West Turtle Shoals

Country: United States

Place: West Turtle Shoal, Florida Keys, Florida (site 8MO142)

Type: Small merchant vessel, likely of Iberian origin, built in the Mediterranean tradition

Identified: Unknown; originally mislabeled as a nineteenth-century American schooner

Dated: Estimated second half of the sixteenth century, based on anchor typology, wrought iron guns, and hull construction features

Length Overall: Unknown; hull remains suggest a vessel of small overall dimensions

Number of Masts: Not described in the source text; hull evidence suggests a single deck

History of the shipwreck

Treasure hunters from Doubloon Salvage located the remains of a shipwreck along the Florida Keys at the beginning of the 1970s. The company was awarded permits to excavate the site between 1971 and 1974 (Florida State Archives, Series, Microfilm, Contract, .S 2188 MF007 E27, 2). Reports indicate that the salvors returned to the site in 1972 and spent roughly 19 days propwashing the sand and seagrass to uncover intact hull remains (Florida State Archives, .S 2188 MF007 E27, 88, 216). Artifacts included two wrought iron cannons, three anchors, walnuts, animal bones, ceramic sherds (noted as olive jar sherds), and other materials (Russo 1973, 6).

During the excavation, the treasure hunters were required to have a state official on site; the archaeology representative, Gordon P. Watts, created a site map of the hull remains (figure 39) (Gordon P. Watts, personal communication). After finding little precious metal, the wreck was abandoned by the treasure hunters. The site was subsequently mislabeled as a nineteenth-century American schooner and its precise location was lost (Russo 1973, 3-4).

Description of the site

The estimated date for this wreck is the second half of the sixteenth century. This is based on several factors, including the shape of the anchors, which match those found on other sites of this period (Arnold 1978, 224-30; Keith 1987, 232-46; Cazenave de la Roche et al. 2020, 35-41). The projections, or nuts, below the ring on all three anchors, used to keep the now-missing stock from shifting, are parallel with the flukes, a diagnostic feature that changes after 1600.

Square transoms became popular by the end of the fifteenth century, and the example from the West Turtle Shoal site provides a generic shape with chevron planking similar to other contemporary examples (Loewen 2007, 132-3; Villié 1989, 40-3). The wrought iron guns also suggest an earlier date, and the olive jar sherds imply an Iberian origin for the crew. The wreck's construction features match other Mediterranean-built vessels, while recent research has shown an increase in ships built within this tradition put into Atlantic service for the Spanish Crown (Casabán 2017, 243). Information about the site can only be obtained from Watts's rudimentary site plan.

Cargo

Two wrought iron cannons, three anchors, walnuts, animal bones, ceramic sherds (noted as olive jar sherds), and other materials (Russo 1973, 6).

Hull Remains

What Watts was able to draw suggests the keel was similar in width to the keelson, and a separate excerpt shows a horizontal flat scarf was used. The salvagers never found the bow of the ship, and it appears that the sternpost is missing, except for the section attached to partial remains at the flat transom.

Keel

The keel was similar in width to the keelson; a separate excerpt of Watts's site plan shows a horizontal flat scarf was used.

Sternpost

The sternpost is missing, except for the section attached to partial remains at the flat transom. Square transoms became popular by the end of the fifteenth century, and the example from this site provides a generic shape with chevron planking similar to other contemporary examples (Loewen 2007, 132-3; Villié 1989, 40-3).

Frames

Framing included floor timbers hook scarfed to overlapping futtocks. Dual master frames are located amidships, with the futtocks attached on the opposite floor faces. The floor-futtock join is secured with two iron nails; Watts has stated all fasteners were square (Gordon P. Watts, personal communication). An unusual connection is seen toward the front of the ship, where a floor timber/futtock overlap includes a mortise for a stanchion. The space between floor timbers suggests double or triple the width of the actual timber at each frame station. Not enough information exists to indicate whether the keelson is recessed over the frames, but every frame station includes a bolt connecting the keelson to the keel.

Keelson

No mast step assembly is recorded. Instead, it seems a mortise was cut into the top face of the non-expanded keelson for the mast heel. Two additional square mortises on the top face of the keelson suggest locations for stanchions holding up what was likely a single deck.

Ceiling, thick stuff and wales

One bilge stringer is present on the starboard side, nailed over the floor timber and first futtock overlap. No evidence of any ceiling is shown between the keelson and stringer. Upper elements of the hull include a stringer covering the overlap between the first and second futtocks, and another stringer along the middle of the third futtocks. Toward the stern, several lodging knees are present.

Planking

Elements of the garboard suggest the planking is relatively thin (5 cm) and matches the estimated small overall dimensions of the ship.

Caulking

Not described in the source text.

Ballast

Not described in the source text.

Size and scantlings

Planking (garboard): approximately 5 cm thick. Frame spacing: double or triple the width of the actual floor timber at each station. Floor-futtock join: secured with two square iron nails.

Wood

Not identified in the source text.

References

Russo, M., ‘Florida Master Site File, West Turtle Shoals Wreck (8MO142)’, (Tallahassee, 1973);

Arnold, J. B., The Nautical Archeology of Padre Island: The Spanish shipwrecks of 1554 (New York, 1978);

Keith, D. H., ‘The Molasses Reef Wreck’, unpublished PhD thesis (Texas A&M University, 1987);

Cazenave de la Roche, A., et al., 2020 [full citation not given in source text];

Loewen, B., 2007 [full citation not given in source text];

Villié, P., ‘L’épave Calvi 1 (1989)’, Cahiers d’archéologie subaquatique 8 (1989), 19-56;

Casabán, J. L., ‘Santiago de Galicia and the Illyrian squadron: Characteristics, dimensions and tonnages of Mediterranean-built galleons for Philip’s II Atlantic fleets (1593–1597)’, International Journal of Maritime History 29:2 (2017), 238- [page range incomplete in source];

Gordon P. Watts, personal communication;

Florida State Archives (Series, Microfilm, Contract) .S 2188 MF007 E27, 2;

Florida State Archives .S 2188 MF007 E27, 88, 216.