Mission Plan
Mission Plan

US Brig Chippewa
US Brig Chippewa

Anti-Piracy Patrol
Anti-Piracy Patrol

Explorers
Explorers

Photo & Video Log

This page contains photos and videos taken during the Search for Trouvadore 2008 expedition from July 4 – 25, 2008. Click on any image to view a larger version and for additional information. If a movie camera icon camera icon is present, a QuickTime video can be viewed by clicking on the image. Other video formats are available on the linked pages. If a Podcast icon Podcast Icon is present, a video or audio file is available for download or you can subscribe to the RSS Podcast Feed. NOAA Podcast RSS 2.0 Feed

If a slideshow icon slideshow icon is present, a visual log of exploration images can be viewed. You can scroll through them one by one, or select the play button for an automatic slideshow.

(HR) = "High Resolution" images available.

 

camera icon Video & slideshow icon Slideshows

These large well-preserved timbers are the remains of the bottom of the hull.

slideshow icon Mission Photo Slideshow
View a slideshow of The Search for the Slave Ship Trouvadore 2008 and the US Navy Ships Chippewa and Onkahye.

It’s an area exposed to the open Atlantic with waves rolling across the reef.

camera icon Chippewa
It’s an area exposed to the open Atlantic with waves rolling across the reef causing water to surge back and forth.

Archaeologists also found a mast ring embedded in the reef.

camera icon Chippewa
Archaeologists also found a mast ring embedded in the reef. This artifact is from one of the wooden masts cut away shortly after the Brig grounded on the reef.

A portion of the Chippewa site discovered in 2008.

camera icon Chippewa
A portion of the Chippewa site discovered in 2008 is located in shallow water on top of Northwest Reef. Archaeologists snorkeling on the reef discovered eleven carronades.

The Trouvadore site is located near a natural feature called the Black Rock.

camera icon Trouvadore
The Trouvadore site is located near a natural feature called the Black Rock just off East Caicos Island. Until identified the shipwreck was named after the rock.

A close-up underwater video tour shows the portion of the wreck depicted in the site photo mosaic.

camera icon Trouvadore
A close-up underwater video tour shows the portion of the wreck depicted in the site photo mosaic.

Archaeologists made detailed drawings of the site underwater as they measured each timber used to build the ship and artifacts found on board.

camera icon Trouvadore
Archaeologists made detailed drawings of the site underwater as they measured each timber used to build the ship and artifacts found on board.

One of the artifacts they found is a deadeye used as part of the standing rigging to hold up the masts.

camera icon Trouvadore
One of the artifacts they found is a deadeye used as part of the standing rigging to hold up the masts (dark round object on the left side). Deadeyes were commonly made from lignum vitae, a dense hard wood.

Visual survey, or just looking around, is one of the best methods to find shipwrecks and artifacts in shallow clear water.

camera icon Visual Survey Techniques/Drum Point
Visual survey, or just looking around, is one of the best methods to find shipwrecks and artifacts in shallow clear water.

Teams of two people operated together using the battery powered scooters.

camera icon Visual Survey Techniques/Drum Point
Teams of two people operated together using the battery-powered scooters.

Archaeologists follow a set pattern while surveying to systematically and completely cover the search area.

camera icon Visual Survey Techniques/Drum Point
Archaeologists follow a set pattern while surveying in order to systematically and completely cover the search area.

Near Drum Point they explored the remains of a shipwreck in very shallow water. The site contains large anchors, iron rods, and machinery.

camera icon Visual Survey Techniques/Drum Point
Near Drum Point they explored the remains of a shipwreck in very shallow water. The site contains large anchors, iron rods, and machinery.

Images

The 2008 survey will expand outward from the 2004 and 2006 search areas.

Mission Plan
The 2008 survey will expand outward from the 2004 and 2006 search areas. (HR)

The shallow reefs off Providencialesí Northwest Point are the focus of the 2008 search for the US Brig Chippewa and the US Schooner Onkahye.

Mission Plan
The shallow reefs off Providenciales' Northwest Point are the focus of the 2008 search for the U.S. brig Chippewa, and the U.S. schooner Onkahye. (HR)

Testing in 2006 near the ballast mound revealed the ship’s frames, copper sheathing, a possible pump well and master frame, and a longitudinal stringer.

Mission Plan
Testing in 2006 near the ballast mound revealed the ship’s frames, copper sheathing, and a longitudinal stringer. (HR)

In areas where it is not practical to tow snorkelers and when there are large areas to be covered, the DPV (diver propulsion vehicle) is an extremely useful tool.

Mission Plan
In areas where it is not practical to tow snorkelers the diver propulsion vehicle (DPV) is an extremely useful tool. (HR)

This type of cannon, invented at the Carron Foundry in Scotland in 1779.

Mission Plan
This type of cannon, invented at the Carron Foundry in Scotland in 1779, was very popular at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. (HR)

 

 

 

This heavily concreted carronade is one of 10 located during the 2008 expedition.

U.S. Brig Chippewa
This heavily concreted carronade is one of 10 located during the 2008 expedition. (HR)

". . . the Brig, being the Act of turning over on her Starbd. Bilge, I was under the necessity of cutting away the Masts, the preservation of those left on the wreck had now become some what precarious . . ."

U.S. Brig Chippewa
“ . . . the Brig, being the Act of turning over on her Starbd. Bilge, I was under the necessity of cutting away the Masts . . .” (HR)

Chippewa was one of only three fast, well-armed clipper brigs specially designed and built to break the British blockade of American ports during the War of 1812.

U.S. Brig Chippewa
Chippewa was one of only three fast, well-armed clipper brigs specially designed and built to break the British blockade of American ports during the War of 1812. (HR)

 

The two long hooked reefs off Northwest Point caught both the US Brig Chippewa (1816) and the US Schooner Onkahye (1848).

Anti-Piracy Patrol
The two long hooked reefs off Northwest Point caught both the U.S. brig Chippewa (1816) and the U.S. schooner Onkahye (1848). (HR)

In a bold effort to end piracy and the illegal slave trade, the US Congress adopted An Act to Protect the Commerce of the United States and Punish the Crime of Piracy, in May 1820.

Anti-Piracy Patrol
The U.S. Congress adopted An Act to Protect the Commerce of the United States and Punish the Crime of Piracy, in May 1820. (HR)

The US Schooner Alligator, launched in1820, was based on a hull design by American naval architect William Doughty, the designer of the US Brig Chippewa.

Anti-Piracy Patrol
The U.S. schooner Alligator, launched in 1820. (HR)

 

A large wooden-stock 19th-century anchor, salvaged from the Northwest Reef area in the early 1970’s.

Mission Summary
A large wooden-stock 19th-century anchor, salvaged from the Northwest Reef area in the early 1970s. (HR)

A photo-mosaic of the Black Rock Wreck’s hull components exposed in the transverse trench excavated across the site.

Mission Summary
A photomosaic of the Black Rock Wreck’s hull components exposed in the transverse trench excavated across the site. (HR)

Robert Krieble uses a DPV (Diver Propulsion Vehicle) to explore the Drum Point Wreck.

Mission Summary
Robert Krieble uses a diver propulsion vehicle (DPV) to explore the Drum Point Wreck. (HR)

The 33-ft motor catamaran TT Anwar served as a much-needed surface-support platform during the excavation.

Mission Summary
The 33-ft motor catamaran TT Anwar served as a much-needed surface-support platform during the excavation. (HR)

Local information and our magnetometer re-located a small iron cannon in shallow, protected water near Jacksonville Cut.

Mission Summary
Small iron cannon in shallow, protected water near Jacksonville Cut during the East Caicos survey. (HR)

 

 

 

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