Earthmoving

Road crew finds 19th century boat

Oct. 17, 2023

FDOT crew uncovered the boat during a drainage project.

The Florida Department of Transportation shared this image of the boat via its account on X.

A nearly intact boat was uncovered in the nation’s oldest city by workers with the Florida Department of Transportation.

The discovery in St. Augustine, Florida, on October 5 revealed a wooden vessel that FDOT archeologist Ian Pawn said dated to the 1800s. In a report on WPTV, Pond said the discovery also includes a pair of leather shoes and coins.

The crew was working on a drainage project when an excavator exposed the boat, according to the report. An onsite expert saw the wood, stopped excavation, and exposed more of the boat with a trowel.

The boat has been removed and placed in wet storage.

About the Author

Rod Sutton

Sutton has served as the editorial lead of Construction Equipment magazine and ConstructionEquipment.com since 2001.

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