Abstract
Between June 1998 and June 2000, the Maritime Studies Program at East Carolina University (ECU) conducted three underwater archaeological field schools in Washington, North Carolina. During these projects, archaeologists and students examined the bottom of the harbor of Washington, near Castle Island for submerged cultural resources, and documented 11 vessels with Phase II pre-disturbance survey techniques. The watercraft proved to be of a diverse array of vernacular vessel types; from schooners, flats, terrapin smacks, oyster sloops, and sailing log canoes, to river steamers and motor boats. Research indicates that Hurricane Floyd may have moved, buried, or damaged a number of these vessels in September 1999, and the results of the ECU preliminary investigations remain the only evidence of the existence of some of these watercraft.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank a number of people for their assistance with the archaeological survey, the preparation of the original technical report (Rodgers et al. 2005), and this chapter. In particular, thanks to Director Blount Rumley and staff of the Washington Estuarium, for their donation of resources and facilities for the project as well as dock space for our research vessels. In addition, many Master’s students in the Program in Maritime Studies at East Carolina University worked long hard hours under some difficult conditions to insure the accuracy of the documentation and fieldwork at Castle Island between 1998 and 2000. In alphabetical order, the 1998 field crew was composed of William C. Aycock, Cathy Fach, Doug Jones, Jason Lowris, Rod Linder, Sarah A. Milstead, Suzanna Pavelle, Larkin Post, Greg Purdy, John Rossi, Chris Southerly, Kathy Southerly, and Kim Williams. The 1999 field crew included Eric Bruning, Garry Byrd (Diving Safety Office), Tane Casserley, Jen Dorton, Kim Eslinger, Russ Green, Mike Hughes, Doug Jones, Matt Lawrence, Dede Marx, Sarah Milstead, Matt Muldorf, Mike Plakos, Larkin Post, and Steve Sellers (Diving Safety Officer). Finally, the 2000 field crew included, Sam Belcher, Heather Cain, Suzanne Finney, Russ Green, Stephen A. Hammack, M.J. Harris, Mike Hughes, Matthew Lawrence, David Miller, Marc Porter, Giovanni Wagemans, and Scott M. Whitesides.
Public outreach for this project included setting up an information tent along the waterfront with project drawings and diagrams manned by graduate students who explained to interested townsfolk how the survey was proceeding and what researchers had discovered to that point. The outreach segment was a great success that brought in more historical information from the town’s longtime citizens, folks who knew the waterfront intimately. Special thanks, therefore, goes to the townspeople of Washington for their hospitality and interest in the survey. In this light, long time residents of Washington, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Sterling were especially helpful with photographs and information concerning the waterfront. Other helpful informants include Mr. Whiting Toler and Ms. Bee Morton.
Thanks also to the staff and faculty of the Maritime Studies Program for their support and good advice, including Dr. Larry Babits, Dr. Tim Runyan, Dr. Annalies Corbin and especially Frank Cantelas for his logistical and technical help on the project and his bravery in operating the research vessels. Thanks also go to Chris McCabe, dedicated graduate student and the researcher who acquired information on vessels Alma and Sophie Wood. In addition, this work could not have been completed without research and editing by Theresa Hicks and Steve Williams. All work conducted during the archaeological survey documented in this report was done under North Carolina State Permit Number 00PMR608.
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Rodgers, B.A., Richards, N., Price, F.H., Clayton, B., Pietruszka, A., White, H. (2016). The Watercraft of Castle Island, Washington, North Carolina. In: Evans, A. (eds) The Archaeology of Vernacular Watercraft. When the Land Meets the Sea. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3563-5_8
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