Photos: Shipwreck found under A1A in St. Augustine
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Unearthing shipwreck FDOT archeologists painstakingly removed mud layer-by-layer to expose the vessel. (Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.)
Well preserved The vessel remained wet throughout excavation to preserve the near-fully intact vessel. (Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.)
Exposing history FDOT Crews identified wood remains and immediately stopped construction activities to allow archeologists to excavate a vessel. The vessel was covered in mud and was only unearthed due to construction activities. (Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.)
Board by board Recovered hull planks being removed from the site for further study. (Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.)
Well preserved Close up view of the base of the oil-fired lantern found inside the wreck. (Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.)
Dismantling for removal Drs. Sam Turner and James Delgado use water to slowly slide a wooden floor from its position socketed into the central wooden structure of the vessel. (Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.)
Handle with care Archeologists carefully clean the hull of the vessel as crews map the exposed hull planking. The wreck was digitally and manually measured as it was exposed. (Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.)
Safe transportation The archaeological team laid recovered planks on a stretcher of plywood to support the water-logged, easily broken wood as it was recovered intact and sent up to archaeological conservators for placement in fresh-water tanks for wet storage pending further analysis. (Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.)
Diligent work SEARCH archaeologists excavating the ship inside the trench as SEARCH’s Dr. James Delgado briefs FDOT officials. (Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.)
Best plan of action SEARCH’s Dr. James Delgado confers with the team as excavation has revealed the interior of the vessel for the first time since it was likely abandoned in the 19th century on what was then a shoreline. (Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.)
Taking notes Archaeologist Dr. Charles “Chuck” Meide of LAMP mapping the wreck with hand-done measurements along with Dr. Sam Turner of SEARCH. (Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.)
Top down Aerial imagery of the site where SEARCH archaeologists discovered, excavated, and systematically disassembled and recovered an 19thcentury ship beneath King Street next to the Bridge of Lions on the waterfront of historic St. Augustine, Florida. (Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.)
What a view Aerial imagery of the site where SEARCH archaeologists discovered an 19th-century ship beneath a road in St. Augustine, Florida. The building closest to the site marks the former shoreline. (Daniel Fiore (SEARCH, Inc.) & Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.)
