Francis Soto, we thank you - R.I.P

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Francis Soto, Director of the Government Labs at ONPCS, working with ADMAT on Le Dragon (sunk 1782) in 2019. Hear Francis is discussing one of the iron ballast bars recovered as a sample, from the wreck site in the Dominican Republic.

It is with great sadness that we have to inform the Team that our friend and colleague Francis Soto died on the 25th of July 2023. As you will all know he was the Director of ONPCS Laboratory in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and he was our true friend with over 40 years of maritime archaeological experience. In the maritime archaeological field, he was a legend, having directed and been responsible for the Dominican Republic’s underwater cultural heritage. After being in the Dominican Navy he was one of the first Dominican staff in the newly formed Archaeological Commission under Pedro Borrell who was the first Director General. It then became Oficina Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural Subacuatico (ONPCS) and then more recently DNPCS.

He advised/directed all the Director Generals (most being political appointees with no maritime archaeological experience and so therefore Francis basically was the man in charge) while he was serving his country for nearly 40 years, doing his best to protect the historic shipwrecks. He ran the ONPCS Conservation Laboratory and with his staff and Chief Conservator Isabel Brito, he directed the conservation of thousands of important artefacts. These artefacts being preserved and rescued from lootings and storm damage formed many museum displays and international traveling artefact museum collections.

Francis has been diving on all of the wreck sites in the Dominican Republic and together with Dr Spooner held the collective information on these wrecks.

Dr Spooner was privileged to know and work with Francis since 1997, and will be creating a tribute page to Francis going through some of the stories and sharing some of the ADMAT archives, photos, and video clips of Francis in action over the years.

Francis Soto, may you rest in peace in the sound knowledge that you served your country with distinction, protecting your island’s great underwater cultural heritage! Simply put you were the best, an example to all, a true friend, and guardian of the artefacts. You will be greatly missed.

2021 Survey Team Being Assembled.

ADMAT is currently assembling the team for the 2021 survey which will most likely be in the autumn/winter this year due to the COVID-19 issues. We have to wait till all the Team members can fly to the Dominican Republic which with different countries doing different things may be a while. The good news is that they are now giving vaccinations in Monte Cristi to the local population which will help.

We will accept the application from people to join the Team and will also have a stand by list of Team members in case members cant take part on the chosen dates once they are announced. It is anticipated that we will be working on The Tile Wreck for the next project.

All interested parties please apply on the application forms on the Tile Wreck web page, and contact ADMAT thanks.

ADMAT's Media Department Makes Another Trailer.

With all the global uncertainties with COVID-19, it is very frustrating that we have still not been able to work on our projects. We hope that by the autumn things will be better and that people will be able to safely travel again once more. We have a team ready to go back to the Dominican Republic and a lot of work to do. However, our media team headed up by Stephen Abell and Connor Grzesiak have been working hard on a longer version of the documentary they are creating on the epic story of Le Dragon. The short teaser for this has just been released as below. Well done to our media team for the excellent work they are doing.

The 2021 Le Dragon Teaser.

ADMAT's July 2020 Le Dragon Maritime Archaeological Project is Announced. Apply Now to take part!

ADMAT are delighted to announce that the special summer maritime archaeological project for 2020, will be a partial survey of Le Dragon. The international Team will be spending many hours underwater in a beautiful tropical location as they survey this historic shipwreck.

In 1783 Le Dragon was the last French warship lost in the American Revolutionary War, literally by hours. This is a unique opportunity to join ADMAT’s maritime archaeological project in the historic town of Monte Cristi on the north coast of the Dominican Republic.

ADMAT is working with Oficina Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural Subacuático (ONPCS) and ADMAT-FRANCE based at the Institut de Paléontologie Humaine, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris (UMR-CNRS 7194), to conduct a maritime archaeological survey and excavation of this important American/English/French shipwreck.

The plan for the 2020 season 4th July to the 1st August, , is to locate the anchors and to examine the wrecking process and to conduct a gradiometer survey of the surrounding area. The team will also see if we can find the rest Carron 9pdr cannons and the figurehead which we believe is of General Washington.

A photo-mosaic of the port side of Le Dragon from the bow to main mast step (the front half of the ship), showing the ballast, forward mast rings and three iron Carron 9 pounders.

Latest Research undertaken by PhD student Florence Prudhomme of ADMAT-FRANCE has proven that Le Dragon was an English Privateere and an American Privateer before that. When launched as an American Privateer she was called the Washington.

All interested parties wanting to take part in this exciting project should look at Le Dragon under the Project section of the web site and apply soon. For further information please contact Dr Simon Q Spooner at maritime_archaeology@yahoo.co.uk

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Dr Spooner Presents ADMAT's Excavating Shipwrecks Lecture Series on The Crystal Serenity

The Crystal Serenity in the Turks and Caicos Islands

During December 22nd 2019 to January 6th 2020, Dr Spooner took the ADMAT’s Excavating Shipwrecks Series of lectures to the Caribbean. He was the guest lecturer onboard the cruise liner Crystal Serenity. The cruise ship was doing a “Haute Caribbean Holiday” cruise, which departed Miami and stopped at Grand Turk, St Martin, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Tortola, Key West and back to Miami.

There were four lectures which as usual were a great success, with a number of interesting questions afterwards from the audience.

Le Casimir lecture at 1:30pm

ADMAT Congratulates Dr Florence Prudhomme on being awarded her PhD!

A survey well done! ADMAT members Connor Grzesiak (Australia) and Dr Florence Prudhomme (France) after the last maritime archaeological survey dive, during the 2019 season on Le Dragon.

ADMAT Congratulates Dr Florence Emmanuelle Prudhomme on being awarded her PhD. Her thesis is on Le Dragon (scuttled on the north coast of the Dominican Republic in 1783) and her Captain.

Dr Florence Prudhomme, one of the first members of ADMAT and ADMAT-FRANCE and having been instrumental in assisting ADMAT commence its maritime archaeological work in the Dominican Republic in 2005, has been awarded her PhD in maritime archaeology and history at Sorbonne University in France. This is a major undertaking and all at ADMAT salute her in this epic achievement!

Following on from Dr Spooner’s PhD (2004) thesis which included the initial ground breaking research on Le Dragon, then called The Carron Wreck after the Scottish iron 9pdrs which were found on the wreck, Florence has spend the last 4 years researching the history of the ship and her Captain. Florence and Dr Francois Gendron of ADMAT-FRANCE discovered the identification of Le Dragon in the French archives in 2006 after using the forensic archaeological clues Dr Spooner found on the wreck site.

The history of this important ship, the spy on board, the King of France’s secret orders, Admiral Hood’s Caribbean Squadron with 21 blockading ships from Monte Cristi to Puerto Plata and the final one day battle between HMS Barfleur 98 gun flagship of Admiral Hood and HMS Invincible 74 which were engaging Le Dragon  20 guns, is an epic story. She was the last French warship lost in the American Revolutionary war in 1783. Forget the “Master and Commander” film this is the real story worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster!

Florence found the code to the cipher from the King of France’s secret orders to the French Governor of Santo Domingo (the Dominican Republic). This led the research to find the story and discover an “off-the-charts military and naval operation”, a “secret society” financed by the King of France who hoped to rule the Caribbean and the Americas after England had been defeated and the research eventually found that the Le Dragon was built as the Washington an American Privateer in 1776. She was one of the first ships fighting for the Continental Navy only to be captured later by the English and named Dragon and to be subsequently captured by the French and called Le Dragon. She fought under three flags which is rare!

A translated summary of Dr Prudhomme’s thesis is as follows:

Navigating in revolutionary times: chevalier de L’Espine (1759-1826) from the American Independence into the service of Austria. A destiny through the prism of Maritime archaeology and History.

At the very beginning of the 21st century, a team of archaeologists dived on the wreck of a small 18th century warship in the north of the current Dominican Republic. Its hull is of American manufacture, its guns are Scottish and the buttons of uniforms are French. After having followed some false leads, the research in the National Archives makes it possible to solve this enigma: it concerns the French corvette Dragon of Chevalier de L’Espine, destroyed in January 1783 after a short action against British vessels ensuring the northern blockade of Santo Domingo. This identification serves as a catalyst for a historical research of which Chevalier Joseph de L'Espine du Puy (1759-1826) constitutes the central character. The investigation reveals the fate of the Navy officer L'Espine upstream and downstream of his gallant action in January 1783. Young Knight of Malta and officer of the Navy of Louis XVI, L'Espine participated in the American Revolution, did a mandatory service in the Navy of Malta, and took part in French naval intelligence secret missions. The French Revolution ruined his hopes and forced him into exile. In Austria, he won the confidence of the high Austrian authorities by unambiguously engaging with the armies of France from 1795. L'Espine quickly became one of the brains of an Austrian Navy questioned at each treaty signed between France and Austria. Promoted to Feldmarschall-Leutnant in 1813, L'Espine decided not to return to France at the Restauration. Appointed Governor of Milan in November 1825, he died there on December 31, 1826.

 Soutenue le 13-09-2019

American Ambassador Visits ADMAT's Centre

Dr Spooner left with the Honourable Robin S Bernstein, American Ambassador to the Dominican Republic who visited ADMAT’S Maritime Archaeological Centre in July 2019.

ADMAT always has a number of visitors and guests when we have ongoing projects. During the Le Dragon Project on the 25th July 2019, we had a special guest. The Honourable Robin S Bernstein who is the United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, visited ADMAT’s Maritime Archaeological Centre in Monte Cristi, together with some of her staff and the national TV and press.

As the Team was working hard on the Le Dragon wreck site, Dr Spooner was delighted to give the Ambassador a guided tour of the Centre as well as give her all the latest information on the historic wrecks ADMAT is surveying for ONPCS and the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Culture. Madam Ambassador was very interested to hear the latest research information that Le Dragon was in fact launched as the Washington and was one of the first warships of the American Continental Navy in 1776. Dr Spooner fully briefed her on the American privateer which was captured by the English and then by the French before the final epic battle where she was scuttled in 1783. In addition to seeing firsthand the artefacts from Le Dragon, she also was shown the cannons, anchors and other artefacts from the French armed merchant ship we call The Tile Wreck which was sunk between 1720-23 in Monte Cristi. Madam Ambassador kindly said that “ADMAT was a national treasure” for all our important maritime archaeological work for the Dominican Republic.

ADMAT Returns from Le Dragon 2019 Summer Survey

Some of the 2019 Le Dragon Maritime Archaeological Survey Team, at ADMAT’s Centre in Monte Cristi. From Left to Right: Connor Grzesiak, PhD student Florence Prudhomme, Steve Frehn, Bob Yee, Sandy, Lt Venture ONPCS, Project Leader Raimund Krob, Dr. Simon Spooner Project Director, Stephen Able and Jessica Piner.

The international Team,  has returned from an exciting month long successful survey of Le Dragon wreck site. Le Dragon, the last French warship lost in the American Revolutionary War in 1783, was formally the English Liverpool Privateer Dragon and before that the Washington one of the first American warships of the American Continental Navy when she was built in 1776. She was beached on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, after an epic battle to save the King of France's spy and secret orders and then scuttled by her Captain by blowing up the rear section of the ship.

This year we had another dynamic Team with Team members represented, UK, USA, Dominican Republic, France, Australia and Canada. The work was undertaken for the Dominican Government, Oficina Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural Subacuático (ONPCS) department of the Ministry of Culture.

Some of Le Dragon Survey Team from left to right: Connor Grzesiak, Bob Yee, Jessica Piner, Stephen Able, Director Francis Soto ONPCS and Project Leader Raimund Krob.

During the three week survey a number of interesting things were located on the ever expanding wreck site. From copper alloy buckles, spat button, cannonballs and barshot, to hull planking and iron ballast bars. The team concentrated its survey to continuing the 2018 survey grid as well as surveying further out to sea from the wreck in the channel between the wo reefs. About 53 m from the amidships break in the hull, a 4 m section of the keel and keelson was located. At present we believe this to be the add on section when the ship was lengthened. The iron keel bolts were still connecting the keel with the keelson and part of the floors were there as well. This was located with the DX200 Gradiometer from Aquascan International Ltd. Close by were two sections of broken gudgeons  which did not match meaning that there are more still to find.

Project Leader Raimund Krob and Stephen Abell documenting the keelson which has connected to it via iron keel bolts, the remains of two floors and part of the keel, all of which is on its side. We believe this section was the addition at the stern of Le Dragon which was added by the American shipwrights in Boston when they extended the ship in May 1782.

On of the interesting finds located 83m from the amidships point was a large cannonball which we are calling a “warshot” in that the size of the cannonball (18-24 pd cannot confirm until concretion removed) indicates that it was too large for the cannons on Le Dragon and therefore must have been fired at her by the English!

The team also located one pair of gudgeons which had broken and another two section which were not a pair, so there are more remaining on site.

Some of the Le Dragon Team with a gudgeon which had broken into two seperate pieces. From Left to Right:, Connor Grzesiak, Dr Simon Spooner, Florence Prudhomme, Louis Desvernay, Rami, Lt Venture, Sandy and Steven Frehn.

ADMAT Le Dragon Lecture given to SUCI by Raimund Krob

ADMAT always promotes the protection of underwater cultural heritage. The Team are delighted to present some of ADMAT's Excavating Shipwrecks Lecture Series all over the world, to great audiences large and small.

On Wed, Feb 13, 2019, in Scarborough, Ontario in Canada; Raimund Krob presented “Le Dragon” to an enthusiastic crowd of Scarborough Underwater Club Inc (SUCI) members. SUCI is one of Ontario’s largest and longest established scuba diving clubs and promotes safety, adventure, fun, and education in the sport of scuba diving. Raimund was the Project leader for the Le Dragon maritime archaeological survey in 2018 and will continue his excellent work as project leader in 2019.

The presentation was very well received and numerous members sought him out after the presentation to learn more about the historic and brave ship.

Mike McAllister, President of the Scuba Club said " I would like to let you know that club members thoroughly enjoyed your presentation on the ongoing marine archeological work on the French ship "Le Dragon", sunk off the north coast of the Dominican Republic in 1783. The story of how the ship came to be wrecked and the methods used to identify the wreck were most interesting. The work of ADMAT has added to the knowledge of maritime history!"

Raimund Krob giving the Le Dragon Lecture, part of ADMAT’s Excavating Shipwrecks Lecture series, to SCUI.

ADMAT Returns From Le Dragon Special 2018 Summer Survey

Some of the July 2018 ADMAT survey Team on the beach in front of Le Dragon wreck site

The international Team, flying the Explorer's Club Flag No:211; has returned from an exciting month long successful survey of Le Dragon wreck site. Le Dragon, the last French warship lost in the American Revolutionary War in 1783, was formally the English Liverpool Privateer Dragon and before that the Washington one of the first American warships of the American Continental Navy. She was beached on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, after an epic battle to save the King of France's spy and secret orders, and then scuttled by her Captain.

This year we had a slightly larger Team than normal with Team members represented, UK, USA, Dominican Republic, France, Australia and Canada. The work was undertaken for the Dominican Government, Oficina Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural Subacuático (ONPCS).

The Teams objectives were to further examine the wreck site and learn what we could. We were lucky in that a recent storm had partially uncovered the starboard amidships section of the ship including two 9pdr Carron iron cannons which were totally exposed. The remaining hull timbers for the exposed floors and futtocks were seen for the first time on the starboard side.

Cannon No:2 on Le Dragon's bow, uncovered by a storm earlier in the year

One of the research questions was the length of the ship. We know that originally as built as the Washington in the US as one of the first privateers for the American continental Navy, she only had two masts. However after being captured by the English and then again by the French she was rebuilt in Boston. We know that at some point after this a mizzen mast was added which supports the theory that the ship was lengthened. 

During the survey a number of iron ballast blocks were located. This is interesting in that this ship was ballasted in 1783 with iron and ballast stones. The positioning of the ballast around the site also gives us the location of the stern of the ship which was one of the focus of the survey. This new information enlarges the length of the ship to around 100ft. A few interesting personal items were found as well as one of the large water casks which was partially intact.

A lead box and lid amongst iron ballast blocks in the stern section of Le Dragon

During the survey small and large pieces of the ships hull were found 53 meters away from the amidships section, which gives us an indication of the blast radius from the scuttling charge which blew up the rear section of the ship to prevent capture by the English Admiral Hoods forces in 1783.

The Team will be returning to the wreck in July 2019 and anyone interested in taking part should contact ADMAT.  

ADMAT Team Member, Dr Roberto Junco Sánchez Discovers Important Artefacts in Mexico

Dr. Roberto Junco Sánchez

Dr Roberto Junco Sánchez, who took part in ADMAT's White House Bay Wreck in St. Kitts and The Button Wreck in Florida and is one of the ADMAT Students to go on and get their PhD's, works with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in Mexico. Recently his team while surveying another wreck, they found some important finds. 

Dr Spooner chatted to him recently about his exceptional discovery and asked him for an article on his discovery. Below is his article and some of the stunning photographs of some of the major artefacts found during the survey and excavation. More than 74 encrusted emeralds, 300 gold pieces including rings, buckles, cufflinks, bracelets, rosaries and toothpicks were found. Unfortunately no remains of the hull were located although some iron cannons were located.

Photo: Javier Hinojosa- INAH

MEXICAN UNDERWATER HERITAGE TODAY

During fieldwork in 2014, on the reefs of the Yucatan Peninsula, studying a wreck a team of Mexican archaeologists from INAH, found a fantastic cargo of Spanish jewels destined to be worn by Spanish high society. This important finding has given us the opportunity to show that the underwater cultural heritage in Mexico is solidly defended, studied and shared with society by INAH. The work that comprised more than 100 hours underwater, located six cannons of the XVIII century and an unprecedented shipment of jewels. The collection includes 3 zoomorphic pieces of gold with several inlays of Colombian emeralds and diamonds, three loose emeralds of great size and quality, 83 rings, a dozen rings with inlaid emeralds, 3 cufflinks, 2 buckles, 15 toothpicks, 5 reliquaries, 3 buttons, 5 crosses, 2 crosses with emeralds, rosaries, medals, appliques, all of gold, among other objects. Also, it is worth mentioning, a lead scandal a navigation instrument of great importance in a ship as well as some bronze objects.

Dr Roberto Junco Sánchez in action during the survey

However, due to the shallow depth in which the ship ran aground, almost nothing remains of it. The main result of the Ancla Macuca wreck study has been the systematic recovery of the collection of jewels that sank with the ship and that today make up a suigeneris collection within archaeology in general. This find opens possibilities to know much about the society that produced, marketed and wore these pieces. In addition, its exhibition at the Museum of Underwater Archeology of Campeche, allows the public to enjoy the rich cultural heritage submerged in Mexican waters and socialize the work of the INAH archaeologists. But undoubtedly, it is an achievement to have located, studied and presented this collection, questioning what many treasure hunters have tried to promote and is proposing to the state the search for this type of traces in exchange for economic retribution.

We show that INAH is capable of attending these types of materials, studying them and socializing them efficiently. Similarly, it is worth noting that we managed to save these materials from the ant looting of our underwater cultural heritage, a practice that still exists in Mexico and that only with the education and legal position that Mexico has adopted we will be able to counteract it.

Photo: Javier Hinojosa- INAH

Photo: Javier Hinojosa- INAH

Photo: Javier Hinojosa- INAH

Photo: Javier Hinojosa- INAH

Photo: Javier Hinojosa- INAH

Photo: Javier Hinojosa- INAH

ADMAT's Summer Maritime Archaeological Project is Announced - Le Dragon - July 2018. Apply Now to take part!

ADMAT are delighted to announce that the special summer maritime archaeological project for 2018, will be a partial survey of Le Dragon. The international Team will be spending many hours underwater in a beautiful tropical location as they survey this historic shipwreck.

In 1783 Le Dragon was the last French warship lost in the American Revolutionary War, literally by hours. This is a unique opportunity to join ADMAT’s maritime archaeological project in the historic town of Monte Cristi on the north coast of the Dominican Republic.

ADMAT is working with Oficina Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural Subacuático (ONPCS) and ADMAT-FRANCE based at the Institut de Paléontologie Humaine, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris (UMR-CNRS 7194), to conduct a maritime archaeological survey and excavation of this important American/English/French shipwreck.

The plan for the 2018 season, is to uncover the starboard side of the ship, locate the stern section if possible and to conduct a gradiometer survey of the surrounding area. The team will also see if we can find the figurehead which we believe is of General Washington.

A photo-mosaic of the port side of Le Dragon from the bow to main mast step (the front half of the ship), showing the ballast, forward mast rings and three iron Carron 9 pounders. 

Latest Research undertaken by PhD student Florence Prudhomme of ADMAT-FRANCE has proven that Le Dragon was an English Privateere and an American Privateer before that. When launched as an American Privateer she was called the Washington.

All interested parties wanting to take part in this exciting project should look at Le Dragon under the Project section of the web site and apply soon. For further information please contact Dr Simon Q Spooner at maritime_archaeology@yahoo.co.uk

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ADMAT's Maritime Archaeological Work is to be shown at a special photographic exhibition at INALCO, Paris

You will find below invitation for the photographic exhibit

"Archéologue en Amérique".

Dr Francois Gendron of ADMAT-FRANCE, which is based at the Institut de Paléontologie Humaine, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, has with his colleagues at the museum, put on a special photo exhibit of archaeological work in Latin Americas (Mexico, Bolivia, Peru and Dominican Republic). This will be presented from December 6th to December 23 at the famous INALCO (Institut national des langues et civilisation Orientales) in Paris.

Our maritime archaeological scientific work is the main atraction for the photographs selected of the Dominican Republic. Also there are some photographs exhibited of the Monte Cristi Carnival, taken by the Team. Each presentation have archaeological part and anthropological part, to show relation and interest of archaeologists for the local peoples and their culture.

The Front of the invitations

The back of the invitations

The poster for the special exhibit clearly showing ADMAT's maritime archaeological work. This work is undertaken for ONPCS and the Ministry of Culture as well as the Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales for the government of the Dominican Republic

Confirmed Le Dragon is the American Privateer Washington!

The latest exciting news from the excellent research conducted by Florence Prudhomme, is that Le Dragon, the last French warship lost in action during the American Revolutionary War in 1783 on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, was in fact an English privateer Dragon and before that an American privateer Washington! So this ship fought under three flags.

The ex-voto model from 1783 presumed to be a three-dimensional representation Le Dragon, in the nave of the Capuchin Church at Ostend

Florence Prudhomme, who is a PhD student in her final year at the Sorbonne University in Paris, has devoted her PhD Thesis to the story of Le Dragon and the captain of the ship. Large amounts of excellent research have been undertaken by Florence who is one of the core members of ADMAT-FRANCE which is based at the Muséum national d’histoire naturelle, Institut de Paléontologie Humaine, in Paris.

Florence has published a paper in the Nautical Research Journal, which goes into some of her work on the change over from American to French. Please click here for the paper.

ADMAT will be conducting a maritime archaeological survey on Le Dragon during July 2018. For information on this historic survey and your chance to join the Team and take part click here Le Dragon.

Following in the footsteps of Columbus

"I sailed to the east towards a very high mountain that looks like an island but is not. It is connected to the land by a low isthmus and is shaped like a very beautiful tent. I named this mountain Monte Cristi.."  Christopher Columbus- Fuson, R. H. (1992). The Log of Christopher Columbus. Maine: International Marine Publishing.

Team Leader Raimund Krob took Wesley Korpela and Justine Fite, to climb up El Morro, the famous mountain which Columbus named for Monte Cristi. The climb took about an hour and once on the top afforded a great view of Monte Cristi Bay. From there they followed in Columbus's foot steps as they went to the far eastern end and looked out over the reefs to the east.

Justine, Raimund and Wesley at the top of El Morro

The view across Monte Cristi Bay, with Cabrita Island in the foreground.

Saturday, 5 January 1493 "Just before sunrise I made sail with a land breeze. It then shifted and blew from the east and I saw to the SSE, between Monte Cristi and a small island, what appeared to be a good harbour in which to anchor tonight. ... I entered between the mountain and the small island where the depth at low tide is 3 1/2 fathoms. It is a very remarkable harbour and i anchored there.

I took the boat to the small island, where I found a fire and signs that fishermen had been here. There I saw many coloured rocks, like a rock quarry, very beautiful and formed naturally. they would be suitable for building churches or royal structures....

Monte Cristi is very beautiful and high and accessible, and has a pretty shape. all the country near the mountain is low, forming a lovely plain, and the mountain is so tall that when one sees it from a distance it looks like an island. Beyond the mountain, 18 miles to the east, I saw a cape that I named Cabo del Bezerro (now known as Punta Rucia). Between Monte Cristi and the cape the reef extends seaward for 6 miles, although it seems to me that there are channels by which one could enter... Christopher Columbus - Fuson, R. H. (1992). The Log of Christopher Columbus. Maine: International Marine Publishing.

Clearly to be able to see this, Columbus must have walked to the eastern end of the mountain.

Wesley doing a Columbus... looking east.

Wesley's view, the same as Christopher Columbus back in 1493, looking east towards the location of The Tile Wreck (1720-23), The Musket Ball Wreck (179), Le Casimir (1829) and Le Dragon (1783) and on to Punta Rucia, together with the reef chain which runs along the entire north coast and is a lea shore as well.

Wreck Two Team finishes their maritime archaeological survey for 2017

ADMAT's Wreck Two maritime archaeological team. The group successfully conducted the archaeological survey of this shipwreck, located in the historic Monte Cristi Bay on the north coast of the Dominican Republic.

The two international teams under the leadership of John Downing from USA and Raimund Krob, from Canada have successfully finished this years survey of a new wreck called Wreck Two. The wreck was located last year, and an initial survey was undertaken last summer. This July the team spent a month on the wreck site, which is located in 12 meters in Monte Cristi Bay, on the north coast of the Dominican Republic.  The two Teams, who represented, Canada, USA, Dominican Republic and England, conducted a number of dives with geophysical equipment to survey the site. A small number of diagnostic artefacts were found and the Team will be researching these finds prior to reporting our findings.

ADMAT's Wreck Two Project Nearly Fully Booked

ADMAT's exciting maritime archaeological survey on the new wreck site we are calling "Wreck Two" is now full for the first session, 1st to 15th July. We have opened a waiting list for those who wish to attend during this period. The second session 15th to 29th July sill has two slots left but anyone wanting to join the Team during this session needs to contact us ASAP. It will be an exciting month of this wreck site and a lot will be learnt and discovered. Important and interesting research design questions remain, like how old is the wreck, what nationality and purpose was the wreck and what is the story on the black obsidian found on the wreck site?

Team Members Wanted For The Survey of Wreck Two, Part of ADMAT's Monte Cristi Maritime Archaeological Project

Following on from the exciting discovery of a new historic shipwreck in Monte Cristi Bay in 2016, The Team will be conducting a survey of this new wreck in July 2017. Divers, students and interested parties who want to join the Team for this exciting project should apply now as places are limited. The project will run from 1st July to the 29th July.

Click on the following link to get further information.

The project, which will survey this new wreck site in Monte Cristi Bay on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, will use geophysical equipment to survey the historic wreck site. The site from initial RECCE is around 17 meters long and 10 wide, with most of it being buried under the sand. Currently there is part of the cargo scattered over the seabed, and the Team will be focusing its efforts in trying to locate the hull remains and any artefacts which will give an indication as to the age, nationality and purpose of the ship. Initial indications point to the vessel being pre 1800s and it is hoped that during the month long survey, a lot of information will be forth coming. This important work is being undertaken with the full support of the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Culture - Oficina Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural Subacuático (ONPCS) as well as the Ministry of Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales.  

Below a video taken of the wreck site during the RECCE in 2016

Dr. Spooner Takes ADMAT's Excavating Shipwrecks Series to the Caribbean on The Crystal Serenity!

Dr. Spooner's ship The Crystal Serenity in St. Bart's.

During November and early December 2016, Dr Spooner took the ADMAT’s Excavating Shipwrecks Series of lectures to the Caribbean. He was the guest lecturer onboard the cruise liner Crystal Serenity. The cruise ship was doing a “Flavours of the Caribbean” Cruise, which departed New Orleans and stopped at Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, San Juan, St Barts, Tortola, Key West and back to New Orleans.

There were four lectures which as usual were a great success, with a number of interesting questions afterwards from the audience.

The Hollywood Theatre on the Crystal Serenity

Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Chow, BA, MA, MSc, PhD.

Dr. Jennifer Chow in action on The Tile Wreck.

Big congratulations to Jennifer for being elevated to Dr. and achieving her PhD. A fantastic achievement and one so well earned!

Dr. Chow completed her B.A. in archaeology at the University of Toronto, and went on to complete an M.A. degree in Museum Studies at the University of Manchester, and an M.Sc. degree in Maritime Archaeology at the University of Southampton. In 2016, she completed her Ph.D. studies in Archaeology, returning back to the University of Manchester.

Her doctoral research received an Honor Frost Foundation grant, which partly funded an experimental project on passive conservation of waterlogged wooden fragments from Henry VIII’s flagship, the Mary Rose. Her primary archaeological research concerns passive conservation of wet wood. She also has an interest and experience in the presentation and exhibition of waterlogged wood within a museum context. She is currently a visiting academic at the University of Manchester.

Dr  Chow took part in the ADMAT’s Artefact Handling classes in Toronto between 2009 and 2010 as well as being a Team member in 2010 on The Tile Wreck survey. While there she conducted a RECCE dive on Le Casimir where she located the only intact large wine bottle found so far, which probably was part of the cargo of wine.  She also took part in the initial RECCE for The Island Wreck survey, in Monte Cristi Bay.

Dr. Jennifer Chow locating an intact French wine bottle on Le Casimir Wreck site. The bottle was lying in the sand having recently been uncovered by a storm. It is the only intact one of its kind found on the wreck site.