Cayman's 1794 Wreck of the Ten Sail

Summary

This is a paper/report submission presented at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The story has been passed through generations. it was the wreck of ten vessels at once, comprising one of the most dramatic maritime disasters in Caribbean naval history. Historical documents and remains of the ships confirm that the narrative is more than folklore. It is based on the loss of HMS Convert, formerly L’Inconstante, a recent prize from the French, and nine of her 58-ship merchant convoy sailing from Jamaica to Britain, which wrecked on the jagged eastern reefs of Grand Cayman. The incident is tied to British and French history during the French Revolution, when European nations were competing for military and commercial dominance around the globe. It focuses on the ships, the people, and the wreck, defining their place in Caymanian, Caribbean, and European history. It weaves together oral accounts, archival evidence and tangible evidence of the disaster from archaeological sites on the reefs of the East End.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• 2020 SHA General Sessions   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2020

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 1058