Florida East Coast Shipwreck Project
Mel Fisher Center, Inc.
2000 Season Report
Compiled by Jim Sinclair, Taffi Fisher Abt, Morgan MacRorie & Noel Wells
(Copyright Mel Fisher Center, Inc. © MFC 2001, all rights reserved)
Acknowledgements
This writer and the Mel Fisher Center, Inc. would like to acknowledge the talented help and input of the following people without whom this report on The East Coast Shipwreck Project would not be possible. We would like to thank as a group in general all of our Sub-Contractors without whose help and dedication much of the history of this fleet would remain unknown. To Captain John Brandon and the crew of the M/V Endeavor and Greg Bounds and the crew of the M/V Bookmaker for all your hard work and for setting the standard as high as you do.
To the staff of the Gift Shop and Museum thank you for watching over the treasure and helping to disseminate the history of these sites.
To Debbie for giving Kay Jewelers a run for their money.
To Noel Wells and Bob Campbell and the volunteers in the Laboratory. Thanks for preserving our past.
To Jim Dunbar and Tommy Gore of the State of Florida Department of Archaeological Research for all you’ve done over the years. You will be missed. Good luck in retirement Tommy.
To the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society and Corey Malcomb for your help with Bezoar Stones, Poison Cups, and Razor Sheaths.
To R. Duncan Mathewson III and Dr. Eugene Lyon for your continuing support of the efforts of The Florida East Coast Shipwreck Project.
To Morgan MacRorie for all the administrative work you do as well as all the other "STUFF"...
Finally to Taffi Fisher Abt for keeping all of us going in the same direction with optimism and a smile - your father would be so very proud.
Jim Sinclair
| Cover | Page1 |
| Acknowledgements | Page 2 |
| Table of Contents | Page 3-4 |
| List of Figures | Page 5 |
| Introduction | Page 6 |
| State of Florida Salvage Contracts | Page 7 |
| S-23 Contract | Page 8-16 |
| S-32 Contract | Page 17-22 |
| State of Florida Archaeological Guidelines | Page 23-30 |
| DEP Permit/Army Corp Permits | Page 31-39 |
| 2000 Season Mel Fisher Center, Inc Meeting Handouts | Page 40 |
| Logsheet Instructions | Page 41-50 |
| Cannon data sheet | Page 51 |
| Anchor data sheet | Page 52 |
| Mel Fisher Center, Inc Standard Operating Procedures | Page 53-57 |
| Archaeological Sites and Reference Maps | Page 58-70 |
| Standardization & Archiving | Page 71-82 |
| 2000 Activity Analysis Summary | Page 83 |
| 2000 Subcontractors Listed by C-Number | Page 84-85 |
| Days Worked by Site, 2000 Season | Page 86-90 |
| Artifact Assemblage 2000 Season | Page 91 |
| Artifact Assemblage, Anchor Wreck Site | Page 92 |
| Artifact Assemblage, Cabin Wreck Site | Page 93-110 |
| Artifact Assemblage, Cannon Wreck Site | Page 111-112 |
| Artifact Assemblage, Corrigan’s Wreck Site | Page 113-114 |
| Artifact Assemblage, Douglas Beach Wreck Site | Page 115-118 |
| Artifact Assemblage, Green Cabin Wreck Site | Page 119-120 |
| Artifact Assemblage, Power Plant Wreck Site | Page 121-122 |
| Artifact Assemblage, Riomar Wreck Site | Page 123-127 |
| Artifact Assemblage, Roberts Wreck Site | Page 128 |
| Artifact Assemblage, S32 Wreck Site | Page 129-130 |
| Artifact Assemblage, Sandy Point Wreck Site | Page 131 |
| Artifact Assemblage, Spring of Whitby Wreck Site | Page 132-133 |
| Artifact Assemblage, Unknown Wreck Site | Page 134 |
| Coinage of the 2000 Season | Page 135 |
| Gold Coin Summary Information | Page 136 |
| Gold Coin Assessment Information | Page 137 |
| Silver Coin Summary Information | Page 138-145 |
| Silver Coin Assessment Information | Page 146-159 |
| 2000 Season Unique Artifacts | Page 160 |
| Clasping Hands Bracelet #47263 | Page 161-162 |
| The Higa #46253 | Page 163-167 |
| Gold Stock #46257 | Page 168-169 |
| Cocoa Service Fragments #46527 | Page 170-171 |
| Wood Razor Sheath #46522 | Page 172 |
| Mano/Metate #46768/#47143 | Page 173-176 |
| Wood Knee #46636 | Page 177-179 |
| Sword Handles #47279 & #46672 | Page 180-187 |
| Continuing Research, the Poison Cup, Tag#39597 | Page 188-193 |
| Conclusion: | Page 194-199 |
| Bibliography | Page 200-203 |
| Appendix "A" 2000 Season Donation to the State of Florida | Page 204-206 |
| Figure 1: | Cabin Wreck Aerial Photo | Page 79 |
| Figure 2: | Database Structure | Page 81 |
| Figure 3: | Photo of Clasping Hands Bracelet #47263 | Page 161 |
| Figure 4: | Illustration of Clasping Hands Bracelet #47263 | Page 162 |
| Figure 5: | Illustration of Higa #46253 | Page 163 |
| Figure 6: | Photo of Higa #46253 | Page 164 |
| Figure 7: | Photo of Ivory Higa | Page 165 |
| Figure 8: | Photo of Rock Crystal Higa | Page 165 |
| Figure 9: | Illustration of Higa Charm | Page 166 |
| Figure 10: | Photo of Gold Stock #46257 | Page 168 |
| Figure 11: | Photo of "Cocoa Service" #46527 | Page 170 |
| Figure 12: | Photo of Combined "Cocoa Service found 1994-1997 | Page 170 |
| Figure 13: | Illustration of Silver Vessel found 1994 | Page 171 |
| Figure 14: | Photo of 1715 Razor Sheath #46522 | Page 172 |
| Figure 15: | Illustration of Atocha Razor Sheath | Page 172 |
| Figure 16: | Photo of Metate #47143 | Page 173 |
| Figure 17: | Photo of Mano #46768 | Page 174 |
| Figure 18: | Example of Metate in use | Page 174 |
| Figure 19: | Example of Flat Metate | Page 175 |
| Figure 20: | Example of Flat Metate | Page 175 |
| Figure 21: | Example of Three Legged Metate | Page 176 |
| Figure 22: | Photo of Wood Knee #46636 | Page 177 |
| Figure 23: | Illustration of Wood Knee #46636 | Page 177 |
| Figure 24: | Illustration of Wood Knee in Kevel | Page 178 |
| Figure 25: | Wallace Sword | Page 182 |
| Figure 26: | Illustration of a Sword Hilt | Page 183 |
| Figure 27: | Photo of Sword Hilt #47279 | Page 184 |
| Figure 28: | Example of Sword Guard | Page 185 |
| Figure 29: | Example of Sword Hilt Parts | Page 186 |
| Figure 30: | Encrusted Sword Hilt #46672 | Page 186 |
| Figure 31: | Photo of 1997 Poison Cup Fragment #39597 | Page 188 |
| Figure 32: | Top View Photo of Poison Cup Fragment #39597 | Page 188 |
| Figure 33: | Illustration of Poison Cup Fragment #39597 | Page 188 |
| Figure 34: | Photo of1622 Gold Atocha Poison Cup | Page 189 |
| Figure 35: | Illustration of 1622 Gold Atocha Poison Cup | Page 189 |
INTRODUCTION: THE QUEST STILL CALLS
This is the millennium edition of The Florida East coast Shipwreck Project yearly report. It is with a deep sense of respect that we face the new challenges of this benchmark in time.
The shipwrecks that we have been investigating and rescuing the remains from are close to three hundred years old now. Diligently through the years we have endeavored to bring to light the scattered remains of these once great ships. It has been both a challenge and a great honor.
As has been reflected in our reports, we as a group and as part of the larger community of Historic Shipwreck Salvors have been constantly learning not only from the shipwrecks, the artifacts, and the sea, but also from historians, archaeologists, preservationists, conservators and more recently computer experts – we have been growing in both knowledge and ability.
Much of our motivation has been the opportunity to be involved in something larger than any of us individually.
The Dream - The Quest call it what you will, but it is rarely just the chance to find riches although this too enters the equation.
We are diverse and energetic and above all we are dedicated - The Quest calls and we have answered - Today’s The Day!
Mel Fisher Center, Inc.
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STATE OF FLORIDA
2000 SALVAGE CONTRACTS
The following chapter includes examples of the contracts between the State of Florida and Mel Fisher Center, Incorporated. There are basically two types of contracts covered in this report for which examples are provided. The main difference between the two involves a substantial difference in fees as well as the fact that one was negotiated in 1989 while the others were all subject to a settlement agreement of 1983. While it would be optimal to include copies of all of the contracts and official documentation between the State of Florida and Mel Fisher Center, Inc., that would involve a large number of contracts and bulk which is actually repetitive documentation with the exception of the site descriptions. Thus for the sake of condensation, one example of each of the two main types are included in the following section.
The following contract examples are for the areas designated as S-32 and S-23. The S-32 contract specifies the conditions for salvage in the area approximately three miles North of the Sebastian Inlet also known as "Chucks Steakhouse" or the "Brass Telescope Wreck". All of the contracts with the exception of S-32 included a copy of the settlement agreement of 1983. Each of the contracts contained a copy of the "State of Florida’s Archaeological Guidelines" which are included in the next chapter. There are similar contracts for all of the sites addressed in this report. The salvage activities for all of the contracted sits are addressed in later chapters.
It should be noted that Salvor’s Inc. granted, assigned and transferred to Mel Fisher Center, Inc. all of its rights, title and interest in the Settlement Agreement dated June 3, 1983 by and between the Florida Department of State and Cobb Coin Company Inc. (a.k.a. Salvor’s Inc.) and all related salvage agreements and admiralty claims in September 1998.
It should also be noted that Mel Fisher Center, Inc. has requested a reforming of the Archeological Guidelines Committee. Mr. James Miller Bureau Chief of Department of Archeological Research has verbally agreed to this concept.
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