Amer tells Rotarians
search for Spanish ship
continues in Winyah Bay
Last Updated on 12/4/2008
Published on 9/4/2008
By Scott Harper
sharper@gtowntimes.com
Somewhere underneath the waters of the Winyah Bay lies a very important piece of American History that searchers are hoping to soon find and bring ashore.
Christopher Amer, a state underwater archaeologist with the S.C. Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, told the Georgetown Lunch Rotary Club recently he is part of a team looking for a Spanish ship that is believed to have sunk in Winyah Bay in 1526. It was one of six ships attempting the first North American settlement by the Europeans.
Using a slide-show presentation, Amer explained how the ship -- named the Capitana -- grounded and sank as well as the general area where he believes the remains of the vessel may be today. Everyone on board the ship survived the accident but it was that ship that was carrying almost all of the supplies for the journey.
Those supplies, Amer told the Rotarians, included bread, olive oil and livestock.
The ship was made of wood but Amer is hoping other artifacts such as anchors and other metallic objects have survived and will be found. He said it's believed there may be six anchors from the ship waiting to be found.
"If it's there, we will find it," Amer said. "It will help us rewrite history in this area."
The search began in 2005 and Amer said what he is doing is very important because there is very little known about the 1526 settlement attempt.
He is hoping anything found would answer previously unknown information about the ship, its crew and the attempted settlement.
So far, about 60-percent of the 40-mile "high probability area" has been searched. Amer said high-tech equipment is being used in the search which costs about $1,000 each week it is conducted. Amer said about six weeks each year is spent on the search.
