Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Sunken Ship Found Beneath Bay Bridge

Pilot Schooner
200-year-old ship found beneath Route 50 bridge
While clearing debris under the Nanticoke Memorial Bridge in Vienna, State Highway Administration workers uncovered one of the oldest Maryland-built shipwrecks ever discovered, made in the 18th century.

While removing debris in 30 feet of water workers noticed pieces they suspected were ship timbers. When State Highway Association archaeologists arrived, they found an intact keel, frames and other pieces of the wreck on a construction barge.
Pride of Baltimore II
a recreated Baltimore Clipper
 I'll bet the workmen are hating life now. Work is probably stopped until the archaeologists are happy.

The use of wooden pegs in the ship’s construction indicates its age, the SHA said in a release. Details such as saw marks and carved symbols in the wood are still visible.

By looking at growth rings in the timber archaeologists were able to determine is was cut from trees along the coast of the Chesapeake Bay, between the Potomac River and Annapolis. The vessel is likely a 45-foot merchant ship, built at a plantation or small shipyard as a precursor to Chesapeake Bay cargo carrying pilot schooners and the Baltimore Clipper.
Let's see; somewhere between Annapolis and the Potomac? Why, that's just about here. They could have cut timber for that ship of my land.

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