America's last slave ship discovered in Alabama | Sahir Studio

109 African prisoners of slavery survived a grueling six-week journey from East Africa to Alabama on a hold. A crowded ship, whose original purpose was to transport this product, had a distinctive design and size. Which helps archaeologists identify the remains of the boat

The Clotilda ship smuggled African captives to the United States in 1860, or more than 50 years after the legislation banning the import of slaves.

The Clotilda ship smuggled African captives to the United States in 1860, or more than 50 years after the legislation banning the import of slaves.

Marine archaeologists discovered a schooner named Clotilda, who smuggled slaves from Africa to the United States in 1860, or after that country banned slavery for more than 50 years. Said in the Mobile River, Alabama, after more than a year of searching And this finding fulfilled generations of dreams for the descendants of slaves that survived the ship

"Clotilda's surviving descendants have dreamed of this discovery for generations to come," said Lisa Demetropoulos Jones, executive director of the Alabama Historical Commission (AHC) and State Historic Preservation Officer. Preservation Officer) "We are excited to announce that their dreams have come true."

Clotilda is one of the few boats that has been discovered. From the thousands of ships that transport about 389,000 African slaves across the Atlantic to the United States between the years 1600 and 1860, and "the discovery of Clotilda reveals the missing chapter of American history." Said Fredrik Hiebert, an archaeologist at the National Geographic Society, which supports this search. "And this finding is still an important part of the story of the town, Africaatown. Created by the descendants of the last slave ship of America. "

Story background

The story of Cole Tilda begins when Timothy Meaher, a landlord and wealthy shipbuilder in Mobile. Betting that he will be able to smuggle African slaves to Mobile Bay without government officials knowing. He licensed Captain William Foster to build the ship. And brought to the prisoner in Ouidah in Benin today

Foster burned down the ship to destroy evidence after he sent the slave down the river. And Clotilda has kept this secret for decades While some groups say that this shameful incident never happened

However, there is evidence of this from both the slave owners and the slaves themselves. Sylviane Diouf is a famous African diaspora historian. And the author of the book Dreams of Africa in Alabama, which records the story of Kotilda, said: "There are drawing, interviewing, or even taking pictures of slaves. [This ship is transported] "" "The travel manager spoke about this matter. The boat captain talked about this. We, therefore, have stories from many perspectives. Which is something I have never seen anywhere before? "

Also, the former slaves who came with these ships did not return home after the American Civil War. Ended and the abolition of slavery But they have set up a small community The name of Africa Town in that area And many of the descendants still living in that area grew up with the story of this ship. By Lorna Woods, one of the descendants of those slaves "It will be a big deal. If they find evidence of this boat "and" what my mother told us would be reasonable It will be very good for us. "

Mary Elliott, curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture (Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture) agrees with this, she said. "There are many examples of things that some have denied that have happened. Including the inter-ethnic uprising in Tulsa in 1921, the story of this ship Or even the genocide of Jews, but now archeology, research, archives, And science that combines with the memories of the community together Causing those people to not be able to reject these stories Now people in the community can relate to their ancestors with a touch. Because they know that this is true. "

Finding the lost history

In many years There have been many searches for Cole Tilda. But must suffer failure Due to the Mobile-Tensaw Delta Full of swamps, lakes, and streams as well as a large number of shipwrecks But in January 2018, a local reporter discovered an unusually large wooden wreck, causing AHC to hire an archeological company AHC to investigate the wreck. Even if the ship was not such as Coltilda This finding has made the entire United States of America Interested in this lost slave ship, AHC provided additional funding for research. And collaborating with the National Geographic Society and Search, Inc. to find the ship.

The researchers began to examine hundreds of primary evidence and analyze records of more than 2,000 vessels operating in the Gulf of Mexico in the late 1850s and found that Clotilda is one of only 5 ships connected in the bay and has insurance In which the registration document describes the nature of this sailboat in detail Both in the material and dimensions of the ship From the metal fasteners on the hull made of cast iron that is hand-cast Lumber The size of beam and tonnage And the size and nature of the centerboard, said James Delgado, Marine Archaeologist at Search, Inc., "Coltilda is a specially built boat And has characteristics unlike other boats "and" have sailboats that connect in the bay The only one that is 26 meters long, has a beam of 7 meters and has a 2.1-meter displacement. This boat is Clotilda. "

Delgado and Stacye Hathorn, an archaeologist from the state of Alabama, focus on an area that has never been explored on the Mobil River after they research the locations where the Clotilda is sunk. Diver with a variety of equipment Such as a magnetic field concentration meter for metal detection Side-scanning sonar for detecting objects on the river bed And a tool to find objects buried under a sparse channel Search until finding the shipwreck cemetery

Among the ships that were discovered There is only one ship, they call it Target 5 which is different from other ships. And has the same characteristics as recorded Both the design, the size, and the materials used The wreck also shows signs of being burned. And there is evidence that the hull was covered in copper Which is a characteristic that is commonly seen in ocean vessels Which Delgado said it "Corresponding to every record of Clotilda" and even without the nameplates or other inscriptions Which clearly states that this shipwreck is Kotilda "But many pieces of evidence leave you without a doubt."

Memorial

In this episode, the remains of Coltilda carry the dream of Africa Town. The city is facing many problems. With reduced populations, poverty, and environmental problems from heavy industry companies around the urban community, they hope that the wrecks of this boat will attract tourists and bring back business and careers. Some even suggested the salvage of the shipwreck. But Delgado said the wreck is in a very bad condition. And rehabilitation requires millions of dollars

But the memorial may be another way for visitors to reflect the brutality of the slave trade. And think of the enormous contribution that African people have in creating America

"We still live with the effects of slavery." Paul Cardullo, director of the Center for the Study of Slavery in the World at the African-American Museum of History and Culture (National Center for the Study of Global Slavery at the National Museum of African American History and Culture) and members of the Slave Wrecks Project, which is involved in the search for Clotilda. "Slavery issues still haunt us. We can still find it. Because we have never faced it If we handle this matter correctly We will have opportunities not only to reconcile If there is an opportunity to make meaningful changes as well "