One debris field lies at the bottom of Lake Michigan. Much farther south, another one—mostly a pile of rocks—lies underwater just off the coast of Haiti. In each case, the discoverers are confident they’ve found a famous shipwreck. But have they, and who decides? Researchers compile the evidence, but in the end, it’s a matter of interpretation of that evidence that brings about an actual decision.
Undecided: The Santa Maria
The Santa Maria is called the ship that changed the course of world history. It was the flagship of Christopher Columbus on his 1492 voyage that led to the discovery of the Americas. According to Columbus’ journal, the Santa Maria ran aground off the coast of Haiti. Its timbers were harvested by Columbus’ men to build shelter on the island.
In 2003, underwater archeologist Barry Clifford discovered what he says is a ballast pile in those same waters. He also says he found a cannon at the same site. Columbus described a cannon aboard the Santa Maria. That journal entry has now convinced Clifford that he found the famous ship. Since the first finding, however, the cannon has disappeared. Perhaps a bounty hunter or modern-day pirate also discovered the remains and took the weapon.
Without it, researchers have only a pile of rocks and the journal record to judge by. Journals are records written by fallible men. Fallible men are also the ones interpreting the evidence. It seems the mystery of what happened to the famous ship, and where it happened, may never be solved.
Decided? The Griffin
Steve Libert has been searching the floor of Lake Michigan for three decades. He is trying to find the shipwreck of the Griffin.
The Griffin was commanded by 17th-century French Explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. It was the first European vessel to sail the upper Great Lakes. La Salle set sail in 1679 with a crew of six, but the Griffin never returned. It seemed to have disappeared completely—until now, perhaps.
In June, Libert and his crew announced they had found a 100-foot-long area scattered with materials they believe are related to the ship. The wreckage lies about 50 feet below the lake’s surface. Libert says there are wooden planks, nails, and pegs. He also says there are timbers that could have been a ship’s mast. The nails are similar to those from another of La Salle’s ships which sank near the Gulf of Mexico.
Libert hopes to acquire state and federal permits to thoroughly excavate the site this fall. He fully expects the excavation to confirm that the search for the famous ship is over.
“This is definitely the Griffin. I’m 99.9 percent sure,” Libert says.
