream or a North Carolina mine but in the car port of his Emerald Isle beach home. Dr. Craig, a geologist at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, volunteered to help sift through sand sucked up by divers as they removed it from artifacts at the Queen Anne's Revenge site. He is happy to find any clue to add to mounting evidence that the wreck is Blackbeard's flagship, sunk off the coast of Beaufort in 1718. Scientists have found small amounts of gold but do not expect to find much. The gold, as well as other valuables, food, and medicine, were probably removed before the ship sank. Dr. Craig says two pieces of evidence he has found during his research provide insight into the articles carried aboard QAR. First, until 1900 lead was commonly used for skirting materials, weapons, and boat caulking, second only to iron in usage. Tests on lead artifacts recovered from the shipwreck were identified as originating from the Mediterranean area. Second, pewter, often called the poor man's silver, contained lead until the 1650's, but QAR pewter is lead-free, indicating the vessel does not predate this period. Dr. Craig is hoping his studies on metal artifacts from the QAR site will add to scientific knowledge of corrosion processes, an important aspect in understanding potential long term effects of metals, such as lead, on the environment. [Note: Dr. James R. Craig, a professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at Virginia Tech, has a vacation home a short distance from the project. He often volunteers his services and expertise when he visits the coast, in addition to studying QAR samples in his research laboratory at VPI] Question of the Month
The Royal College of Arms is an official repository for coats of arms and pedigrees of English, Welsh, Northern Irish, and commonwealth families and descendants. Within the College, individuals called Kings of Arms or heralds represent provinces in the United Kingdom. They maintain centuries old records---coats of arms and family lines---to determine who qualifies to be a king, a prince, or other titles of nobility. For example, the Royal College of Arms recently designed a coat of arms for William, the eldest son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. It will be the Garter King of Arms who will proclaim the next Monarch of Great Britain. Sometime prior to 1415, King Henry V established a new position, the Garter King of Arms who did not represent a province but was responsible for overseeing the work of the others. Peter Gwynn-Jones currently holds that position. He and an old family friend, Josie Hookway, a fervent QAR supporter from Bath, NC, recently toured the North Carolina Maritime Museum and QAR offices. Gwynn-Jones quickly identified a crown on the back of a pewter charger found at the shipwreck site as dating from 1649 through the end of the reign of William and Mary in 1694. This same charger was stamped with the mark of John Stiles, an English pewtersmith working from 1689 to 1720. With this information, archaeologists can date the charger to a five year period between 1689-1694. Intrigued by the amount of much scholarship and research without a large full-time staff Gwynn-Jones stated "You have a national treasure here that we in England have followed closely. You are to be congratulated." Thank you, sir. We needed that. If you are interested in more information about the College of Arms, visit their website: http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/ Director's Report After several years the Queen Anne's Revenge Shipwreck Project is still in the assessment phase. A wealth of archaeological, historical and related information has been collected and is now being processed. With QAR's public appeal, we have cast a wide net and incorporate input from a wide variety of people with ranging expertise and points of views. This has made the task of formulating a future course of action for managing the shipwreck somewhat cumbersome, but more comprehensive. The slow and steady pace while lining up adequate facilities, personnel, and support, will enable the QAR Shipwreck Project to become a world class underwater archaeological investigation. With 21st century technology a broad public audience can learn and participate in on-going exploration through innovative museum exhibits and the World-Wide Web. In doing this the Queen Anne's Revenge Shipwreck Project showcases North Carolina's academic and research communities while highlighting one of the most exciting shipwrecks ever found. QAR Project Facilities It is no secret that from the beginning the QAR Shipwreck Project has leaned heavily on dozens of private and public agencies, scientists, and laypersons. We are very grateful and proud of the support that has kept the project afloat. The QAR staff is particularly appreciative of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Institute of Marine Sciences and Director Dr. John T. Wells, who provided conservation laboratory and office space for the project. Being housed in a major marine research facility where we are constantly in contact with the Institute's dedicated staff and professionals, who work in the related fields of marine geology, biology, and oceanography has been extremely beneficial. Add to that the many resources provided by campus neighbors - NC Marine Fisheries, Carteret Community College, and North Carolina State University's CMAST marine facility- and you can see how indebted we are to Dr. Wells' generosity.
 In the Morehead City/Beaufort area? Visit the North Carolina Maritime Museum at 315 Front Street, Beaufort, NC where artifacts from Queen Anne's Revenge are exhibited. To learn more about the museum contact them at 252/728-7317. \
Check out previous Newsletters:
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Jim Craig squatted down among buckets of sediment, staring intently at a pie shaped pan containing water and sand that he shifted back and forth.
What does the Royal Garter King of Arms at the College of Arms in London, England, have to do with the Queen Anne's Revenge?