Centuries-old skeleton found in ship on land November 7, 1996 Web posted at: 11:25 p.m. EST CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (CNN) More than 300 years ago, a ship belonging to the French explorer La Salle sank during a violent storm off what is now the coast of Texas. This fall, on land, researchers were introduced to a nearly intact skeleton who may have been a member of the crew. (1.1MB/28 sec. QuickTime movie of the dig The wreck of the La Belle was found a year ago by a research team in 14 feet (4 meters) of water near the small town of Palacios. In a rare archeological drama, they began excavating the site in September after a dam was built around the wreck and the Matagorda Bay waters were pumped out. Among their dry-land discoveries was the skeleton, who may have been someone who died of thirst during the voyage. (306K/28 sec. AIFF or WAV sound) Barto Arnold, project director The skeleton is not believed to be that of La Salle, also known as Rene-Robert Cavelier. He was murdered by mutinous members of his expedition in 1687, a year after the Belle sank while it was anchored in the bay. La Salle had led an expedition there, thinking it was the mouth of the Mississippi River. He was away on land exploring when the ship went down. Well-preserved treasures The ship and its contents are well preserved because they sank quickly into the seabed, where the sand and mud kept out the corrosive effects of oxygen. The La Belle is believed to have been one of the first ships to visit that coast. | |
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