Reassessing the 1760-Machault shipwreck site (1969-2010): from a site-specific approach to a battlefield archaeology

Summary

Archaeological investigation at the Battle of the Restigouche NHS has taken place for over forty years, from the initial discovery and the excavation of the 22-gun frigate Machault in 1967’1972, to the recent assessment of this national historic site as a battlefield including multiple features on land and underwater. This paper focuses on the many aspects of the importance of the Machault project. The shipwreck and its collection represent a rare witness to colonial trade and warfare. This project is also the first large-scale underwater excavation in Canada, and represents a cornerstone in the history of underwater archaeology. Throughout the years, periodic monitoring of the resources has ensured their safe preservation and adequate presentation. More recently in 2010, the UAS conducted a reassessment of the NHS, and performed a remote sensing survey to locate new archaeological features underwater accounted for in historical documents. This research led to the discovery of several interesting targets, and more importantly a small shipwreck off Battery Point, believed to be an Acadian fishing vessel scuttled by the French in 1760.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Underwater Archaeology the Canadian Way, Eh! Fifty Years of Park Canada’s Underwater Archaeology Service   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-31,04