An ‘Old Admiralty Longshank’ Anchor from Admiralty Bay, Washington: The HMS Chatham’s Lost Anchor?

Author(s): Scott S Williams

Year: 2015

Summary

In 2008 commercial divers discovered an 18th century anchor in 40 feet of water in Admiralty Bay, Puget Sound.  The anchor was recovered under permit in June 2014.  The anchor was set in the bay bottom with one arm embedded in the seafloor, and 165-feet of stud-link anchor chain attached to the shank.  An iron grapnel was hooked to the middle of the chain.  The extension of the chain and the presence of the grapnel indicate the anchor was lost when the cable broke after the anchor was set, and recovery with a grapnel was attempted and failed.  The age and size of the anchor are consistent with the stream anchor lost by the HMS Chatham during exploration of Puget Sound on June 9, 1792.  Historical data to support this claim are presented, and issues surrounding ownership of the anchor will be discussed.

Cite this Record

An ‘Old Admiralty Longshank’ Anchor from Admiralty Bay, Washington: The HMS Chatham’s Lost Anchor?. Scott S Williams. Presented at Society for Historical Archaeology, Seattle, Washington. 2015 ( tDAR id: 434204)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

min long: -129.199; min lat: 24.495 ; max long: -66.973; max lat: 49.359 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 305