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ECU Team Discovers Four Undocumented Shipwrecks in Cape Fear River

Students and archaeologists uncover hidden history in the Cape Fear River. The discovery may include a Spanish warship lost for centuries, as coastal erosion threatens these underwater treasures.

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In this image there are a few ships on the river and there are a few rods, in the middle of them...
In this image there are a few ships on the river and there are a few rods, in the middle of them there is a bridge. On the left and right side of the image there are trees. In the background there is the sky. At the bottom of the image there is some text.

ECU Team Discovers Four Undocumented Shipwrecks in Cape Fear River

A team of graduate students and maritime archaeologists from East Carolina University has discovered four previously undocumented shipwrecks in the Cape Fear River, near Brunswick Town. The discovery was made during an expedition that also documented three other wrecks, providing valuable insights into the colonial past of the region.

The discovery was largely driven by students participating in ECU's summer field school, an immersive program combining academic coursework with hands-on research. One of the shipwrecks may be the long-lost Spanish warship La Fortuna, which was destroyed during a failed raid on Brunswick Town in 1748. The research team unearthed 40 preserved timbers from one wreck, with early analysis suggesting a link to La Fortuna. Wood samples from the timbers were identified as Monterey cypress and Mexican cypress, species native to southern California and Central America, aligning with Spanish shipbuilding practices of the period. The recovered timbers are being preserved at ECU's Queen Anne's Revenge Conservation Laboratory. The discovery comes as the shoreline of Brunswick Town is retreating rapidly due to dredging, intensified storms, and stronger tidal action, threatening the submerged shipwrecks. Archaeological work at the site is conducted by the North Carolina State Historic Sites Program in collaboration with the Office of State Archaeology.

The discovery of these shipwrecks offers a unique opportunity to shed light on the colonial history of the region. Further analysis of the recovered timbers and artifacts may provide more information about the vessels and their role in the past. As the shoreline continues to retreat, efforts to preserve and study these historical sites are crucial to understanding and protecting our shared heritage.

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