Revisiting the Highbourne Cay Wreck : How modern methods can help re-interpret a shipwreck site

Summary

The Highbourne Cay wreck presents a unique opportunity for researchers to study the degradation of a previously investigated site. Originally discovered and salvaged in the 1960’s and dated to the early 16th century, researchers from Texas A&M University re-visited the site in the 1980’s as it appeared to be contemporaneous with a neighboring shipwreck. This partial excavation reported astonishing results as a large portion of the main mast step of the vessel was well preserved and intact. Due to time and budgetary restrictions, the site was re-covered with ballast and sediment in an effort to preserve it for future study. In October, a group revisited the Highbourne Cay wreck and performed a survey of the site using modern technological methods. As the first of three intended phases of survey and excavation, it provided a baseline for the future seasons as the site is studied and disturbed, and will continue to allow for comparable studies with the data that was recorded during the previous investigations.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Poster Session   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): POS-98,08