Maritime archaeologists say they believe they have uncovered four shipwrecks along the shoreline of eastern North Carolina, with one possibly being the La Fortuna, a Spanish privateer that exploded off the coast during a colonial attack in 1748.
The recent discovery was made by students and staff with East Carolina University’s Program in Maritime Studies in Brunswick County along the Cape Fear River.
“We are extremely excited about these important sites, as each one will help us to better understand the role of (Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson) as one of the state’s earliest colonial port towns,” Dr. Jason Raupp, assistant professor in ECU’s Department of History and leader of the research team, said in a statement. “These submerged colonial waterfront features are incredibly well-preserved and present an excellent opportunity for ECU students to engage in hands-on, collaborative research.”…