Archaeology Team to Survey Shipwreck at Cape Ray

The piece of wreckage nestled next to the shore at Cape Ray Beach. - © René Roy / Wreckhouse Press

CAPE RAY - Officials from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Provincial Archaeology Office are preparing to travel to Cape Ray to conduct a survey of the remains of a ship that recently appeared on the shore of J. T. Cheeseman Provincial Park.

The team is planning to be on site on Saturday to take detailed photographs, video and measurements and to collect wood core samples to try and determine the origin of the Cape Ray shipwreck.

The Provincial Archaeology Office is regularly alerted to shipwreck sites around Newfoundland and Labrador, so this find is not unexpected or uncommon. While the photos and videos that have been collected to date are helpful, it is far too early to speculate as to whether this particular shipwreck is historically significant.

There are potentially thousands of shipwrecks in the waters around the Island of Newfoundland and it may be difficult to pinpoint the exact origin of this vessel.

We greatly appreciate the local interest and efforts of residents to assist in identifying the ship.

We kindly ask the public for their patience and to be respectful of the archaeology team’s work as they carry out their investigation this weekend.