Granite
Wreck
The
sanctuary located an unidentified vessel with an unusual cargo
in 2004 using side scan sonar. When scientists investigated the
site with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), they found numerous
granite slabs with holes bored through the middle. During the
19th and 20th centuries, a considerable quantity of granite was
cut from New England quarries and shipped by water to American
cities. Granite was used to build a variety of different things
from great structures and monuments to more mundane streets and
sidewalks.
A
granite sloop loading cargo of granite in
Connecticut. Courtesy of LARC.
Granite
transportation supported a large fleet of sailing vessels during
the 19th and early 20th centuries. Most of these vessels were
small sloops or schooners. Waterborne transportation was the most
economical way to move the heavy granite from coastal quarries
to its final destination.
Granite blocks being quarried and readied for
shipment. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
ROV
images are being used to document the shipwreck's diagnostic features
and its cargo. These clues will help to date the shipwreck and
narrow down a time period to search for additional information.
Research has identified the vessel's granite cargo as sewer basin
covers used in the construction of sewer and gutter systems in
cities.
The vessel's cargo consisted of granite sewer basin covers. Courtesy
of NOAA/SBNMS and NURC-UConn.
Approximately 20-30 slabs made up the vessel's cargo.
Courtesy of NOAA/SBNMS and NURC-UConn.
Granite sewer basin covers were used in the construction of city
sewer systems. Courtesy of NOAA/SBNMS and NURC-UConn.
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