Oil and gas finds unexpected treasure
It’s also found a shipwreck 35 miles off the coast of Louisiana in 4,000 feet of water that federal, state and industry officials preserved by working together.
Now, the U.S. Minerals Management Service is promoting a published report it put together with the help of Texas A&M’s Department of Oceanography and Nautical Archeology Program.
They recovered and documented artifacts from the shipwreck in 2007, and a 335 report about their work went online today.
Officials say the wreck, which likely happened between 1808 and 1820, was discovered as a result of a permitting process required by federal agency for laying pipelines.
“When it became apparent that the shipwreck could be jeopardized by the construction of a deepwater pipeline, MMS worked with industry, the State of Louisiana, and the President’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C., to preserve this historic site,” said Randall Luthi, director of the Minerals Management Service.
Although the ship has yet to be identified, archaeologists refer to it as the Mardi Gras Shipwreck after the name of the pipeline near which it was found.
A specially equipped, remotely operated vehicle was used to recover more than 500 artifacts from the area.
Officials say they will displayed in Louisiana after they are restored at Texas A&M’s Conservation Research Laboratory.
The artifacts include glass bottles and tableware from
“We believe this shipwreck tells an important story about the role of the Gulf of Mexico during this period,” said archaeologist Jack Irion, who works for the Minerals Management Service. “New Orleans was a crucial part of the global clash between European empires. This was a critical period, not only for
To see the report, go here.
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