Art News

South Carolina Archaeologists Say Confederate Wreck Found

By: Meg Kinnard, Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP).- The recent discovery of what is believed to be a Confederate gunboat scuttled by its own crew in the Civil War’s waning days could yield valuable knowledge about the South’s sputtering attempts to maintain its own Navy, South Carolina’s state archaeologist said Wednesday. In November, Jonathan Leader — state archaeologist and researcher at the University of South Carolina — worked with fellow researcher Chris Amer to explore the Pee Dee River in the northeastern part of the state. Using sonar to search underwater, the team found large bolts in a straight line, evidence Leader says likely means they’ve found a ship. “You are actually able to paint a picture,” Leader said, of the equipment the team used. “You don’t find a lot of straight lines in nature. You find bolts in a straight line, you have something.” Leader believes that the team has found the CSS Pee Dee, a