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The Texas Historical Commission’s underwater archaeological survey of 1995 and the preliminary report on the Belle, La Salle’s shipwreck of 1686

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Abstract

The Texas Historical Commission’s underwater archaeology project of 1995 was intended to locate historic shipwrecks and other underwater archaeological sites. The project succeeded in the investigation of several sites in the Matagorda Bay, Texas, area. The sites included wrecks on the Gulf beach of Matagorda Island, lighthouse sites, wharf areas of the historic port of Indianola, and ships associated with World War II. The most important discovery was the remains of the Belle (41MG86), a ship of the French explorer La Salle wrecked in 1686 during his unsuccessful attempt to found a colony on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The site consists of the lower hull of the ship and many in-situ artifacts. Preservation of organic materials was exceptional.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Texas Historical Commission, PO Box 12276, Austin, TX, USA, 78711

    J. Barto Arnold III

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  1. J. Barto Arnold III
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Barto Arnold, J. The Texas Historical Commission’s underwater archaeological survey of 1995 and the preliminary report on the Belle, La Salle’s shipwreck of 1686. Hist Arch 30, 66–87 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03373597

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