Mercantilism, Warfare, or Privateering? Providing the Historical Context for the Mardi Gras Shipwreck Site (original) (raw)
The Gulf of Mexico played an important role in the power struggles between Europe and the United States for control of access to valuable resources in North and South America. Spain, France, Great Britain, and the burgeoning United States utilized this vast body of water to jockey for positions of power, especially for control of New Orleans. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries these countries wrangled for control of the Gulf through treaty, trade, warfare, and privateering. Serving many different roles, ships engaged in transporting commodities, protecting places and resources, and antagonizing rivals. Between wars, commercial competition, and disasters at sea, many vessels were lost to the depths of the Gulf. One such vessel, the Mardi Gras Shipwreck, may have served in one or more of these roles during its career. By examining the historical record, archaeologists can reconstruct the sociocultural, political, and economic milieus to establish the historical context in which the shipwreck and its story reside. (NOTE: A viewable-only version is available at the following SharedIt web address: http://rdcu.be/tI3L)
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2006
This report was prepared under contract between Minerals Management Service (MMS) and Texas A&M University. This report has been technically reviewed by the MMS and it has been approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the MMS, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. It is, however, exempt from review and compliance with the MMS editorial standards.
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This report was prepared under contract between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) and Southeastern Archaeological Research, Inc. (SEARCH). This report has been technically reviewed by BOEMRE, and it has been approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of BOEMRE, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. It is, however, exempt from review and compliance with BOEMRE editorial standards. REPORT AVAILABILITY This report is available only in compact disc format from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, at a charge of $15.00, by referencing OCS Study BOEMRE 2011-004. The report may be downloaded from the BOEMRE website through the Environmental Studies Program Information System (ESPIS). You will be able to obtain this report also from the National Technical Information Service in the near future. Here are the addresses. You may also inspect copies at selected Federal Depository Libraries.
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