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Archeologist present as oil spill boom brings up 19th century anchor

When an oil boom at Perdido Pass accidentally snagged a 19th century anchor last month, Doug Wilson was on the dock when the anchor was unloaded.

An archaeologist at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Preserve, Wilson was working a two-week stint at the BP Joint Command Center during the oil spill crisis helping protect historical sites in the Gulf of Mexico and on beaches. As an archaeologist with some expertise in Civil War relics, he wanted to see the anchor.

Maritime archaeologists, he said, determined it was a 19th century folding stock anchor that probably predated the Civil War.

Because of its size, Wilson said it was probably on a smaller ship, like a schooner....
Read entire article at AL