 DYLAN KIBLER/MEL FISHER MARITIME MUSEUM
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Posted on 11/15/2002 4:34:31 PM PST by jimtorr
KEY WEST -- Research divers and marine archaeologists expect to find shells, rocks and remnants of shipwrecks when they excavate areas of the ocean bottom.
But pine cones, tree branches and charred limbs -- thought to be about 8,400 years old -- were an unexpected and intriguing treasure awaiting archaeologist Corey Malcom, who spent much of the summer underwater in search of the remains of the Henrietta Marie, a British slave ship that sank 35 miles off Key West in 1700.
In August, Malcom, who is director of archaeology at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, was joined underwater by George Robb, founder of RPM Nautical Foundation and financial supporter of the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society.
Robb was diving in about 40 feet of water as the search for the remaining cannons and other parts of the Henrietta Marie continued. The divers had previously surveyed various sites with electronic equipment able to locate objects that lie covered in sand on the ocean floor.
DYLAN KIBLER/MEL FISHER MARITIME MUSEUM
As RPM and museum divers checked out several "hits" that came from the equipment, they were particularly interested in one that was strong and a bit unusual. Upon first entering the water, nothing but sand was visible to them, so Malcom received permission from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to begin excavating the area. Previous permits only allowed surveying and examination.
Divers found prehistoric pine cones along with pieces of yellow pine trees thought to be about 8,400 years old and eventually submerged under the ocean with the end of the last Ice Age.
Divers cleared a 2-by-3-meter area on the ocean floor and carefully began sifting through a thick mud that replaces sand underneath the water. About 10 inches down, they found a few small, glass beads that led them to believe they were close to more Henrietta Marie ruins, as hundreds of similar glass beads have been found at the main wreck site.
As the divers continued to work, they laid aside black and gray rocks, thinking they could be ballast rocks from the ship, and still hoped for large pieces of the shipwreck.
"Then George Robb found a piece of pine that still smelled like pine," Malcom said, explaining that the workers initially thought the charred wood had been used as firewood on board the ship. "But as we continued to explore, it didn't feel like a shipwreck anymore."
The divers had wandered into a section of prehistoric Florida that had once been dry land during the last Ice Age, Malcom said.
When the Ice Age ended, the ocean levels rose sharply for thousands of years, covering much of the land in seawater and burying pine forests under about five feet of sand and sediment and more than 40 feet of water.
Radiocarbon analysis showed the pine cones and burnt wood to be about 8,400 years old, but the burnt characteristic remained a mystery until it was learned that the black and gray rocks also had been burnt and were identified by sanctuary scientist Harold Hudson as fire-altered limestone.
Hudson's theory was confirmed by geologist Eugene Shinn, leading the researchers to believe that a forest fire had, at some point, swept through the prehistoric forest.
While no signs of humanity were revealed in the initial findings, Malcom is not ruling out the possibility of finding some.
In the meantime, he is hoping to continue to work in cooperation with geologists and paleo-ecologists, who are more familiar with the underwater findings.
Representatives from the sanctuary also are interested in learning more about the land mass that once stretched more than 30 miles away from the shores that are now Florida.
"It's pretty incredible that the sea level rose that much, and definitely leads to some interesting questions that we hope people will pursue," said Dave Score, who works for the sanctuary and often deals with submerged cultural resources.
"Obviously, our focus is on shipwrecks, but I also think our mission was to discover, and we've certainly done that," Malcom said, carefully wrapping a pine cone in a saltwater-soaked paper towel until it could be properly conserved.
The lost city of Atlantis created a huge hole in the ozone layer with their complete disregard for the delicate balance of nature. Not to worry--they paid for their sins.
I'm thinking the mainland "collapsed"..a sinkhole type scenario and the two fire/flood events are not connected, just sequential. Just pondering possibilities.
From The Search For Atlantis In Cuba
Atlantis was said to have been an island empire the size of 'Libya and Asia put together', founded by the sea-god Poseidon. It possessed a cosmopolitan metropolis, with palaces, royal courts, harbor works and waterways that constantly received sea-going vessels from afar.
For many generations Atlantis ruled the Atlantic Ocean as well as parts of the `opposite continent'. Yet soon the empire set its sights on controlling the lands inside the Mediterranean basin. It was at this point that the fair race of Athens rose up against the Atlantean aggressor and in a decisive naval battle defeated its enemy. Some time afterwards the god Zeus unleashed 'earthquakes and floods' that drowned the Athenian navy and submerged the island of Atlantis in one `terrible day and night'. The date given for this catastrophe is post 8570 BC in Plato's dialogue the Timaeus and 9421 BC in its sequel the Critias.
It's okay. It's a Baby Ruth.
During the Ice Age, the Gulf Of Mexico became isolated from the worlds oceans by a 'dam' across Florida, Cuba and the Yucatan. Over time, the Gulf dried up some to a reduced, but stable, lower body of water. The Atlantaians weren't aware that anything was unusual and built a magnificent city on the Gulf coast, 2200 feet below the present water level.
Now, when the asteroid crashed into the 'dam' it ignited the volcanos on Cuba and reflooded the whole Gulf Of Mexico up to it's current level. The heat from the asteroid and the volcanos burned the forests and then the waters quickly cascaded in and covered them and the wonderful city of Atlantis.
In my next post, if you'll look around the Bahamas on the map that I'll link, you'll see underwater impact craters from the asteroid swarm that broke the 'dam.'
Notice that the Red Sea is landlocked, there is no Persian Gulf and etc.
Carolina Bays (More from the asteroid swarm?)
....and now, "you know the rest of the story."
The SUV did it.
I don't know why that depth was picked.
The experts say that the worlds oceans depths were reduced by 300-500 feet world wide during the Ice Age, most settle for about 400 feet. I use this map to begin to illustrate how different the world map was during that time. (Now, image another 100-200 feet less water. My guess is that the Mediterranean was blocked off also?) Sure explains why each culture/civilization has flood stories, huh?
BTW, The Red Sea may have broken through (reflooded) in 1628BC when Thera blew (earthquakes/tidal waves) and created the 'fireworks' for the Exodus and swept away the Egyptian soldiers persuing the Jews.
Can you tell, I like this stuff.
Good observation.
Wrong conclusion !
Also, I haven't studied the Gulf region very closely. Have you run across any information that would lead you to believe that a reducing environment may have existed in this area pre-impact? I seem to recall hearing that there was some indication of this from investigations of the cenotes in the Yucatan.
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