Historic Shipwreck Discoveries Off the North Carolina Coast
A team of archaeologists from East Carolina University recently made a groundbreaking discovery off the North Carolina coastline, uncovering the remains of four shipwrecks that date back to the 18th century. These findings offer a unique glimpse into the region’s colonial past and highlight the significance of maritime history in the area.
The archaeological group, part of the ECU program in maritime studies, conducted their research near the Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site in Brunswick County during May and June. Their work involved exploring the shoreline and conducting excavations, which led to the identification of several submerged structures. The team collected wood samples from the newly discovered shipwrecks, which suggest that shipbuilders of the time used raw materials sourced from Spanish Caribbean colonies.
Jason Raupp, an assistant professor in the department of history and maritime studies at ECU, led the expedition. He expressed excitement about the potential of these sites to deepen the understanding of the role of Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson as one of the state’s earliest colonial port towns. “These submerged colonial waterfront features are incredibly well-preserved and present an excellent opportunity for ECU students to engage in hands-on, collaborative research,” Raupp said.
Although further analysis is required to confirm the identities of all the wrecks, the university believes one of the sites may be linked toLa Fortuna, a Spanish privateer from Cuba that exploded near the colonial wharves at Brunswick Town during an attack on the port in September 1748, at the end of King George’s War. This theory is supported by the proximity of the wreck to where an 18th-century cannon, believed to be fromLa Fortuna, was recovered in 1985.
Cory van Hees, a graduate student in ECU’s maritime studies program, described the moment he first encountered the wooden frames partially exposed in the clay mud. “I didn’t understand what I was looking at in that moment, but I knew I should relay the wooden structure to faculty,” he recalled. Later that day, Raupp confirmed it was a wreck, potentiallyLa Fortuna. “It was kind of overwhelming and a little emotional feeling once it set in,” van Hees added.
In addition to the possibleLa Fortunawreck, three other shipwreck sites were identified during the summer. Preliminary analysis suggests that one of them was likely used for land reclamation at the waterfront, given its position next to a colonial wharf site. Another could have been a colonial flatboat, a type of watercraft historically used to transport people and goods between the port and nearby plantations. The fourth site was barely exposed, and its remains are still under investigation.
Despite the exciting discoveries, Dr. Raupp noted that the shipwrecks, waterfront infrastructure, and artifacts are at risk due to ongoing erosion along the Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson site. “The successful recovery of the possibleLa Fortunashipwreck and documentation of heritage at risk within a nationally significant historic site demonstrates the effectiveness of the collaborative efforts of the research team,” he said.
The university continues to conduct research and analysis into the construction and identity of each of the four shipwrecks. These findings not only shed light on the maritime history of the region but also emphasize the importance of preserving such historical sites for future generations.
