Threatened James River shipwreck and historical sites

Abstract

Historical records of shipwrecks in the James River indicate that large numbers of vessels were wrecked, abandoned, or scuttled there during the 18th and 19th centuries. These physical elements of maritime history are central to the history of Virginia and the United States and can yield valuable information, yet, many of these sites have been destroyed by looting and through regular dredging of the river. State and federal agencies have been largely unaware of the archaeological potential of the river and, until recently, unresponsive to notices that government inaction allowed important archaeological sites to be destroyed. This article describes several large archaeological sites: the wrecks of USS Cumberland and CSS Florida in Hampton Roads, the City Point wharves and anchorage, and two sunken fleets at Drewry’s Bluff; discusses threats to the sites; looting, maintenance dredging, and channel widening projects; considers governmental responsibility and complex ownership issues; and finally makes recommendations for resolution of the management problems associated with shipwrecks in the James.