Shipwrecks possibly connected to Spanish ship attacked in 18th century discovered by ECU students on NC coastKeaton Eberly
WNCNWed, August 13, 2025 at 3:18 PM EDT
3 min read
Shipwrecks possibly connected to Spanish ship attacked in 18th century discovered by ECU students on NC coastWINNABOW, N.C. (WNCN) — A team of archaeologists with East Carolina University recently made a historic discovery off the North Carolina coastline, uncovering the remains of four shipwrecks dating back to the 18th century.
The archeology group, which is a part of the ECU program in maritime studies, foraged the shoreline near the Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site in Brunswick County in May and June. During their excavation, the team recorded wood samples from the newly discovered shipwrecks that suggest that shipbuilders incorporated raw materials from Spanish Caribbean colonies in the 1700s.
“We are extremely excited about these important sites, as each one will help us to better understand the role of [Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson] as one of the state’s earliest colonial port towns,” said Jason Raupp, ECU assistant professor in the department of history and maritime studies, who led the team. “These submerged colonial waterfront features are incredibly well-preserved and present an excellent opportunity for ECU students to engage in hands-on, collaborative research.”
Although more work needs to be conducted to confirm the identity of the remains, the university said its archaeologists think they found the leftovers from La Fortuna. This was a Spanish privateer from Cuba that exploded near the colonial wharves at Brunswick Town during an attack on the port at the end of King George’s War in September 1748.
A large section of the possible La Fortuna shipwreck lying on the beach near the Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site in Brunswick County, North Carolina. (Courtesy: ECU Program in Maritime Studies)ECU scientists said the wreck lies in proximity to where an 18th-century cannon, thought to be from La Fortuna, was recovered in 1985.
“I came across several wooden frames barely sticking out of the clay mud with evidence of planking just barely visible on the surface,” ECU maritime studies graduate student Cory van Hees said. “I didn’t understand what I was looking at in that moment, but I knew I should relay the wooden structure to faculty.”
“Later that day, [Raupp] was able to confirm this was a wreck, which may be La Fortuna,” van Hees added. “It was kind of overwhelming and a little emotional feeling once it set in.”
Throughout the summer, three other shipwreck sites were also found at the historic site’s waterfront, ECU researchers said.
“Preliminary analysis suggests that one was likely used for land reclamation at the waterfront based on its positioning immediately next to a colonial wharf site,” the university said. “Another is a potential colonial flatboat—a watercraft historically used to transport people and goods between the port and nearby plantations. The fourth was barely exposed and its remains are still unidentified.”
ECU maritime studies faculty and graduate students perform an emergency recovery of a section from the possible La Fortuna shipwreck at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site in Brunswick County, North Carolina. (Courtesy: ECU Program in Maritime Studies)Despite the historic discoveries, the shipwrecks, waterfront infrastructure, and artifacts are considered at risk due to ongoing erosion along the Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson, according to Dr. Raupp.
“The successful recovery of the possible La Fortuna shipwreck and documentation of heritage at risk within a nationally significant historic site demonstrates the effectiveness of the collaborative efforts of the research team,” he said.
The university said research and analysis into the construction and identity of each of the four shipwrecks is still ongoing.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/shipwrecks-possibly-connected-spanish-ship-191848177.html
