CSS Alabama Methodology Gallery

• Historical Background
• Methodology
• Findings
• Credits and Bibliography
• About

• 
• Introduction
• Identifying the Wreck
• Negotiations
• Objectives for Year 2000
• Methods for Year 2000
• Raising a Cannon
• Results for Year 2000
• Objectives for Year 2001
• Methods for Year 2001
• Results for Year 2001
• Ceramics
• Objectives for Year 2002
• Methods for Year 2002
• Results for Year 2002

Planning around the most ideal tidal coefficients, the team scheduled dives between the 19th and 29th of June and the 8th and 16th of July. Cold water temperature, varying degrees of visibility, and strong currents create many problems for archaeological investigation. (image: photo mosaic of anchor in situ)

Methods for Year 2000

Divers placed buoys as a point of reference at the stern and bow of the vessel. During the first dive period, French volunteer divers and American archaeologists worked together to clear the base of the aft pump and to lift the 32-pounder to the surface. Consolidated sediment made the anchor impossible to move and excavation was halted by the end of the first dive period. During the second dive period, the team continued to excavate at the base of the aft fire pump but were plagued by bad weather and rough seas. The aft fire pump excavation was also abandoned.