This week we continue our journey into Anguilla’s maritime heritage, looking at marine (maritime) heritage and the island’s artificial reefs.
Shipwrecks and Artificial Reefs
Last week I wrote that maritime archaeologists believe that Anguilla has a likely resource of 100-150 shipwrecks, with many more aroundSombreroand the off-lying cays. These wrecks can be divided roughly into artificial reefs (those ships purposefully sunk to create fish habitats or to clear the island of unsightly hulks); and accidental wrecks. Together these make upAnguilla’s underwater cultural heritage. While you may visit many of these sites with local dive operators, it is important to remember that you should not remove anything from these sites. They are part of Anguilla’s heritage and it is against the law to export any antiquity found or excavated onAnguillaor in its territorial waters.
The famous underwater archaeologist, George Bass, commented from his porthole inRoadBayin 1988: “I could see a future archaeological site – the rusting hulk of Sarah, on her side. Half above and half below the surface of theharborofAquilla[incorrect spelling in original] in the BWI” (Ships and Shipwrecks of theAmericas).
In 1990,Anguillaundertook an artificial reef program, in part to rid the island of unsightly hulks, like the Sarah, which were littering the beaches and in part to create a series of wreck dives for visiting SCUBA divers. These sites can be visited today and include the MV Sarah, MV Ekco, MV Lady Vie, MV Meppel[aka Hilda], MV Commerce, MV Ida Maria, MV Oospterdiep, MV Catheley H and MV Marva W.
Each of the ships is located off shore and is accessible by boat, only. Most of the dives range from 30’ to 80’ and are suitable for Open-Water or Advanced Scuba divers. In addition to the ships, the sites are habitats for a wide range of species including lobster, rays and fish. Contact your local dive shop for more information about visiting these sites.
Less than 100 years old, each of these shipwrecks has a unique history…In late 2009, the Anguilla Archaeological and Historical Society learned that one these artificial reefs, the Meppel, played a key role in the WWII battle atDunkirk. The ignoble 127’ long ship cargo which was purposely sunk inAnguillain 1990 was actually a hero. In another life the ship, then called Hilda, assisted with the evacuation of 338,000 allied troops during Operation Dynamo, the WWII battle atDunkirk,France. Nearly sunk on several occasions by U-boats, the ship survived the war and successfully (if unglamorously) served throughout theCaribbeanas an inter-island freighter. For more information about the ship, see http://anguilla-diving.com (a website by AAHS Board Member, Steve Donahue).
Next in series: Marine Archaeology, Treasure Hunting, El Buen Consejo…
Lillian ‘Lilli’ Azevedo, Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholar and archaeologist, has been living onAnguillasince 2009. Her PhD thesis on heritage and heritage management in Anguilla at theUniversityofSouthamptonwill be submitted in May 2012 and her current headquarters are at the Anguilla Heritage Trail Headquarters at Historic Wallblake House in The Valley. During her time onAnguilla, she has led an underwater archaeological survey to identify historic shipwrecks (2009) and spearheaded the Anguilla Heritage Trail (2010). Lilli’s research and time onAnguillais possible through a graduate scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and local support by the Government of Anguilla and Non-Governmental Organizations including the Anguilla National Trust and the Anguilla Archaeological and Historical Society.
