This Is The Single Craziest Thing You Never Knew Happened In Virginia
This past January, a huge piece of history was uncovered during what seemed like a routine construction project. As archeologists were surveying the land for a new hotel, they discovered the remains of a Revolutionary War-Era ship that offers incredible insight into 18th century America.
It was the most unexpected outcome of a routine archeological survey: a 50-foot ship from the Revolutionary War era. And it seems wonderfully ironic that preparing the plot for a future luxury hotel could have revealed such an important piece of history.
Then again, it’s not altogether surprising for Alexandria, a charming town where the past is so elegantly blended into the present. This is especially true for the waterfront area, which played a crucial role during the Revolutionary War. Alexandria’s founders developed the waterfront nearly 200 years ago on what before was part of the Potomac River. That explains the ship’s location. During the Revolutionary War, American ships leaving their Alexandria port would have to skillfully dodge British warships en route to the French Island Martinique to trade for French weapons.
The vessel is believed to date back to the late 1700s and is pretty extraordinary. Its durability suggests that it may have been used to ship heavy cargo or perhaps could have even been a military ship. Archeologists are carefully dismantling the ship so it can be properly stored and examined.
Let’s just say it's a good thing archeologists were being careful when they were surveying the land. In addition to the discovery of this ship, they also received more insight into maritime life in the 1700s. Finds like these are rare, and the archeologists that discovered the ship classified it as a "remarkable archeological dream."
In addition to the ship, remnants of a warehouse built in 1755 along with pieces of pottery and old glass were also excavated.
As more development continues along the historic waterfront, who knows what else could be revealed?
There are still some questions to be answered: Who travelled on the ship? What did it carry? With experts continuing to study the remains of this discovery, it’ll only be a matter of time before our insight into the past is further expanded. What do you think about this discovery in Alexandria?
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