ACCESS NUMBER: 31178 

STUDY TITLE: Archaeological Data Recovery on an Historic Shipwreck in the 

Mississippi Canyon Area, Gulf of Mexico 

REPORT TITLE: Mica Shipwreck Project Report: Deepwater Archaeological 

Investigation of a 19th Century Shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico 

CONTRACT NUMBER: 1435-01-01-CA-31178 

SPONSORING OCS REGION: Gulf of Mexico 

APPLICABLE PLANNING AREA: Central Gulf of Mexico 

FISCAL YEAR OF PROJECT FUNDING: Funding for this project was provided by 

ExxonMobil Corporation 

COMPLETION DATE OF REPORT: December 2006 

COST: $250,000 

CUMULATIVE PROJECT COST: $250,000 

PROJECT MANAGER: B. Phaneuf 

AFFILIATION: Texas A&M University 

ADDRESS: Texas A&M University, P.O. Box 3578, College Station, TX 77843 

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR*: Kevin Crisman 

KEY WORDS: Gulf of Mexico; marine archaeology; remote-sensing; shipwreck; 

deepwater; copperclad; wooden-hull 

BACKGROUND: On February 16, 2001, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) 

Gulf of Mexico Region (GOMR) was notified that permitted construction of an 8-inch 

right-of-way pipeline had impacted a wooden-hulled shipwreck in Federal waters in the 

Mississippi Canyon Area. Water depth in this area is over 2,500 feet deep. The MMS 

is responsible for preservation of archaeological properties under agency jurisdiction 

and control and/or subject to effect by agency actions under the National Historic 

Preservation Act (NHPA, 16 U.S.C. 470, Section 110) and Executive Order 11593. The 

MMS regulation 30 CFR 250.1009(c)(4) requires immediate notification of the Regional 

Director in the event of the unanticipated discovery of an archaeological resource. 

Archaeologists from the MMS GOMR conducted a site inspection on February 23, 2001, 

to evaluate the vessel for its potential eligibility to the National Register of Historic 

Places. Based on their preliminary assessment, the vessel was estimated to be 

approximately 200 years old and is considered to be potentially eligible for listing to the 

National Register of Historic Places under Criterion D for its potential to yield 
ACCESS NUMBER: 31178 

information important in history (36 CFR 60.4). Notification of the discovery was made 

to the Louisiana State Archaeologist and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. 

Though the vessel has been subject to deterioration since its loss, the placement and 

continued presence of the pipeline across the approximate center of the vessel is likely 

to accelerate its deterioration. Various mitigation options such as lifting and moving the 

pipeline or bridging the pipeline over the wreck were discussed but eliminated because 

of the potential for causing further damage to the site. As a result, the MMS GOMR, in 

consultation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and the 

Louisiana State Archaeologist, elected to undertake a data recovery effort in an attempt 

to obtain as much information from the vessel as practical. 

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are as follows: 1) to determine the extent 

and limits of the site; 2) to obtain a sample of diagnostic artifacts in order to identify the 

temporal period of the shipwreck and its mission at the time of its loss; 3) to determine 

the type of ship, and if possible, its country of origin, and the reason for its loss; and 4) 

to understand the relationship of the vessel’s construction to its function. 

DESCRIPTION: The Mica Shipwreck project was carried out over several field 

seasons. An initial scientific visit to the site confirmed its scientific and historic value. 

Subsequent visits and fieldwork conducted resulted in a data recovery effort that was 

undertaken by researchers from Texas A&M and archaeologists from the MMS GOMR, 

with the assistance of the U.S. Navy’s research submarine, NR1, and her support 

vessel, Carolyn Chouest. Finite element analysis of copper sheathing, recovered from 

the wreck in 2001, was completed, and analysis of sheathing from three other 

contemporary shipwrecks has also been conducted, for comparative analysis. 

SIGNIFICANT CONCLUSIONS: After four scientific visits to the Mica Shipwreck Site, 

and an analysis of all the data collected during these expeditions certain conclusions 

can be reached: (1) the ship was built and lost sometime during the first half of the 19th 

century; (2) the ship was rigged as a two-masted schooner; and (3) the ship was built or 

repaired in a shipyard on the northeastern coast of North America. 

STUDY RESULTS: The extreme depth of this wreck precluded the use of more 

traditional data recovery methods. Options for research on a vessel at this depth are 

restricted to manned submarines (or submersibles) and remotely operated vehicles 

(ROVs). While there are benefits and limitations with each of the two options available, 

a controlled data recovery effort was made to answer certain questions about the vessel 

before further damage could occur. 

The Mica Shipwreck site has great archaeological potential. Not only because it is a 

contained site which would certainly reveal considerable information if the sediment 

inside the hull could be removed, but also, because the state of preservation of the hull 

remains is excellent. Developing technology that makes archaeological work at depth 

more cost efficient and less technologically challenging will certainly provide us with 

chances to study these deep and well-preserved sites with greater efficiency in the 

future. 
ACCESS NUMBER: 31178 

STUDY PRODUCTS: The Mica Shipwreck: Deepwater Nautical Archaeology in the 

Gulf of Mexico. 2004. Toby N. Jones. M.A. Thesis, Texas A&M University, TX. 203 pp. 

Marine Technology Society Journal 

Volume 36, Number 3, Fall 2002 

The Investigation and Excavation of a Deepwater Shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico - 

Toby N. Jones 

Deepwater Maritime Sites: A New Challenge for Archaeology Underwater, from 

Proceedings: Twenty-first Annual Gulf of Mexico Information Transfer Meeting, January 

2002. Dr. Richard J. Anuskiewicz and Mr. David A. Ball, Co-chairs 

DISCOVERY AND MANAGEMENT OF A DEEPWATER HISTORIC 

SHIPWRECK IN THE GULF OF MEXICO -- Dr. Richard J. Anuskiewicz, Mr. David A. 

Ball, and Dr. Jack B. Irion, Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region 

INA Quarterly 

Number 2, Summer 2002 

The “Mica” Shipwreck Excavation: Deep-water Archaeology in the Gulf of Mexico - Brett 

A. Phaneuf 

Underwater Magazine 

May/June 2002 

The “Mica” Shipwreck - Brett A. Phaneuf, Jack Irion, and Carolina Asirifi 

Affiliated WWW sites: 

Deepwater Shipwrecks: 

http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/archaeological/deepwater.html

Study 31178 Press Release: MMS Contracts with Texas A&M University 

to Investigate Deepwater Shipwreck Discovered by ExxonMobil

http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/whatsnew/newsreal/011003.html

Deepwater Maritime Sites: A New Challenge for Archaeology Underwater, from 

Proceedings: Twenty-first Annual Gulf of Mexico Information Transfer Meeting, January 

2002. Dr. Richard J. Anuskiewicz and Mr. David A. Ball, Co-chairs 

*P.I.’s affiliation may be different than that listed for the Project Manager.