Centuries-Old Shipwreck Found Off North Carolina Coast

[Recursion]

Source: NBC

Scientists discovered a previously unknown shipwreck off the North Carolina Coast that may date back to the American Revolution, Duke University said Friday.

Using sonar and a robotic underwater vehicle, marine scientists from Duke University, North Carolina State University and the University of Oregon stumbled upon the wreck in mile-deep waters on July 12 during a research expedition.

Artifacts discovered in the ship's wreckage include an iron chain, glass bottles, an unglazed pottery jug, a pile of bricks, a metal compass, and another navigational instrument. The research team determined the artifacts could place the wreckage in the late 18th or early 19th century, during the American Revolution when the U.S. was expanding trade with the rest of the world by sea.

"This is an exciting find, and a vivid reminder that even with major advances in our ability to access and explore the ocean, the deep sea holds its secrets close," expedition leader Cindy Van Dover, director of the Duke University Marine Laboratory, said in a news release.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/centuries-old-shipwreck-found-north-carolina-coast-n394321

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Very cool

[NanceGreggs]

1. VERY cool!!!

Thanks for posting this!

[SoapBox]

2. Very cool indeed!

[Cha]

3. Awesome.. who doesn't love a good shipwreck finding! Gotta love our Oceans.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

4. Bet it went down like a ton of bricks.

[mnhtnbb]

5. There are a LOT of shipwrecks off the coast of NC.

If you look at graphics concerning where the most hurricanes/tropical storms hit, NC is right
up at the top of the list. I imagine it was pretty dangerous to be sailing off NC during
hurricane season before the days of radar and reliable weather prediction.

[Recursion]

6. Wow. Looks like a lot of them slammed into the shoals off the OBX

That's cool; thanks!

[packman]

8. That's amazing

We used to vacation on Nag's Head and heard the story of how the area got its name. The locals back then (1700-1800) were one step away from being pirates At night they would get a horse, tie a lantern to it and parade it up and down the dunes and shores. Boats thinking it was an indication of a town or even a light-house would approach the shallows and wreck at which time the locals would plunder the shipwreck.

[Sunlei]

7. wish there would be more studies on all the shallow water sites covered by the slowly rising waters

like blue holes, Beringa, great lakes, and all the millions of coastal shipwrecks around the 'Americas." Where they have proven trading was done by land and sea for thousands of years. even their trash and latrines are interesting.