| Project Description |
RIMAP’s very first archaeological fieldwork in 1993 was a sonar survey to locate the fleet of 13 privately-owned British transports scuttled in Newport’s Outer Harbor August 5-9, 1778, in the days leading up to the Battle of Rhode Island in the American Revolution. In the years since, continued remote sensing, diver ground-truthing, plus background historical research, have located and created pre-disturbance maps of 10 of these vessels. RIMAP volunteers, under professional direction, have conducted test excavations at three of these sites. Although the identification of each ship in each site is still unclear, and although less is known about the history of these commercial vessels than the more glamorous naval ships, RIMAP’s studies have demonstrated their significance for the outcome of that war.
On the advice of the SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office) coordinates are redacted. |
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