The Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) from the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is working with the Florida Department of State Bureau of Archaeological Research and FPAN (Florida Public Archaeology Network) to study a shipwreck that was discovered recently in Daytona Beach Shores. The wreckage began appearing after Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, but it has been partially buried on and off due to the tides.
St. Augustine Lighthouse Archaeologist Chuck Meide has confirmed that the object is, in fact, a shipwreck.
"The shipwreck is most likely a cargo-carrying sailing vessel from the 1800s,” he explained. “It would have likely sailed within sight of the coast and used lighthouses for navigation, though it was probably big enough to cross the Atlantic as well. It was re-buried by the time we got to it, so we didn't see it at full exposure. We are not sure of its overall size but reports of witnesses said the wreckage was between 80 to 100 feet long."
Meide and the LAMP team were on site in Daytona Beach Shores on Dec. 5-6, measuring and studying what parts of the ship were protruding above the sand. The wreck is near Frank Rendon Park, 2705 S. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach.
“Here in Florida, we often have storms that reveal cultural material either offshore or right on the beach,” said Secretary of State Cord Byrd. “In these cases, our collective human story is brought to the forefront. The Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources is committed to protecting and promoting these significant submerged cultural resources. The Florida Department of State thanks Florida Public Archaeology Network and Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program for their rapid response to this recently exposed wreck on behalf of the state.”
He added that the public is encouraged to contact the Bureau of Archaeological Research when artifacts or sites are exposed on the beach.
