Using underwater search technology, a team of researchers have uncovered an shipwreck off of the North Carolina coast that could date back to the 1700s. According to a press release from Duke University, this site has yielded various interesting historical artifacts, including bits of wood and brick and navigational tools. The ship was reportedly discovered accidentally, as researchers searched for a lost mooring, which still hasn't been accounted for.
Although the statement does not indicate a name for the vessel, it quotes Bruce Terrell of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), who said that the wreck was "undisturbed and well preserved." This is because it was discovered deep below the surface of the ocean, where low temperatures have kept the contents of the ship relatively intact. This discovery adds another to the list of many shipwrecks in the area, many of which date back to the 1940's.
The underwater vehicles used to survey the wreck site, as well as the research ship used to launch them, come from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Duke University Marine Laboratory director Cindy Van Dover connected the findings with the important advances made in marine technology.
"This is an exciting find, and a vivid reminder that even with major advances in our ability to access and explore the ocean, the deep sea holds its secrets close," she said in the statement. "Our accidental find illustrates the rewards — and the challenge and uncertainty — of working in the deep ocean," she added.
The expedition involved two different types of submersibles, one of which was controlled by a human operator. With missions that involve multiple tactics, a multi-section marine insurance policy allows operators to purchase individual coverage packages as needed.