Rice Museum

One day several years ago, Hampton Shuping, a dive instructor licensed by the Institute of Archaeology and Antrhopology USC to recover artifacts from underwater, made a sensational discovery. On the bottom of the Black River at Brown's Ferry in Georgetown County, he found the remains of an eighteenth century vessel. Recognizing the historical significance of this find, he waived his claim to it and turned it over to the institute for scientific investigation. The ship was raised on August 28, 1976 with the artifacts wich were on board the vessel when she sank, probably during the 1730s.

The Brown's Ferry Vessel was a general purpose freighter used on rivers and coastal waterways during the 1700s. Although powered mainly by sails, it could also be rowed or poled. Its flat bottom allowed it to be beached for unloading.

The recovery of the vessel was a joint effort involving the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, The Rice Museum, the South Carolina underwater Archaeological Research Council, federal, state and local agencies, the International Paper Company and many concerned citizens. The ship is of such historical value that it has been included in the National Register of Historic Places

What is the value of such a small, unimpressive little vessel? in my opinion, it is the most important single nautical discovery in the United States to date. in the first place, it established primary evidence for American shipbuilding nearly fifty years earlier than previous discoveries. More importantly, this was a merchant hull, built without the anxiety, bureaucracy and inefficiency often associated with vessels of war. As such, it defines everyday technology in a competitive atmosphere. Additionally, this was a local type-representing a period and area in which far too little maritime information has been forthcoming. The southern colonies had farmland, timber, deep rivers and seaports. Certainly, South Carolina and neighboring states must have been heavily involved in shipbuilding and waterborne commerce.