The discovery of what may be a 150-year-old shipwreck in Aripeka, Florida, has sparked local interest and historical curiosity. Thomas Peterson, a resident of Hernando County, was fishing with his grandson when they stumbled upon the wreckage, which appeared in the mud flats at low tide. The site revealed wooden beams and planks, with Peterson noting a purplish piece of glass that might be linked to a liquor bottle.
Peterson, who describes himself as a ‘Florida redneck,’ is convinced the ship could be a rum-runner, a vessel used during the 19th-century Prohibition era for smuggling illegal alcohol. The presence of the glass fragment adds weight to this hypothesis, suggesting the wreck may predate the Prohibition era. Archaeologists have been dispatched to the site to examine the findings and determine the ship’s historical context. The site is protected under Florida State Statute 267.14, which ensures that such archaeological sites are preserved for public benefit, and can only be excavated by qualified professionals.
Similar discoveries have been made in other parts of the world, with archaeologists recently uncovering a set of 18th-century shipwrecks in North Carolina and a centuries-old shipwreck beneath a former fish market in Spain. The incident in Aripeka highlights the ongoing efforts to explore and understand maritime history through such accidental discoveries. As the archaeologists continue their investigation, the site may provide valuable insights into the maritime trade and smuggling activities of the 19th century.