Archaeologists find four historic shipwrecks in North Carolina river

In the spring of 2025, archaeologists working in North Carolina made a significant discovery as they located four shipwrecks dating back to the 18th century. This remarkable find occurred at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson in the Cape Fear region. Among the wrecks, the likely remains of a Spanish privateer known as La Fortuna were discovered, alongside other vessels that shed light on maritime trade practices of the era. Staff archaeologist Jeremy Borrelli stated that luck played a crucial role in the timing of the discovery, as the remains were on the verge of being lost due to coastal erosion. The research team, affiliated with East Carolina University, unearthed a total of 63 wooden timbers, with 47 likely connected to La Fortuna. The recovered timbers retained original tool marks from shipwrights, offering insights into shipbuilding techniques of the time. In addition to La Fortuna, a wreck of a flatboat and a vessel associated with landfill retention were also found, which is believed to provide interpretations of daily trade life in the 18th century. The discoveries included hundreds of artifacts—ceramic shards, glass bottles, clay tobacco pipes, cooper's adzes, barrel heads, staves, sailcloth, leather shoes, clothing fragments, and even butchered animal bones. This collection of items is crucial for understanding the age of the ships while highlighting the importance of protecting such culturally rich sites. Borrelli expressed excitement about the variety of shipwrecks found in close proximity to historic waterfront infrastructure, as this offers a unique opportunity to study the maritime activities that shaped the development of North Carolina. The ongoing project will require further analysis to assess how these ships interacted with each other and the environment. Such discoveries underscore the importance of conserving historical locations, emphasizing the finite cultural resources they contain.