Ms. TAYLOR brought us a fascinating insight into what lies at the bottom of Narragansett Bay. She claims that Rhode island has more shipwrecks per square mile than any other state.
She used the figure of 2,000, but that includes sunken lobster boats which have little historical significance.

Oceanographers who have lowered several high-tech robots into the Bay have determined that Rhode Island has the largest number of known Revolutionary War shipwrecks - and Ms. TAYLOR named nine of them.
Many are the British transport ships that were scuttled by the British between Newport and Goat Island in 1778 to prevent the French fleet from sailing into the harbor to render help to the colonist.

Ms. TAYLOR said that marine archaeologists try to dissuade deep sea divers and others from rescuing marine artificates. By disturbing the protective layer of mud that these ships lie in, destroys the attempts of the scientist to map their locations. Also, once exposed to the air the ships' wood and artficats quickly deteriorate. At the present time, Rhode Island has no place to preserve and store these artifacts.

List of shipwrecks off Rhode Island shores Home Page

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