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 ended in 1561.
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Some 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 Pensacola Bay Bridge, about a half-mile from the shipwreck. No trace of it has ever been found on land.
"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 18-20 meters of preserved hull remaining on site, representing a small to medium-sized vessel in the fleet," he said.
Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning joined divers Thursday in taking a close look at the shipwreck partially buried in sand some 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.
Dr. Roger C. Smith of Tallahassee, the state's underwater archaeologist, said the ship located near Emanuel Point would likely have been built a few years before 1559. The first de Luna ship was found in 1992, located in the same area.
Researchers believe as many as six other vessels were lost in the Sept. 19, 1559, hurricane. The search for them continues.
"These sites are unique doorways into Florida's past," Smith said.
They also give archaeology students a unique opportunity for research.
Siska Williams, of Atlanta, a West Florida graduate student in archaeology, said she's made about 100 dives at the site. In one dive, she said they recovered seeds and rat skeletons. The ship apparently held food stocks and other supplies for the colonization campaign, a carefully planned expedition financed by the Spanish crown.
After the storm, only three ships were still afloat, including two small barks and the expedition's only caravel.
Williams said no human remains were found at the site.
"Most of the crew had gone ashore because of the hurricane. They left the food supply here," she said. "
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