Historic, 19th century shipwreck discovered in northern Gulf of Mexico

Archaeological

Thursday, 17 May 2012 09:29

Credit: NOAA Okeanos ExplorerProgram

During a recent Gulf of Mexico expedition, NOAA, BOEM and partners discovered an historic wooden-hulled vessel which is believed to have sunk as long as 200 years ago. Scientists on board the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer used underwater robots with lights and high definition cameras to view remnants of the ship laden with anchors, navigational instruments, glass bottles, ceramic plates, cannons, and boxes of muskets.

Equipped with telepresence technology,Okeanos Explorer reached audiences around the world who participated in the expedition through live streaming Internet video. As members of the public ashore watched live video from the ocean bottom, they became “citizen explorers,” sharing in the discovery with maritime archaeologists, scientists and resource managers from a variety of federal, academic, and private organizations.

The NOAA-funded 56-day expedition that ended April 29 was exploring poorly known regions of the Gulf, mapping and imaging unknown or little-known features and habitats, developing and testing a method to measure the rate that gas rises from naturally-occurring seeps on the seafloor, and investigating potential shipwreck sites.

The shipwreck site was originally identified as an unknown sonar contact during a 2011 oil and gas survey for Shell Oil Company. The Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) requested this and other potential shipwreck sites be investigated during NOAA’s Gulf of Mexico expedition. Surveys and archaeological assessments are required by BOEM to aid in its decision-making prior to issuing permits for bottom-disturbing activities related to oil and gas exploration and development.

Read more: Historic, 19th century shipwreck discovered in northern Gulf of Mexico

More than 200 Roman coins found in Staffordshire field

Treasure

Wednesday, 16 May 2012 11:24

by Paul Suart

UK - A Hednesford man could have stumbled across the next Staffordshire Hoard after finding hundreds of rare Roman coins with his metal detector near Stoke-on-Trent.

Dad-of-three Scott Heeley found 211 silver Roman coins and 69 fragments dating back to the first and second centuries on farmland.

“It’s so exciting – my feet have not touched the floor since,” said the 50-year-old.

“I found an old penny and told my mate Jack ‘this penny will bring me luck’ and I put it in my pocket.

“Moments later my metal detector started beeping and I found three silver coins in a hole.

“The detector carried on bleeping so I dug deeper and pulled out loads of silver coins from the hole.”
Scott found the coins in a field during a trip with Castle Bromwich-based metal detectorist club Timeline Detection.

They have yet to be valued but Tom Brindle, find liaison officer at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, said it was an important discovery.

Read more: More than 200 Roman coins found in Staffordshire field

'American Diggers' look for slavery artifacts in Aiken area; show airs tonight on Spike TV

Treasure

Wednesday, 16 May 2012 10:37

Treasure seeker: Ric Savage looks for buried treasure across America on the Spike TV show “American Diggers.”

 

By CHRIS WALSH - Staff writer - email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

"American Diggers" is a show about looking for buried treasure across America.

Tonight at 10 p.m., see what was found in Aiken when the show visited to search for an episode titled, "Unearthing Controversy."

The subject matter was a bit touchy for local residents when host - and former professional wrestler - Ric Savage asked to search in their backyards. The dig team was looking for slavery artifacts.

"It's a taboo subject," Savage said. "To me, the historical value of the show, that's the most important part.

"I don't think that many people understand the details of slavery, the little details like the fact that they wore tags. Even though it's a dark part of our history, it's something people should know."

Read more: 'American Diggers' look for slavery artifacts in Aiken area; show airs tonight on Spike TV