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Gulf Islands National Seashore
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Gulf Islands National Seashore includes major portions of the barrier islands off the coasts of Florida and Mississippi. The park encompasses a wealth of historic sites dating to 16th century European exploration and occupation. Gulf Islands NS includes 125,000 acres, of which more that 100,000 acres are submerged lands.
The NPS Southeast Archeological Center (SEAC) conducted a shipwreck survey at the park in 1973. George Fischer was director and his assistant and dive officer was Dan Lenihan. Participants included the Regional Archeologist from NPS Southwest Region, Calvin R. Cummings and various representatives of the maritime community including James Quinn from the Neville Public Museum in Green Bay Wisconsin and salvor Marty Meylach. Several wrecks were located and evaluated and some materials removed to SEAC for conservation. |
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In 1994, SRC responded to a request from Gulf Islands National Seashore to use the RoxAnn bottom classification system to locate coal spilled from a barge that sank in park waters. The barge was removed, but coal reportedly covered large areas of the bottom just offshore of the park and was washing onto the parks white sand beaches. After several days of survey, no coal was discriminated using RoxAnn, but ground truthing revealed varying densities of sand were being discriminated. After several days of towed diver surveys, SRC determined the coal was buried and no longer visible on the seabed. In addition to the coal survey, SRC archeologists conducted an archeological clearance in the location of a proposed dock.
Since 1994, the State of Florida and the University of West Florida (UWF) have been actively working with park staff at Gulf Islands National Seashore. UWF staff and students investigated two major shipwrecks in park waters, including the 19th century bulk carrier Catherine, offshore of Santa Rosa Island, and the 18th century Santa Rosa Island Wreck on the islands inshore side.
- November 1994 GIS-based, remote sensing survey. Offshore park area was surveyed with GPS-controlled fathometer and RoxAnn bottom-classification device to locate spilled coal. Larry Murphy, Project Director
- July/August 1973 Shipwreck Survey, George Fischer Director. Dan Lenihan was field supervisor and dive officer. Project emphasized magnetometer coverage and ground-truthing of anomalies.
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References:
- Burns, Jason M., 2002, The Life and Times of a Merchant Sailor: The Archaeology and History of the Norwegian Ship Catherine (Plenum Series in Underwater Archaeology). Kluwer/Plenum Publishing, 2002.
- Bratten, John R., J. COZ Cozzi, and James W. Hunter III, 1999, Colonial Ship Archaeology Progress Report. University of West Florida Archaeology Institute, Report of Investigations # 78.
- Bratten, John R., Jason M. Burns, James W. Hunter III, and J. Cozzi, 1998, Underwater Field Investigations 1998. University of West Florida Archaeology Institute, Report of Investigations # 70.
- Murphy, Larry E., 1994, Archeological Clearance Report for Proposed Pier Construction, Gulf Islands National Seashore. Submerged Resources Center Technical Report No. 2. National Park Service, Santa Fe, NM.
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Related Links
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Santa Rosa Island Wreck
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