CAPE ALAVA – Five students from Central Washington University in Ellensburg are getting their feet wet in the field of archaeology.
Literally wet, in fact.
A group of five students – four from CWU and one who joined the group independently – are being led by Faith Haney, a master’s of science candidate in resource management, in a project to locate, chart and film the wreckage of the Austria at Cape Alava.
Examining the wreckage off the Pacific Coast near the Ozette Indian Reservation will involve group members – who are examining the ship parts today through Tuesday – wading through the low tide at the cape.
The Austria, built in Bath, Maine in 1870, wrecked at Cape Alava on Jan. 29, 1887.
Preliminary surveys have not located the hull, but the main anchor, piles of chain, life-boat davits and other parts have been spotted.
“We were really happy with the preliminary survey,” Haney said.
“For a wooden artifact that is covered for part of the day in water, I think that we are doing pretty well.
“I am hopeful that we will find part of the hull.”
The students – who are camping in tents at the reservation – will check out the ship parts that have already been found, film them and use global positioning systems to create definitive maps of the area.
Haney plans to follow-up on rumors about planking from the hull having been spotted.
Bob Steelquist, education, public relations, outreach education and outreach coordinator for Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, and Simon Geerlofs, an independent archaeologist and specialist in marine affairs, will teach the class with Haney.
