1. Excavation, Conservation, Display
La Belle,
Louis XIV’s Flagship:
Excavation, Conservation, Display
Lost in Texas in 1686

2. OR -- Why We Don’t Speak French in Texas
La Salle’s Texas Saga

3. FIRST!, Just Who Was Rene’-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle ?
Born Nov. 21, 1643 in Rouen, France (Normandy)
Died March 20,1687 in present day Texas
AND, what does he have to do with Texas history?

4. Before La Salle’s ill-fated voyage to Texas …
His reputation was well-established from his explorations in Canada and the Great Lakes Region of North America.
After discovering the mouth of the Mississippi on April 9, 1682, La Salle went to France to present his plan to King Louis XIV to establish a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi.

5. Late 17th-Century Map of the New World

6. St. Francois - ketch (captured by pirates near Haiti
King Louis XIV outfitted him with four ships to establish a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
L’Amiable - flute (sank in Texas in 1684)
Joly - 3rd Class Vessel (returned to France)
La Belle - barque longue (sank in Matagorda Bay, Texas in 1686)
St. Francois - ketch (captured by pirates near Haiti

7. The Belle is undeniably one of the most historically significant shipwrecks ever discovered and excavated in the New World. The area where the Belle sank is shown inside Matagorda Bay.

8. …..making it the first European settlement in what is now Texas.
La Salle’s settlement, called Ft. St. Louis, was located on Garcitas Creek in April of 1685,
…..making it the first European settlement in what is now Texas.

9. Where ?? is the Mississippi?
This was an oft asked question, but La Salle had no answer, much to the consternation of the other members of the colony.

10. The novel concept of a drained “doughnut shaped” coffer dam was designed to encapsulate the ship.

11. Building the Coffer Dam

12. The Belle Field Excavations
The submerged ship becomes a dry land excavation

13. 14 feet below sea level protected by 80 feet long sheet pilings driven 40 feet into the sea bottom the tedious and exacting job of excavating the ship begins. But at a cost of 4.8 million dollars and two diesel pumps running 24 hours a day to keep the seawater out, it is technique not to be repeated very often!

14. The quantity and variety of artifacts from the Belle is astounding !
How do you take material like this, treat it, and ultimately put in on display? Equally important how do you do it efficiently and economically?

15. One of three chest of guns with a few swords thrown in just to complicate the conservation process! Note the well preserved wood stocks and the badly corroded iron barrels.

16. The two remaining bronze guns lying on the starboard side of
the ship were found when the last of the cargo in the hold was removed.

17. The last remnants of the cargo in the hold and the ceiling planking are revealed.

18. By far the largest and singularly most important artifact is the
Ship

19. The Nine Month Excavation Ended April 1996
Now the scene SHIFTS to the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University for the five year plus conservation stage.
The role of the conservation laboratory can not be overly emphasized on all underwater archaeology projects. The success of the project is determined by their work.

20. The artifacts and even the ship make a 100 mile journey inland to a sea of vats stretched along an old WWII runway at the Riverside Campus of Texas A&M University.

21. The vat will be 60’ long, 20 ‘ wide, and 12’ deep.
In 1997 plans were made to construct a state-of-the-art conservation vat in the empty space adjacent to the Conservation Research Laboratory at Riverside Campus.
The vat will be 60’ long, 20 ‘ wide, and 12’ deep.

22. Construction on the Vat started in July 1998
Despite being in a 6 month long drought, dig a hole, and the rains will come.
Despite difficulties, the work continued.

23. On May 3, 2000 the keel was laid in preparation for the reassembly
On May 3, 2000 the keel was laid in preparation for the reassembly. Lifting the keel underwater on the support shoe. With the keel in place, the reassembly can start.

24. Web address is nautarch.tamu.edu/napcrl.htm Follow the links.
The Belle was taken apart in the field and the 384+ parts were stored waiting to be reassembled and conserved in the new conservation vat, which is the largest vat of its kind. View from the webcam focused on the vat.
Web address is nautarch.tamu.edu/napcrl.htm Follow the links.

25. Anyone here like jigsaw puzzles
Anyone here like jigsaw puzzles? The reassembly is a slow and tedious process!!!!!!!!!

26. Slowly, the ship comes together
Slowly, the ship comes together. A constant water spray is required during the summer to keep the wood from drying out.
One the frames are bolted in place and properly aligned, each frame is removed and a carbon fiber support place under it.

27. Assembly Marks on the Frames help both the original builders and us in putting the ship together.
Note the corresponding VIII D on both the floor timber and the keel!

28. Now we are in the winter and clothing differs dramatically
Note the stanchions required to support the frames. However these will be eliminated when displayed.

29. The Belle is an important teaching tool and the nautical classes are brought out on tours.

30. State of Reassembly on Friday, July 28, 2000

31. Another Webcam documents the construction of this 1/12 scale model of the Belle

32. Glenn Greico, a skilled model builder, works on the Rockport Model in the Wood Lab of the Nautical Archaeology Program and the Institute of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M University

33. The model being prepared for delivery (there are a few details to be added in the coming weeks)

34. Rockport Model of the Belle – represents 3 years of work.

35. French Model of the Belle

36. One thing is a given Skeletal material always receives a lot of publicity, and the male skeleton found on the Belle is no exception.
For that reason, we decided to do
everything possible to demonstrate all
the alternatives and procedures utilized in skeletal conservation and analysis and present it on the INTERNET.

38. Prof. Denis Lee reconstructed the facial features in clay directly onto the stereolithography cast.
The face of a 17th-century French sailor is facing back at you after 314 years.

39. Pole Arms - Partisans- typically all the metal artifact are
received covered with marine encrustation as seen below.

40. Comparison of the final epoxy cast of a partisan with the x-ray when it was encrusted

41. Even when cleaning mundane cannonballs
A well-preserved wicker basket is encountered.

42. Ceramic Fire Pots -- are very unique artifacts

43. Stacked brass kettles, stainers and candlesticks represent a stash of personal good needed for the New World
After conservation, they are stabilized and provide additional information on food preparation

44. A unique English made Nocturne made of wood and brass and used in navigation by determining the hour at night by taking the angles of the two stars, Ursa Minor and Ursa Major
Great care has to be taken on artifacts such as this, due to the thinness of the waterlogged wood and the moveable pieces.

45. Our goal is for the conserved nocturne to look as close as possible to this English Nocturne in Portugal
In the 17th Century the best nocturnes were made in England as was the example shown here. The instrument was used to determine the hour by taking the angles of Ursa Major in the Big Dipper and Ursa Minor (the Great Bear and the Lesser Bear better known as the North Star in the Little Dipper..

46. The Conserved Nocturne

47. Compasses - steel tips missing from the Belle examples
The standard instrument for calculating distance on the maps of the period

48. Jesuit Rings: IXXI IHS L (oyola) crucifixtion
14 different religious designs have been found

49. Miscellaneous - bone whistle, brass buckle, hawk bells, and ceramic cup

50. Leather shoe - La Belle… Preserved with silicone oil.

51. Ceramics found on board provide insight on shipboard living
and food consumption on board the Belle

52. of the recovered material is a continuous process. Electrolytic
The conservation
of the recovered material
is a continuous process. Electrolytic
Reduction is utilized to stabilize most of the metal artifacts.
Ft. Saint Louis cast iron guns

53. Contrasting the conserved cast iron and bronze cannons
Emphasizes the importance of proper conservation

54. After conservation all the intricate casting details such as the crossed anchor crest of Le Compte de Vermandois are revealed.

55. One chest contained hundreds of brass rings and mirrors
As well as wood Combs

56. Many more mysteries remain to be discovered!
What’s in this unopened mystery chest?

57. Conserved Chest Contents

58. Belle

61. Switching Gears – Freeze Drying

62. SUPRISES are always interesting
SUPRISES are always interesting. Without a doubt, the recent find of a silver Roman coin was totally unexpected! OTHO CAESAR ruled for 3 months in A.D. 70.
On the date of the sinking of the Belle in A.D. 1686, this coin was 1616 years old.

63. On his third trip inland, La Salle was killed by one of his own men.
Actually the body was left where it lay somewhere near Navasota, Texas

64. Death of La Salle
On January 12, 1687, La Salle with 16 men left to obtain supplies from Canada. In March1687, they crossed a large river supposedly near Navasota. A few days later, 5 men including L’Archevêque killed La Salle’s nephew, his Indian guide and his servant. As La Salle returned, L’Archevêque distracted him and Duhaut shot him.

65. Coincidences

66. La Salle Death

67. Navasota, Texas – La Salle Statue erected 1927 for 250th anniversary of death.

68. La Salle Death - New Data!

69. Now recent research suggests that he was killed near the intersection of OSR & Hwy 21

70. La Salle Odyssey – Displays in 7 Regionarl Museums

71. Bullock Texas State Historical Museum, Austin

72. Corpus Christi, Texas

73. Victoria, TX – Museum

74. Rockport Maritime Museum

75. El Fin

76. The Belle Project was directed by the Texas Historical Commission and the conservation of the recovered material was done by the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University. The La Salle Project is highlighted on the Interntate at the following addresses: