Copper-Based Sheathing and Fastenings for Wooden Ships: An Archeometallurgical Study of the Carron, Ancla Macuca, RMS Forth, and El Pesquero Wreck Sites Located in the Gulf of Mexico (Late 18th to Mid-19th Century)

Abstract One challenge in maritime archeology is correlating historical records, archeological findings, and material analysis data to accurately date and establish the provenance of shipwrecks. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, European naval construction emphasized improvements to the durability of wooden ships, especially for tropical waters. The introduction of metal sheathing was a significant innovation to safeguard ship hulls against wood-boring organisms. Archeometallurgical analysis of copper-based sheathing and fastenings provides crucial insights into shipwreck technology and construction context. This study examines copper sheathing and fastenings on wooden ships from the late 18th to mid-19th century, focusing on wrecks in the Gulf of Mexico. Artifact analysis from these sites sheds light on evolving shipbuilding practices during the early industrial period. Additionally, archeometallurgical analysis has provided chronological references that assist in identifying these wrecks, particularly given the absence of ship hulls, which have degraded under tropical marine conditions.