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The Excavation Begins
The goal for the CSS Hunley was to Recover the vessel and perform the necessary archaeological and scientific studies and preserve the submarine for the upcoming generations. The excavation plan for the CSS Hunley was divided into 4 phases:
Phase One: Studying the Submarine
Phase Two: The preliminary excavation of the stern ballast tank.
Phase Three: Removal of the plates.
Phase Four: Removal of sediments. -
First Step
Basic excavation of the stern ballast tank begins through an existing hole found in the upper starboard side of the stern ballast area. -
Period: to
The Excavation of the CSS Hunley
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The first of three hull plates begin to be removed.
This exposes light to the CSS Hunley for the first time in about 137 years. -
The end of the first week of excavating the H. L. Hunley.
During this week Archaeologists removed over 15 inches of sediment from all three open areas of the submarine. -
First artifacts found!
The artifacts found were most likely buttons from a uniform coat -
First remains found.
Archaeologists found what appeared to be three ribs from the right side of a body in the sediment of the CSS Hunley. -
Archaeologists uncover the remains of a second crewmember.
The remains were uncovered in the same area where the first military buttons were recovered. -
Archaeologists began to see more of the hand crank.
As workers worked down to the bottom of the submarine, seven handles on the crank became exposed. This is important because it means that they discovered where seven members of the crew sat. -
A wooden pipe. This pipe still had tobacco still in bowl.Archaeologists begin uncovering the personal belongings of the crew.
More wooden buttons, a brass button with no military insignia and a pencil were discovered -
Archaeologists find the first skull.
"This find is the first step that will allow us to put a face on a crewmember of the Hunley. The Hunley is not just a war story, it is a human story," said Warren Lasch, Chairman of Friends of the Hunley. -
Details of the crew begin to be revealed.
As archaeologists continue to excavate the sub, and remove the remains. Details of the men are being revealed. Discoveries included another tobacco pipe and sewing kit, which included a thimble and six buttons. -
A "dog tag" is discovered.
The interesting fact about this discovery is that the tag is from a Union soldier. Ezra Chamberlin is the name on the tag; he enlisted in the Union Army on September 6th, 1861, and was a member of Company K, 7th Regiment. It is recorded that Chamberlin died on July 11th, 1863 in the Battle at Fort Wagner. The German Light Artillery, which was the military unit of Corporal C. F. Carlson (a Hunley crewmember) was a powerful force at that battle and it is possible Carlson obtained the tag then. -
The remains of Lt. George Dixon, Captain of the H. L. Hunley, and the last crewmember have been found.
At this time the remains discovered are still inside the submarine. A lantern was also discovered, possibly the one the crew used to signal it sank the USS Housatonic. -
Lt. Dixon's Gold Coin Found.
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The second phase of the Hunley excavation begins.
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A possible gear or brake wheel is uncovered.
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It is certain that the Hunley had an eight-man crew.
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The H. L. Hunley teams have successfully completed the excavation of the central compartment of the submarine.
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Project moves focus to study of remains.
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Early findings of the Hunley crew are revealed.
"By looking at the remains of the crew's youngest member, aged 18-20 years, I can tell he went through a lot of strain when he turned the crank."
- Dr. Doug Owsley, Division Head for Physical Anthropology from the Smithsonian Institution -
Ezra Chamberlin was not onboard the submarine.
One of the many mysterys about the crew of the H. L. Hunley has been solved.The Identification tag of Ezra Chamberlin was found inside the Hunley along with the remains of a crewman. Genealogist, Linda Abrams says Ezra Chamberlin was younger, while the remains of the crewman indicate he was about a decade older. -
Possible conservation plan begin to make way.
New technology known as cold plasma reduction could speed up the conservation of the Hunley, but scientists must still determine whether or not it can be used.
