Posted on 08/07/2011 10:14:01 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
A group of US archaeologists may have uncovered a section of hull and coral-covered chests that privateer Henry Morgan lost during his 1671 raid of Panama.
The team from Texas State University is led by underwater archaeologist Frederick Hanselmann. He led last year's discovery of cannons at the mouth of the Chagres River that may also have belonged to five ships Morgan is believed to have lost.
The team have been working slowly to uncover the wreckage of the ship that has been buried in the sand.
"When we get to an archaeological site, like a shipwreck that has a lot of sand cover, we're only able to open a little bit with each dive. The little bit on each dive is like a little minor discovery and there's a little bit of excitement because you never know what you may uncover," explained Bert Ho, project survey archaeologist from Texas State University.
The archaeologists say their findings include a 52-foot-by-22-foot (16-metre-by-7-metre) starboard side of a wooden ship, unopened cargo boxes and chests encrusted in coral that were buried deep beneath a think layer of sand and mud.
Panama's Caribbean has long drawn treasure hunters and much of Morgan's lost bounty has likely been plundered. Hanselmann is leading efforts to conserve the remaining traces of Morgan's famous pillage of Panama.
Hanselmann says further research will be carried out in order to positively identify this as one of Captain Morgan's lost ships.
This discovery expedition, carried out in July 2011, was made possible through a grant from the Captain Morgan Rum brand after initial funding fell through.
Additionally, volunteer time and resources were donated from the National Park Service's Submerged Resources Center and NOAA/UNC-Wilmington's Aquarius Reef Base.
(Excerpt) Read more at 3news.co.nz ...
Yeah, interesting, eh? Drake was a privateer, wound up taking some time out of his day spent lawn bowling to go to the battle with the Armada, organized the fire ships attack which started the process of destroying command and control. I think there’s a topic around here on how Drake had gotten the idea when something like it was done to him during a raid on a Spanish or Portuguese port. :’)
Heh... I love that scene.
I just went to a website that has the old MASH episodes to find and replay that scene. I found it. The thing is, this website somehow removed the laugh track. It makes the humor much more poignant and less slapstick, somehow.
Thanks Pharmboy.
This thread was just asking for a Geraldo reference, LOL.
How about Horse Pucky!
It would be interesting to see if a modern day Letter of Marque could be devised to allow private attack on Somali pirates, including confiscating their loot/bank accounts. Could clean the problem up very quickly.
I suppose the bleats from the "human rights" crowd, UN and EU would never allow it.
Methinks judicious and frequent issuance of Letters of Marque would solve a whole lotta problems. Piracy and spam, for two.
My wife's aunt went to high school with him there.
Thanks BHT.
If the Straits were just closed to all traffic other than authorized trade vessels — by authorized, I mean, authorized by the countries which move the freight through there, closed to all other traffic, all under the auspices of the UN — and all other ships either boarded and seized or sunk on sight, there’d be no Somali pirates.
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