'Extraordinary archaeological find': Last known US slave ship found in Alabama

The remains of the last known ship to bring enslaved people to the United States have been found nearly 160 years after its illegal voyage from Africa to Alabama, state officials say.

The wreck of the Clotilda was found near Mobile on the shores of the Gulf Coast, the Alabama Historical Commission said, after months of excavation and archaeological verification of the vessel.

"The discovery of the Clotilda is an extraordinary archaeological find," said Lisa Demetropoulos Jones, the executive director of the Alabama Historical Commission. "The voyage represented one of the darkest eras of modern history and is a profound discovery of the tangible evidence of slavery."

In 1860, the Clotilda transported more than 100 people from Benin, Africa, to Mobile, Alabama, a voyage that took place 52 years after the United States banned importing new enslaved people.

"I think about the people who came before us who labored and fought and worked so hard," Joycelyn Davis, a sixth-generation granddaughter of African captive Charlie Lewis, told the Associated Press. She added, "I'm sure people had given up on finding it. It's a wow factor."

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The leaders of the Clotilda voyage, Timothy Meaher and Capt. William Foster, evaded authorities and destroyed the ship by burning it after their illegal trip, the state's historical commissions says.

The enslaved people on board remained captive until the end of the Civil War. A small group of survivors and descendants then reunited in hopes of returning to Africa but instead created a new community – known today as Africatown – in the Plateau area of Mobile.

"This new discovery brings the tragedy of slavery into focus while witnessing the triumph and resilience of the human spirit in overcoming the horrific crime that led to the establishment of Africatown," Jones said.

The renewed search for the Clotilda began after last January when a local news reporter believed to have found the ship's remains. State historical officials said it was not the Clotilda but soon found two dozen vessels from the 19th and 20th centuries as part of their new search in the Mobile River.

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Soon, one vessel appeared to match characteristics of the Clotilda, the historical commission said.

"Utilizing the latest scientific techniques and in-depth archival research, the team identified a target for further investigation and excavation," said Eric Sipes, a senior archaeologist for the state of Alabama.

Sipes said the team studied the ship remains for a year, scouring documents, performing forensic analysis and consulting with experts. An initial report was then sent to outside experts for peer review.

"We are cautious about placing names on shipwrecks that no longer bear a name or something like a bell with the ship’s name on it, but the physical and forensic evidence powerfully suggests that this is Clotilda," said James Delgado, who led the maritime archaeological assessment.

The Alabama Historical Commission said a number of key similarities confirmed the ship remain's identity, including its unique size and building materials. Archaeologists also identified signs of fire damage that matched the claims that the leaders of Clotilda's voyage burned it after they landed in Alabama.

The state said their work will now focus on preserving the ship as well as continuing to work with the descendants of the enslaved people on board.

"We should not forget that the larger story here is the people and what they were able to accomplish," Clara Nobles, assistant executive director at the state historical commission, said.

Earlier this year, a researcher in the United Kingdom published the story of Redoshi, the last known survivor of the U.S. slave trade, who was forcefully brought to the country on the Clotilda. Redoshi is believed to have lived two years longer than Oluale Kossola, also known as Cudjo Lewis, who was previously believed to be the last survivor and a survivor of the Clotilda.

Of the Clotilda discovery, Nobles added: "Finding this important historical asset is pivotal to reconciliation with the citizens of Africatown, the State of Alabama and the nation."

Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller on Twitter @RyanW_Miller.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Extraordinary archaeological find': Last known US slave ship found in Alabama