Unexpected Discovery: An 18th-Century Cannon Cluster Site in the Savannah River

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions)", at the 2023 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

In February 2021, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District recovered three cannon, a stocked anchor, and a number of wooden and metal materials while dredging regular maintenance areas in preparation for deepening associated with the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP). A subsequent geophysical survey and diver investigation by Commonwealth Heritage Group, Inc. revealed numerous additional cannon, neighboring artifacts, and other materials extant on the river bottom. The investigation was followed by a recovery of the artifacts conducted by archaeologists and a commercial dive team. This site (9CH1552), located between the original location of the CSS Georgia and Fort Jackson, is possibly associated with the Britsh vessels Venus (a troop transport) and the HMB Savannah (a brig), which were scuttled by the British to keep a French fleet from approaching the city of Savannah. This paper discusses the results of the investigation and recovery of site 9CH1552.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SHA 2023 General Sessions   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2023

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow