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Wreck Rising In Repute

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 14, 2007

PENSACOLA - In 1559, a hurricane sent up to seven Spanish sailing vessels to the bottom of Pensacola Bay, hampering Don Tristan de Luna's attempt to colonize this section of the Florida Panhandle.

Now, almost 500 years later, a second of those ships has been found, helping archaeologists learn about the settlement, which was abandoned in 1561. No trace of it has ever been found on land.

About 650 pieces of artifacts, mostly pieces of pottery and wood, were on display Thursday for about 100 people who gathered at the north end of the Pensacola Bay Bridge, about a half-mile from the shipwreck.

'It's an amazing site,' said University of West Florida nautical archaeologist Gregory D. Cook.

Teams of West Florida archaeology students last summer discovered what they thought was the shipwreck, picking up pieces of artifacts from the site. A 32-by-24-foot barge covers the shipwreck site to give divers access.

'Our test excavations suggest that there is approximately 18 to 20 meters of preserved hull remaining on site, representing a small to medium-sized vessel in the fleet,' Cook said.
Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning joined divers Thursday in taking a close look at the shipwreck partially buried in sand about 12 feet below the surface. Browning said it was 'incredible' to touch something that's been down there for centuries.

'It was in good condition. As far as pieces of pottery, you could feel the bowls,' he said.

He said the discovery is 'another piece of the puzzle' of Florida's Spanish ancestry. He said he does not expect that the ship will be removed from the bay waters, however.

The Associated Press

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