Ghosts of the Caribbean. Recent research on El Angel shipwreck: a 19th Century composite-hull, sailing merchantman in Chinchorro Bank, Mexico

Abstract

El Angel wreck site islocated in the shallow waters of southern Chinchorro Bank, in the CaribbeanSea, about 42 km off the eastern coast of Yucatan Pe­ninsula, Mexico. It is thegrave of a sailing vessel, which most likely sank after striking her bottomagainst the nearby coral reef barriers. At present, no upper works of the shipare preserved, then indicating that it was a wooden vessel (Teredo navalisaffectation in these waters is a major problem for conservation of organic materials).Archaeological investigation has been carried on this shipwreck since 2014 bythe Vice-Directorate of Underwater Archaeology, of the National Ins­titute forAnthropology and History (Mexico), in collaboration with internationalresearchers; studies have mainly focused on explore the shipwreck dating,geocultural origin, purpose, and particular issues, such as hull-construction,service-history and fate. Systematic excavations in the bow and mid-ship se­ctionhave led to know that the ship was built according 18th-century wooden shipconstruction, but featuring improvements developed by the industrial revolutionin shipbuilding, such as iron structural reinforcements and metal fasteners, aswell as Copper-alloy hull sheathing. Besides, it was discovered that thisvessel was loaded with a logwood cargo when it went to Davy Jones? locker. Atpresent, information obtained suggests that the wrecked ship was a long-servicemerchantman, probably built at early 19th century and later subjected to majorrepairs. Because its load, it is possible to assert that the ship was immersedin the British logwood traffic, a maritime sphere that linked Belize with theUS and Europe.