ISLAND RESOURCES FOUNDATION Caribbean Headquarters RED HOOK BOX 33. S T . THOMAS u.S. VIRGIN IS LAN DS 00802 (809) 775-6225 Washington, D. C. Office 1718 P STREET. N .W .. SUITE T4 WASHINGTON . D.C. 20036 (202) 265-971 2 REPORT OF A STAGE 1A MARINE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS PORT AUTHORITY DREDGE AND FILL PROJECT AT LIMETREE BAY, SOUTHSHORE ST. CROIX Roger Smith 1, George F. Tyson, Jr.2 , and Edward L. Towle 3 Field Survey Assistants: H. Tonnemacher and J. Halperin Prepared by ISLAND RESOURCES FOUNDATION Submitted to the Virgin Islands Port Authority Date of Report: 30 March, 1987 1. Mari ne Archaeol ogi st Institute of Nautical Archaeology College Station, Texas 2. Historian and Research Associate Island Resources Foundation St. Tho mas, U. S. Vir gin I s 1 and s 3. Maritime Historian/Director Island Resources Foundation St. Tho mas, U. S. Vir gin I s 1 and s OFFICE COpy TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Project Description Study Area Setting and Conditions Fig u reI • Fig u r e 2. (Study Area) St. Croix south shore VIPA dredge project site plan displaying survey areas. boundaries and Debris Loc- ations SURVEY METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS Literature and Cartographic Review Field Survey Methodology Figure 3 Admiralty chart by Parsons (1856) Survey Findings CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS REF ERE N C ESC I TED A P PEN D I X Description and bearings of buoys marking otential navigational hazards in survey area Figure 4 Magnetic compass bearings of debris sites A P PEN D I X I I List of Photographs i PAGE i i 1 1 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 8 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 ABSTRACT e p op sed dredging and dock construction in Limetree Bay e south shore of St. Croix by the Virgin Islands Port will disturb approximately 14 acres of seabed. gin Islands Coastal Zone Management Commission's and Arm Co ps of Engineers' requirements for an Environ- Assessment Report (EAR) include antecedent archaeo- investigations to assess the potential impact of the ject on submerged cultural resources. Ac ordingly. the Virgin Islands Port Authority contrac- t with the Island Resources Foundation of St. Thomas to o d ct a Stage lA Marine Archaeological Survey of the pro- e a , The su vey. carried out by the Island Resources Foun- t n n Ma ch 1987, under the direction of Mr. Roger h a professional marine archaeologist associated with e nstitute of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A & M Uni- rsity consisted of background research utilizing histor- ic documents and maps, and a visual field investigation ing 100 of the project area. supplemented by limited e sen sin 9 . Whil ackground research located reports of two mid- ee th century shipwrecks in the general vicinity of the oje ea and field survey found several assemblages of dern cultural debris, NO SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL RESOURCES FOUND N THE PROJECT AREA BY THIS SURVEY. Since the rvey was primarily visual, it is possible that other u remains may lie buried beneath the seabed, but this ility is considered very remote. Given these considerations, NO FURTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL UDY OF THE PROJECT AREA IS RECOMMENDED. i i epo t of a Stage lA Marine Archaeological Survey of the irgin Islands Port Authority Dredge and Fill Project At Limetree Bay, Southshore St. Croix BACKGROUND h P ojec site, hereafter termed the Study Area, is lo- t d t Limetree Bay on the south shore of St. Croix, be- he Ha vey Channel cut on the west and the Container ton the e a s t (F i g u reI ) . twe n As shown b Figure 2, the proposed project involves redging a rectangular strip of seabed, 1450 feet by 250 (he eafter termed Area A). and using the dredge spoil fill two smaller rectangular areas (hereafter termed Area d Area C) on either side of an existing breakwater. The ea on the western side of the breakwater (Area B) to be used as a dock for ships offloading bulk molasses. Photog aph 1 100 kin 9 west from the breakwater, shows Area Photograph 2 • 100 kin g northwest from the breakwater, sho s Area B . a ograph 3 , 100 kin g northeast from the breakwater, sho s A ea C • he Study Area is located within one of the last surviving e shore ecosystems associated with the old Krause Lagoon. w stern boundary is formed by the Harvey navigation ch nnel which has been dredged to a depth of 35 feet. Its he n oundary is defined by the natural shoreline, con- sisting of a narrow sand beach backed by mangrove stands. h southern and eastern boundaries are displayed in Figure 2 . A bre kwater. approximately 50 feet wide and extending pproximately 1300 feet southward from the shoreline, bi- sec s the Study Area. Apart from the breakwater, the seAbed o he Study Area is more or less undisturbed except for mod rn deb is as noted in the report and displayed in Figure 2 • T e P rt Authority has recently put in place a silt o m that a cs in a northwest direction from the middle of he breakwater to a point near where the existing shoreline e sects with the Harvey Channel cut (Photograph 4). At h time of our survey this boom enclosed approximately 50% A ea Band 10 of Area A. 1 17° (,.) . . - '50" 4 0" 30" 20" 10" - 41' - 50" II 1.6' 1\ I ---"J .... ":..~s#/ K R ,t,US( LAGOO"l CHAN"lEL The (on\f oll' (\8 dttpth .t mean low wlter was 3S feet 10 1 • "">' ... ..;." q. , {l "' .... y\ , \" \ 8."" (,f/tll .J ".~ 1I ,' Vljli\t 1fllZ the I ~ner harb~r .~ea. 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Croix Sou~h Shore VIPA Dredge Project Site Plan Displaying Survey Areas, Boundaries and Debris Locations. w Water depths range from zero along the shoreline, to 15 feet at the edge of the Harvey Channel cut. The bottom is characterized by stands of turtle grass (Thallasia), cal- careous algae (hilimeda), with an underlying strata of sand and s i 1 t . Vis i b i 1 i t Y ran g e d fro m 2 fee t t 0 2 5 fee t . Vis i - bility was generally good throughout the Study Area, but be- came poor along the eastern edge of the breakwater in Area C. The Study Area is protected from heavy seas by Long Reef, an extensive coral reef system, approximately 800 yards to the south. During the survey, moderate to light winds blew from the east and southeast. Overall conditions were conducive to utilizing visual survey techniques. SURVEY METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS The purpose of this Stage 1A Marine Archaeological Survey was to determine the potential of the proposed Port Author- ity project to impact significant prehistoric or historic cultural resources. Investigations involved conducting a background study utilizing available documentation, charts and aerial photographs, and a field survey of 100% of the Study Area, including the shoreline. The Study Areas is located in the South-Central Coastal Ter- race of St. Croix, which is not known to have been perma- nently inhabited during the aboriginal era. Two small pre- historic sites (SC-38 and SC-45), have been documented on either side of the Krause Lagoon, but these are little more than camp sites. The large and important Fair Plain Site (SC-10) lies in a different ecotone to the northeast (Tyson and Figueredo, 1984). While it is certain that prehistoric peoples harvested fish and shellfish in and offshore the Krause Lagoon, available environmental and archaeological evidence indicates that its shoreline would have been an unattractive settlement area. The Lagoon "wetlands" ecosystem and adjacent coral reef barriers also discouraged historic coastal settlement and navigation. The entire shoreline between Fair Plains Creek and the old Limetree Bay, including the Study Area, is shown as uninhabited by a series of historic maps: Blondel (1667); Beck (1754); Kusner (1767); Oxholm (1794); Parsons (1856); and USCGS (1919). The nearest plantation sites to the Study Area - Anguilla, Caramaw Hall, Blessing and Hope - were all located well north of the Lagoon shoreline. And, it is highly unlikely that the Study Area shoreline was used for even minor marine activities, such as careening, docking or boa t b u i 1 din 9 • 4 Whi 1e he Admiralty chart prepared by Parsons in 1856 F re 3) shows an anchorage immediately southwest of the St dy Area most coastal shipping would have stayed well of Long Reef. And shipwrecks of large oceanic vessels w most likely have occurred on the offshore reefs. How- shipwrecks cannot be ruled out, since small island s nd d oghers certainly penetrated the reefs on a reg- basis in order to take on produce from southside sugar t ion s • T determine if any vessels have been recorded as hav- w r e eke din the Stu d y Are a, the REG 1ST E R 0 F V I R GIN I S - S SHIPWRECKS (1523-1917) prepared by George F. Tyson fa the Division of Archaeology and Historic Preserva- gin Islands Planning Office (Tyson, 1983), was con- This Register, which is based on extensive archival rch in a va iety of primary and secondary sources, ntifies almost 700 shipwrecks as occurring in waters sur- g the U.S. Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands. s the most comprehensive, up-to-date listing of Virgin ds shipwrecks, subsuming information found in earlier to ies such as that prepared by Marx and Towle (1971). The Registe lists a total of 124 wrecks that occurred St. C 01 11 of which are reported for the south of the island. Of the south side wrecks, the location ven is specified. Two of these occurred in the vicin- he Study Area. On January 18, 1850 the DOW H. ROOP, tish brig with a cargo of foodstuffs, lumber and to- sunk off Estate Anguilla. In December 1863, an un- m s 0 0 p w e c ked 0 n are e fop p 0 sit e Est ate B 1 e s sin g • I t so possible that one or more of the four, south side weeks whose location is not specified may have occurred Study Area. Ex mination of aerial photographs of St. Croix taken in and 1962 showed no evidence of shipwrecks or other his- features in the Study Area. e Fiel Su vey took place on March 19-20, 1987. Its pri- objective was to locate remains associated with either t e two shipwrecks documented for the general area. The i n Area consisting of Roger Smith, George Tyson, Henry and James Halperin, spent a total of 34 man field. One hundred percent coverage of the was accomplished. T e S udy Area was systematically surveyed by two teams employing visual, underwater survey method. This ique which;s comparable to a pedestrian survey on involves careful examination of the seafloor and reef 5 7 .' . .. '~. 1' .... '1. 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Beh'; n d Ree f Admiralty Chart by Parsons , (1856) 10 10 .4 8 9 '; _10 J.j In v 7 IJ 17 O'l , 1(; ems fo the purpose of locating wreckage and/or tell- evidence of historic shipwrecks, such as ceramics, swa e rope, metal objects, wood. anchors, cannon, piles allast rock or brick. The imitation of the technique is that it cannot iden- sites wholly buried beneath the seabed sediments h ugh dark patches in the sand indicative of iron oxide rom any large concentrations of submerged ferrous metal ob- jects might be observed). To help offset this disadvantage h su ey team selectively employed a Garrett "Sea Hunter" u e wate metal detector, which can locate normal-sized met 1 objects buried up to 24 inches. A metal probe rod was s u ilized in the vicinity of sensitive areas. Two types of visual survey technique were utilized. of A eas A and B outside the silt boom were sur- a team of two divers towed behind a small inflat- boat. To ensure total coverage, the boat operator ori- ed survey sweeps by taking relative bearings from shore- e features, Port Authority markers and channel markers. The breakwater was used as a constant reference point. Area C. which was too shallow for small boat operation, d the portions of Areas A and B enclosed by the silt boom, w re system tically surveyed by two swimmers spaced from 5 t 0 feet apa t. The swimmers also oriented their grid u vey by taking relative bearings from shoreline features, P t Authority markers and offshore channel markers. Upon encountering significant cultural material, survey s stopped b iefly and the site marked by a buoy for subse- ue t detailed inspection. After the gross survey work was leted the area surrounding each marked cultural feature h n inspected by SCUBA divers, utilizing a metal detec- to probes and hand fanning to investigate the nature, spa- distribution and depth of cultural deposits. Signifi- can finds were marked on the bottom, using fluorescent pl stic su veyors tape. Running ranges were taken at buoys, rna king each significant object, or concentration of ob- j c s to record their relative pvsition. These buoys posi- ions were later established from markers on the breakwater by urning angles from a hand-bearing compass. After inspection and analysis of cultural deposits and re ding of their location, the majority of the buoys were em ved. However, five buoys (shown on Figure 2) which m ked objects potentially hazardous to dredging activities, we eft in place to designate their precise location on h se bed for the benefit of the Port Authority (see Ap- e nix I and Fig u r e 4). 7 Prio to the survey, the Virgin Islands Port Authority h s boundary markers along the shoreline and breakwater, hich consisted of square, white markers erected on two-by- fo s about 12 feet high. The Port Authority had also ed a buoy at the extreme southern limit of Area A. When sur ey team arrived. the latter marker had disappeared. herefo e decided to use Channel Marker 88, in conjunc- with the land markers, to define the southern limit of su ey. B c use of the need to use Channel Marker #8 as a geo- ning eference point, and the need to explore the e ing of seabed cultural remains that we found, the ey ctually extended over a somewhat larger area than ui ed. Basically, on the western side of the breakwater, southern extremity of the survey area was defined by a exten ing between the southern tip of the breakwater C han n elM ark e r 88. ey fi di gs are shown in Figure 2. The portions of Area nd B outside the silt boom were completely surveyed on h 19th by a team consisting of Smith, Tyson and Ton- em cher. Smith and Tyson, spaced 10 feet apart, were wly towed by an inflatable boat driven by Tonnemacher in stematic grid pattern consisting of a series of overlap- g, north south sweeps. The survey started along the Har- Channel cut and moved progressively eastward towards the kwater. This survey yielded the following finds: A discarded. modern-boat alternator partially bu ied in the silt at the edge of the Harvey C h f1 n e 1 • 2. Miscellaneous modern refuge, such as beer bottles and cans. 3. f1 iron or steel girder (1 beam), 9.7 meters long, with associated metal material at either end (Pho- tographs 5 - 7). This girder, of modern construc- tion, appears to be an isolated feature. 4. A 2-inch metal rod or piece of cable, protruding f om the seabed to a height of about 3 feet (Pho tograph 88). This object also appears to be an isolated feature. 5. The most interesting and widespread cultural re- mains encountered were several assemblages of mod- e n bricks, in association with stones and concre ted aggregate material (Photographs 9 - 15). As 8 shown by Figure 2, these concentrations are part of dist ibution pattern that extends eastward out side of the Study Area. Two types of brick were found in these assem- blages (Photographs 16 - 17). The first and most common type is rectangular, measuring 23.3 centi- meters long, 11.3 centimeters wide, and 6.4. cen- timeters thick. Some of these bricks were em- bossed with the label "ALAMO" on their upper face; others were embossed with the label "CLIPPER D.R. U while a few others were labelled "B 62112." The second type of brick measures 23.3. cen- timeters long, 17 centimeters wide and 6.4 centi- meters thick. these were embossed with the label "CLIPPER" and below it "B-62112." These bricks have two molded indentations on the outer edges of their upper face, each in the form of an incised can c a v e "T.» These indentations probably are mortices for metal fasteners. such as staples, to hold bricks with corresponding features together. Approximately ninety percent of the bricks encountered were scattered, broken and fragmen- tary, indicating that they probably were delibe- rately discarded. All were manufactured with yellowish to buff colored clay, producing an ex- t emely dense, highly fired brick, that exceeds standards for ordinary construction usage. Most likely these are fire bricks intended for some industrial kiln or boiler application, most prob- ably associated with the Harvey Aluminia plant, now c los e d • The bricks were found in association with a non-uniform, concreted, aggregate material, that may represent some form of mortar or cement. Also found were occasional cobble-sized stones. The origin and purpose of these modern materials cannot be determined at this time. 6. buried wooden timber, 30 centimeters wide and 10 centimeters thick, in association with a concen- tration of bricks (Photographs 18 - 20). This timber was cleaned of sediments and partially excavated by hand fanning to a depth of 50 cen- timeters. It appears to be an isolated feature, since no tool marks or associated fasteners for articulated components, such as other connecting timbers, were encountered. 9 A systematic, sub-bottom exploration of the surrounding seabed by metal detector produced signals running in a westerly direction from the timber. Limited excavation of this anamoly evealed it to be a segment of two-inch steel cable, completely buried to a depth of 20 centimeters, and running for an approximate length of 7 meters. 7, Six, square, lead or zinc plates, each measuring 30 centimeters by 30 centimeters and 2 centimeters hick, and each having four corresponding bolt holes, were found in association with another concentration of brick rubble (Photographs 21 22). These squares probably had an industrial function, since they appear to have been designed to be bolted to a flat surface. o Ma ch 20th, a visual examination of brick and rubble de osits was conducted by Smith and Halperin on SCUBA, em- pl yi 9 metal detector survey and shallow probe to deter- mine the progressive pattern of artifact distribution on the e bed. A particular effort was made to determine if the imber found the day before was associated with a shipwreck. he wooden timber was partially exposed by hand fanning se iments away to a depth of .5m. No associated metal f teners or articulated structures were found in relation o the timbe Nearby, a buried section of 2-inch wire cable was encountered during the metal detector search. h oughout the survey and examination of the brick deposits, n1 occasional modern metal debris, such as metal cans, e e encountered. Also on March 20th, Area C and the remaining portions f ea A and B were systematically surveyed in their en- e y by team consisting of Tyson and Tonnemacher. The e m swam both areas in a series of overlapping sweeps. e f om a few incidental bottles and cans, a number of m ern engine blocks and other kinds of modern iron debris, o significant cultural materials were encountered in either e In addition to the underwater survey, the exposed s eline n the eastern side of the breakwater, extending PP oximately 75 meters, was also inspected, No prehistoric r historic cultural remains were observed. 1 0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS esearch produced no documentary or cartographic ence of prehistoric or historic sites or usage within Study A ea. Two mid-nineteenth century shipwrecks have e n epo ted in the general vicinity, but their precise lo- a ion is unknown. A e estrial field survey of the shoreline found no e ce of prehistoric or historic cultural remains. Underwater field surveys yielded no evidence of signif- c cultu a1 remains, such as a shipwreck. A few assem- 1 ges of cultural materials of a modern, industrial nature we encounte ed within the Study Area. Some of these as- emblages were part of a large depositional pattern that ex- ten ed outside the Study Area. It cannot be determined how why these materials came to be deposited on the seafloor. is however, extremely unlikely that they are associated wi h a shipwreck, due to the absence of ballast, fasteners, timbers or other diagnostic features. Because much of this m teria is broken or damaged, it is highly probable that it is debris discarded from vessels associated with nearby i n d u s i a 1 f a c i 1 i tie s • Because of their modern nature, the cultural assemb- ages found by our survey cannot be considered significant t this time. Moreover, the largest concentrations were oc ted outside of the Study Area. It is possib e that u de ected archaeological remains lie buried beneath the seabed but the potential for such sites is minimal, since i is to be expected that such remains would be visible if present pa ticularly that of a mid-nineteenth shipwreck, in an offshore area of relatively low sedimentation. Since there is no reason to assume that the proposed roject ill directly or indirectly impact on significant u ural resources, NO FURTHER MARINE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVES- T ONS ARE RECOMMENDED. Because some of the submerged cultural materials 10- c ed by this survey constitute hazards for dredging opera- s we suggest that the Port Authority take every pre- ion to ensure that its dredge stays strictly within the ines of the proposed dredge area, unless it removes the t ms in question. 1 1 REF ERE N C ESC I TED o e and Edward L. Towle. 1971. Shipwrecks of the Caribbean Research Insti- l s 1 and s, St. Tho mas . Vir gin I s 1 and s (1 523 - 182 5 ) . tute College of the Virgin , Geo ge F., Jr. 1983. s hip w e c k s (1 523 - 191 7 ) . A chaeology and Historic Pl ning Office. Register of Virgin Islands Compiled for the Division of Preservation, Virgin Islands n, George F. J and Alfredo E. Figueredo. 1984. Cul- tu a esource survey of the step project site, Betty's Hope, St. Croix. Prepared for Alton A. Adams, Jr. and Associates, St. Thomas. 12 13 APPENDIX I (Part 1 of 2) DE PTlON AND BEARINGS OF BUOYS MARKING POTENTIAL NAVIGA- TIONAL HAZARDS IN SURVEY AREA D t ion #1. Two-inch steel cable 2 and 3. Steel I-beam girder 4. Iron/steel stanchion A. F om 3rd (southernmost) white VIPA marker on the breakwater to: Buoy # 1 : 175 degrees uoy #2 and # 3 : 185 degrees uoy #4: 240 degrees F om marker at end of breakwater to: uoy # 1 : 255 degrees Buoy # 2 : 260 degrees B 0 3 : 280 degrees 2 I -' Q)<: %. N 14 ( Pa rt '2 0 f 2) APPENDIX I _ i - do 3 '-J ~ ?J 7 at a ~ -> . 1 V) Q) +-' .,..... (/) V) .,..... s- .D- Q) Cl 4-o V) O'l c: .,..... s- co Q) co V) I I .~ I +-' Q) c: O'l co :;: r r n 15 A P PEN D I X I I LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS 1 • Are a A 2. Area B 3. Area C 4 • S i 1 t Boo m 5. Steel I-Beam Girder 6. Steel I-Beam Girder 7. Steel I-Beam Girder 8. Metal Stanchion 9. Brick Assemblage 10. Brick and Aggregate Assemblage 11. B ric k Ass e m b 1 age 12. Brick and Aggregate Assemblage 13. Brick and Aggregate Assemblage 14. Brick and Aggregate Assemblage 15. Brick Assembalge 16. Detail of Bricks and Aggregate Material 17. Detail of Brick and Aggregate Material 18. Buried Timber (after hand fanning) 19. Buried Timber (after hand fanning) 20. Buried Timber (after hand fanning) 21. Metal Plate 22. Metal Plate Photograph Credit: All underwater photographs taken by H. Tonnemacher, Project Dive Master. • PHOTOGRAPH #1 (-r.----.------ 'T::":=:";;:::;;:----- - - - - -- - --, • PHOTOGRAPH #2 rr -----------------------------~ • PHOTOGRAPH #3 ~----------------------------- • PHOTOGRAPH #4 • PHOTOGRAPH #5 r ------------------. r r • PHOTOGRAPH #6 u~ __________________ _ • PHOTOGRAPH #7 • PHOTOGRAPH #8 l ...... -------------------------------. • PHOTOGRAPH #9 • PHOTOGRAPH #10 ~-------------------~ • PHOTOGRAPH #11 • PHOTOGRAPH #12 • PHOTOGRAPH #13 • PHOTOGRAPH #14 u~ __________________ _ • PHOTOGRAPH #15 • PHOTOGRAPH #16 -..--------------------------------.' 1 ------------------------------~I Ir -----------------------------~ ~-----------------------------~ • PHOTOGRAPH #17 !------------------------- • PHOTOGRAPH #18 ~-----------------------------~ • PHOTOGRAPH #19 -----------------------------~ • PHOTOGRAPH #20 .~-------~---------------------....,- • PHOTOGRAPH #21 • PHOTOGRAPH #22 P--------------------~ r