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In the course of a survey mission between Cap San Antonio and Cap Corrientes, off the southwest coast of Cuba, underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio discovered the wreck of the slave ship Adelaide, which sank on 10 October 1714. Excavation of the wreckage was completed in August 2003.
The Adelaide, a frigate weighing 400 tons and measuring 37 meters long, was the property of French King Louis XIV. She was manned with six officers and a crew of 140, and armed with 30 cannons for what was to be her last trip. The frigate, chartered by the Compagnie de L�Assiento, was under the command of M. de Champmorot.
The Adelaide left France from the port of Lorient in Brittany on her way to pick up 360 slaves in Guinea. It was after disembarking the slaves in Leogane, Haiti, that she met her fate.
She ran into a hurricane on her way to Havana and on the seventh night, 10 October 1714, she was thrown onto a reef and sank within the hour. The frigate broke into two parts: her bow was washed ashore with some of the survivors, but her stern sank. Only 45 men escaped; 106 died. Among the survivors was Captain de Champmorot, who was later brought before the French court to face responsibility for the disaster, but found not guilty.
The remains of the sunken stern were discovered by Goddio in 25 meters of water, at the base of the slope of the reef.
The site was surveyed with a highly sensitive magnetometer, which measures abnormalities in the magnetic field of the earth. Because every ship has iron on board, any deflection during a survey can be evidence of a shipwreck. The abnormalities in this case were positioned with GPS and then checked by dives at each spot, which is how Goddio was able to locate the remains of the Adelaide: the position of the site and its specifications match the description in the archives exactly. The danger of that particular location is evidenced by several more recent wrecks also located in the area.
Because the Adelaide sank during a hurricane, much of the ship was destroyed. The remains of the stern were scattered by strong currents, leaving only heavy artefacts on the wreckage site. The archives clearly confirm that the two anchors excavated belong to the Adelaide. In addition, Goddio found parts of the ship�s rigging, broken ceramics, and manual navigation instruments, as well as handcuffs and human bones.
Up till now, no ship of this type and period has ever been excavated. The discovery of the Adelaide and its excavation will reveal important information of great historical significance about the slave trade.
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