Monday, September 22, 2008

Hurricane Ike reveals relic

clipped from www.livescience.com

Ike Helps Uncover Mystery Vessel on Ala. Coast


FORT MORGAN, Ala. (AP) — When the waves from Hurricane Ike receded, they left behind a mystery ‚Äî a ragged shipwreck that archeologists say could be a two-masted Civil War schooner that ran aground in 1862 or another ship from some 70 years later. The wreck, about six miles from Fort Morgan, had already been partially uncovered when Hurricane Camille cleared away sand in 1969.


Researchers at the time identified it as the Monticello, a battleship that partially burned when it crashed trying to get past the U.S. Navy and into Mobile Bay during the Civil War.


Glenn Forest, another archaeologist who examined the wreck, said a full identification would require an excavation.


"It's a valuable artifact," he said. "They need to get this thing inside before it falls apart or another storm comes along and sends it through those houses there like a bowling ball."

 blog it

No comments: