Rare 19th century wreck found off US coast

Underwater archaeologists have found an extremely rare wreck dating back to the Civil War (1861-1865). The vessel was found on the bottom in the North Carolina region, on the east coast of the US. It is one of the most significant finds from this period in recent years, researchers said.

-- Advertisement --

The discovery of the previously unknown wreck occurred in the last days of February near Oak, during a routine sonar sweep of the bottom. According to reports from archaeologists and hydrographers, the encounter was the very well-preserved wreck of a fast steamer that was used to break the blockade imposed on Confederate ports by the Union navy.

“What is most remarkable about this find is the state of preservation of the found vessel. Photos taken with sonar show an almost intact wreck, located entirely on the bottom, which is extremely rare, ” said Billy Ray Morris director of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The found vessel measures nearly 70 metres and is estimated by researchers to be more than 150 years old. It is also the first time in decades that a previously unknown wreck from the mid-19th century has been found in the area.

As Morris goes on to explain, the ship was a specific craft (speedy steamer) used to overcome the blockade imposed on Confederate ports during the Civil War. With their help, Southerners bypassed Union vessels and traded in cotton and other goods, obtaining arms, ammunition, luxury goods and anything else that was in short supply due to Civil War activities.

“At the time they were some of the most advanced vessels. We can compare them to today’s extremely fast cigar-shaped boats used by drug smugglers.” – Billy Ray Morris added.

Three vessels of this type are known to have been lost in the area during the breach of the blockade. These are the ‘Agnes E. Fry’, the ‘Spunkie’ and the ‘Georgianna McCaw’. Given the size and some of the details, archaeologists are inclined to believe that the wreck found is the first of these three vessels.

Source: abcnews.go.com