Research Design
  1992
  1993
  1994

Field Research Prior to 1992
Introduction
Early Work
  1983
  1984
  1985
  1988
  1989
  1991

In 1984 a small group of people from Jacksonville, Florida worked together to find a shipwreck in the St Johns River. Subsequent investigations confirmed the identity as the Maple Leaf, lost during the Civil War. In order to continue work on the vessel, the group formed a company; St Johns Archaeological Expeditions, Inc. Although work progressed, acceptance in the professional archaeological community came slowly and funding was scarce or nonexistent. Finally, in 1990, the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources provided a Special Category Grant through the Jacksonville Museum of Science and History to fund research and the production of educational materials. The Jacksonville Historical Society became the sponsoring institution for a second grant awarded in 1991. In addition, St. Johns Archaeological Expeditions, Inc. sought professional assistance to continue research from the Program in Maritime History and Nautical Archaeology at East Carolina University. The resulting agreement encompasses a three year research plan to assess the site and provide direction in the areas of conservation, history and archaeology. The following report presents the research design and management plan that will direct this three year project and a detailed summary of all activities that occurred on the site before 1992. The artifact catalog has been included as an appendix. The recovered material awaits a thorough analysis before a detailed description of the collection can be completed.