What Could Possibly Go Wrong… Small Craft in Search of a Manila Galleon

Summary

The Baja California Manila Galleon shipwreck site location was established from analysis of onshore artifact distribution.  Increasing attempts have been made to investigate the offshore source of this material by utilizing magnetometry and the excavation of detected anomalies.  The magnetometer surveys went well and buried iron associated with the wreck site were buoyed and mapped.  However, investigation of the buried anomalies proved to be more difficult than anticipated, as they were found to occur largely in the wave break zone of an open coast where a perpetual onshore wind blows day and night. In the course of effort pangas were swamped and equipment was flooded. Even a well-attached propwash deflector was ripped out of the stern of an anchored 30 ft boat by the continuous slapping of the hull back on the water as three and four foot waves passed beneath.

As usual, the solution to these situations is always: "We need a bigger boat!"

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Manila Galleon Archaeology in the American Continent   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2017

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 717