Analysis and Interpretation of Cannon Assemblages Near Carysfort Reef, Florida Keys

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Recent Development of Maritime and Historical Archaeology Programs in South Florida" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Two assemblages of 18th century cannons lay on the seafloor near Carysfort Reef, in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. An underwater survey consisting of trilateration mapping, photogrammetry, and 3D modeling techniques was conducted at both sites. The shallow reef system that is located six miles offshore of North Key Largo is situated along a historically high-traffic maritime route, and bears the reputation of being a treacherous passage. In the event that a ship would run aground, sailors would often remove ballast material in hopes of giving the vessel enough buoyancy to dislodge themselves. Were the cannons intentionally lost overboard in a maneuver to free the vessel from being grounded on the reef, or are the submerged artillery associated with a shipwreck that has yet to be documented?

Cite this Record

Analysis and Interpretation of Cannon Assemblages Near Carysfort Reef, Florida Keys. Ryan M Fochs, Catherine Qualls, Athena Van Overschelde, Frederick H. Hanselmann. 2020 ( tDAR id: 457477)

Keywords

Temporal Keywords
18th Century

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): 1079