Elbow Reef’s Landscape of Salvage
Author(s): Matthew S. Lawrence; Jay V. Haigler
Year: 2016
Summary
Jutting into the Gulf Stream, Elbow Reef has claimed numerous vessels, particularly steamships, over the last 150 years. Today, these shipwrecks attract hundreds of divers and snorkelers visiting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Archaeological research has revealed the histories of several Elbow Reef shipwrecks, but time has shrouded the identities of others until recently. The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) is partnering with Diving With a Purpose (DWP) to reveal the history of this treacherous reef. Identifying and mapping previously unnamed shipwrecks lost on the reef has allowed archaeologists to investigate the activities of salvagers working to recover machinery and cargo. Furthermore, comparison of similar archaeological sites within a distinct geographic area has revealed new stories of the highly-skilled Florida Keys wreckers.
Cite this Record
Elbow Reef’s Landscape of Salvage. Matthew S. Lawrence, Jay V. Haigler. Presented at Society for Historical Archaeology, Washington, D.C. 2016 ( tDAR id: 434662)
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Keywords
General
reef
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Salvage
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Shipwreck
Geographic Keywords
North America
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United States of America
Temporal Keywords
1850 - 1925
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): 103