Park rangers unearth 200-year-old shipwreck on remote island dubbed graveyard of the Atlantic

Park rangers in Canada have uncovered a centuries-old shipwreck in a region known for many maritime disasters.The shipwreck, which dates back more than 200 years, is believed to be the Swift, a civilian vessel that sank on Sept.27, 1812. En route from Bermuda to Newfoundland, the Swift sank along with the British Royal Navy frigate HMS Barbadoes and the schooner Emeline.The discovery of the ship fragments — and the research that followed — was two years in the making. The discovery was announced by Parks Canada officials last month.

The group was first alerted to the site in February 2024 after team members found a pulley wheel with a mark of the British Royal Navy.“Another Parks Canada team member later found a piece of copper sheathing with multiple broad-arrow stamps and an Admiralty stamp dated January 1810 from Portsmouth, which supported the likelihood that we’d unearthed a small fragment of the Barbadoes — we know from historical accounts that the ship had a refit at Portsmouth in 1810,” the statement said.Additional pulley wheels and copper sheathing were uncovered until officials eventually found a sloop-sized shipwreck section made of Bermudan cedar.The artifacts appeared to belong to Barbadoes —while the shipwreck section pointed to the Swift.“Initially, only three bits of wood were sticking out of the sand,” the statement said.“We believe the wreck to be that of the Swift.”Sable Island has a reputation as the “graveyard of the Atlantic,” a Parks Canada spokesperson told Fox News Digital.The official cited over 350 recorded shipwrecks since 1583. Many shipwreck fragments, however, can’t be traced back to specific events unless they have “sufficient distinguishing features.”The official said, “Sometimes, it takes luck.”The spokesperson added that the dig was difficult due to Sable Island’s windy, challenging weather and unusual terrain.Officials worked with Mi’kmaw archaeological technicians alongsi...