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Virginia
Related: About this forumThree ships from the 1700s found on one block in Old Town Alexandria
Fifteen feet down in the muck, mud and sand, you can reach out and touch the remains of a ship, or three, that were so worn out by 1798 that they were scuttled to help create new land for Alexandrias thriving commercial port.
The wet wood was last dry when local resident George Washington had just retired from the presidency to nearby Mount Vernon, in a time before the invention of indoor plumbing, gas lighting or the steam locomotive.
The wet wood was last dry when local resident George Washington had just retired from the presidency to nearby Mount Vernon, in a time before the invention of indoor plumbing, gas lighting or the steam locomotive.
snip
Specialists from Thunderbird Archaeology also have unearthed about 100,000 artifacts the foundation of a flour mill, coins from Ireland, England, France and Spain, pieces of ceramics, bottles and animal bones.
snip
The ships are being kept wet, because every moment they are exposed to dry air causes deterioration, said Eleanor Breen, acting city archaeologist. The wood is soaked and covered at night. Once the original location has been documented, the timbers will be taken to a warehouse on the West End, where they will remain underwater until city officials decide what to do with them.
Whole story and more pics here:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/three-ships-from-the-1700s-found-on-one-block-in-old-town-alexandria/2018/04/12/98ba1c8c-3da0-11e8-8d53-eba0ed2371cc_story.html?utm_term=.aeb7821f1b7e&wpisrc=nl_buzz&wpmm=1
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Three ships from the 1700s found on one block in Old Town Alexandria (Original Post)
FSogol
Apr 2018
OP
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)1. How fascinating
Thanks for posting this.
FSogol
(45,484 posts)2. Anytime. I love this stuff and will go take a look this weekend. n/t
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)3. Well take pictures, for sure.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,434 posts)4. They had an open house last Sunday. It rained most of the day.
Great for the ships; not so much for those viewing.
I didn't go.
Archaeologists discover third ship at Robinson Landing construction site
April 11, 2018
By Missy Schrott | [email protected]
The City of Alexandria announced in a press release archaeologists under contract with developer EYA have found the remains of a third historic ship at Robinson Landing. This comes three weeks after the city announced two ships had been found at the site. ... Archaeologists believe all three ships at the site were built in the mid-to-late 1700s and were buried before 1798. A similar ship was discovered nearby at the Hotel Indigo site in 2015. The most recent ship discovery is the largest yet in the area.
The city and EYA will hold a public viewing of the site from the unit block of Wolfe Street on April 14 from noon to 4 p.m. Archaeologists will be on hand to provide information and answer questions. The active construction site will not be open to the public during the viewing, but many notable elements of the site will be visible, including the most recent ship discovery. The ships will be covered before and after the viewing in order to protect the wood from exposure.
Working in Alexandria for more than 20 years, we recognize and respect the rich history of the city and the importance of preserving discoveries of this kind, Evan Goldman, EYA vice president of acquisition and development, said in a statement.
Were committed to this unprecedented effort to protect the archaeological history of Old Town. The results have gone well beyond what we expected, and we are thrilled by the significance of the findings and their unique ability to preserve the legacy of the city for years to come, Goldman said.
April 11, 2018
By Missy Schrott | [email protected]
The City of Alexandria announced in a press release archaeologists under contract with developer EYA have found the remains of a third historic ship at Robinson Landing. This comes three weeks after the city announced two ships had been found at the site. ... Archaeologists believe all three ships at the site were built in the mid-to-late 1700s and were buried before 1798. A similar ship was discovered nearby at the Hotel Indigo site in 2015. The most recent ship discovery is the largest yet in the area.
The city and EYA will hold a public viewing of the site from the unit block of Wolfe Street on April 14 from noon to 4 p.m. Archaeologists will be on hand to provide information and answer questions. The active construction site will not be open to the public during the viewing, but many notable elements of the site will be visible, including the most recent ship discovery. The ships will be covered before and after the viewing in order to protect the wood from exposure.
Working in Alexandria for more than 20 years, we recognize and respect the rich history of the city and the importance of preserving discoveries of this kind, Evan Goldman, EYA vice president of acquisition and development, said in a statement.
Were committed to this unprecedented effort to protect the archaeological history of Old Town. The results have gone well beyond what we expected, and we are thrilled by the significance of the findings and their unique ability to preserve the legacy of the city for years to come, Goldman said.
FSogol
(45,484 posts)5. Yeah, I was too tied up with commitments to go.
applegrove
(118,642 posts)6. Love Alexandria. Such a cool place.