MUFONET-BBS NETWORK - MUTUAL UFO NETWORK ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS -

MUFONET-BBS NETWORK - MUTUAL UFO NETWORK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS - WIRE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ кФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФП Г=START= XMT: 15:33 Tue Jun 25 EXP: 16:00 Tue Jul 02 Г Г Г ГWRECKAGE OF LUXURY STEAMSHIP THAT SANK NEARLY 150 YEARS AGO Г ГFOUND IN LAKE ERIE Г Г Г ГLOS ANGELES (JUNE 25) UPI - The wreckage of a luxury Г Гsteamship that sank nearly 150 years ago in Lake Erie with Г Гup to $60 million in gold coins aboard has been discovered Г Гin what archaeologists said Tuesday may represent one of theГ Гmore significant shipwreck finds in history. Г Г Г ГThe Atlantic was carrying 600 people when it collided in Г Гheavy fog with another ship and sank on Aug. 20, 1852. Only Г Гhalf of them survived but the ship and its contents were Г Гbelieved lost forever. A private salvage firm based in Los Г ГAngeles, using sonic radar, discovered the ship's wreckage Г Гin 1989 but withheld announcing the find until legal detailsГ Гcould be ironed out. Г Г Г ГOn Tuesday, the company, Mar-Dive Corp., displayed some of Г Гthe first items recovered from the ship, saying the find Г Гcould be worth up to $200 million. Г Г Г ГSteven Edward Morgan, president of Mar-Dive, also said the Г Гworld's oldest submarine was found on top of the wreckage. Г ГHe said it apparently landed there during a test mission a Г Гyear after the sinking. The company plans to attempt to Г Гraise the submarine. Г Г Г ГDan Koski-Karell, director of the National Institute of Г ГArchaeology in Washington, D.C., described the find of the Г ГAtlantic as possibly the most significant discovery from theГ Гpre-Civil War era. Г Г Г Г''It's a marvelous discovery,'' he said. ''I've seen some ofГ Гthe artifacts and some are in exquisite condition.'' Г Г Г ГAmong the items on display were a glass lamp, children's Г Гleather shoes, iron tools, mittens and china. Г Г Г ГSome of the items were found scattered around the wreckage Г Гwhile some were recovered from the deck of the ship. The Г Гvessel was found largely intact, except for an opening in Г Гits hull where it was struck. Г Г Г ГAdditionally, the salvage company estimates that up to $60 Г Гmillion in gold coins will be found on board. Divers have Г Гbeen unable to penetrate the ship's interior, but Morgan Г Гsaid that could happen late this year. Г Г Г ГArchaeologists said mud and the fresh cold waters of Lake Г ГErie helped to preserve the ship and its contents. Г Г Г ГMorgan said he intends to sell most of what is recovered. AsГ Гfor the Atlantic, he hopes to raise and restore it and make Г Гit a traveling museum of pre-Civil War times. Г Г Г Г=END= Г