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Hernando Today

Searching For Time Capsules

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: March 29, 2009

BAYPORT - Archeologists want to study past cultures, not just the artifacts they find.

When an underwater artifact is discovered, such endeavors are made easier.

Sediments build up and can protect anything that is submerged for a century or more.

"Shipwrecks are like time capsules," said maritime archeologist Nichole Tumbleson. "Everything is like a piece to a puzzle. With every piece we (find), the clearer the picture."
Tumbleson is part of the Florida Public Archaeology Network. She gave an overview Saturday of the "Bayport Underwater" project, which was designed to kick off the ongoing search and preservation of Civil War-era vessels.

Bayport was an active hub during the war. It is believed there were several Union blockade vessels burned and sunk along the coast.

The weather caused all of the demonstrations to be moved to the picnic area. The rustling sound of wind blowing through the dry palm trees made it impossible for lecturers to talk to the onlookers who were lining up along the pier.

In spite of the windy weather, several local history and Civil War buffs attended the demonstration. Some took notes while others took photographs.

If the annual Brooksville Raid is a local attraction for the casual Civil War enthusiast, Saturday's event was more of an in-depth lesson for the more-serious historian.

"I really like the underwater aspect of this," said Fred Zimmerman, of Spring Hill. "History surrounds it, so it's kind of mystical."

He compared Saturday's demonstration to the Raid, a re-enactment that is held at the Sand Hill Scout Reservation every January. To Zimmerman, there is no comparison.

"People don't really realize how important of a role Bayport played during the Civil War," he said. "This is even more (impressive) than the Raid, which is kind of overblown. This is a real spot where things happened."

Hernando County is connected to many eras of history, from Civil War to Colonial to prehistoric, said Gary Ellis, director of the Gulf Archeology Research Institute.

Seeing the large crowd in front of him was a pleasing image. He was seeing people who appreciated the historical relevance of the places they call home.

"Being on the coast here, many of you probably drove through hundreds of prehistoric sites," he told the crowd.

Saturday's demonstrations included mapping techniques and how submerged archeological sites are relocated.

"We are here for public outreach and education," Tumbleson said. "We want people to be aware there are shipwrecks in this vicinity. People don't generally think of Florida when they think of the Civil War ... We want the public to be involved with it."

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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