A really old #shipwreck was found accidentally in the #deep #ocean. - http://clapway.com/2015/07/19/scientists-accidentally-discover-an-old-shipwreck-222/

During a research expedition on July 12, scientists shockingly discovered an old shipwreck just off the coast of North Carolina. Using an underwater robot, a manned submarine, and sonar, the team found what they believe to be wreckage from a ship dating back to the 1700s.

A Bit of Blind Luck

The discovery of the old shipwreck was made public on Friday by a team of marine scientists lead by Cindy Van Dover, director of the Duke University Marine Laboratory, and consisted of university scientists from Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of Oregon.

Whether by pure coincidence or sheer luck, Van Dover and her crew accidentally stumbled across the old shipwreck as they were searching for a mooring they had deployed on a previous trip back in 2012. Using the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s (WHOI) autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), they made the exciting find.

“It’s ironic to think we were exploring within 100 meters of the wreck site without an inkling it was there,” said Van Dover.

No Sunken Treasure On This Old Shipwreck

Several artifacts were found among the wreckage including an iron chain, glass bottles, an unglazed pottery jug, and navigational instruments. Archaeologists who initially examined the artifacts and photos taken of the old shipwreck believe the vessel to date back to the 1700s, which would put it right around the time of the American Revolution. So, while there may not have been any priceless artifacts found among the old shipwreck, the underwater discover may be rich in history.

“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,” said Van Dover.

Finding Definitive Answers

David Eggleston, director of the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST) at NC State, and Van Dover reached out to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in an effort to identify the lost ship and pinpoint an exact age of the vessel. This will be done by further examining the artifacts found in the old shipwreck.

“Lying more than a mile down in near-freezing temperatures, the site is undisturbed and well preserved,” said Bruce Terrell, chief archaeologist at the NOAA Marine Heritage Program.

James Delgado, director of the Marine Heritage program, stated that the wreckage was found 150 miles off the coast and was an old maritime trade route. So, while the old shipwreck may be nothing more than a trade vessel, it’s still exciting to know that there are plenty of secrets hidden beneath the ocean.

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Scientists Accidentally Discover an Old Shipwreck

Shipwreck from the Late 18th Century Found - http://clapway.com/2015/07/18/shipwreck-from-the-late-18th-century-found678/

an accidental find

It’s not every day that you find a piece of history. In fact, artifacts are usually uncovered by accident. The odds of finding something purposefully are slim enough as is. Even carefully planned expeditions can turn up nothing for years. If you do find something, there’s also the chance of damaging or destroying the item.

The Odds of Finding a Shipwreck

For aforementioned reasons, it’s rather lucky then that a team of researchers found something unusual in the waters of North Carolina while exploring the sea with a sonar. The find came about on the 12th of July when researchers from three universities aboard the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution research ship found the shipwreck.

What they had been looking for was something that was left behind previously in 2012, a mooring. Instead, they found the ship’s wreckage. Based on the items uncovered, it’s estimated that the shipwreck could be from the late 1700s, around the time of the American Revolution.

Because of the nature of the various artifacts and items seen with the AUV, the shipwreck appears to be a trade ship. The find, as with every find in science, is a reminder to the scientists, the science community, and the public that there are things that we still don’t know about our world and the ocean.

Cindy Van Dover, director of the Duke University Marine Laboratory and deep sea biologist said in Duke Today, “It’s ironic to think we were exploring within 100 meters of the wreck site without an inkling it was there,” about the previous exploration in 2012.

Next on the agenda

What is next for the shipwreck you ask? Well after the find and initial awe and lucky happenstance, the team alerted the NOAA Marine Heritage Program of the discovery to see if they could identify what the shipwreck is, what time period it is from, and what it was used for. This can be done by examining the various artifacts found with the wreck.

Despite this amazing find, however, the original intent of the search was in vain, as the mooring was never found.

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Shipwreck from the Late 18th Century Found