Archaeologists Discovered Cemetery & Hospital Under Water At The Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park

Photo Credits: Twitter/Dry Tortugas National Park

The world is a mysterious place, and it will surely never cease to surprise us. Even after all these years of development, modernisation, and other aspects of our civilisation, we are not fully aware of everything that surrounds us. Be it the world underwater or the one up in space, there is still so much we are yet to discover. One interesting discovery was made by archaeologists at Dry Tortugas National Park.

Dry Tortugas National Park Archaeologists Made A Discovery

Photo Credits: Twitter/Dry Tortugas National Park

Recently, the national park announced that its team of archaeologists had made some interesting discoveries underwater. The remains of a 19th-century hospital and cemetery were the main highlights of this discovery. Fascinating, right? This discovery was made on an island near Garden Key. This island had evidently submerged under the water.

Only one grave from the newly discovered cemetery has been identified. However, the records show that more than a dozen people could have been buried at that cemetery. The graves of many US soldiers stationed at Fort Jefferson could probably be there. 

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National Park Archaeologists Found Underwater Hospital & Cemetary

Photo Credits: Twitter/Dry Tortugar National Park

To be exact, this amazing discovery is not as recent. The team of archaeologists has been working at the site since 2022. The team included some members of the park’s cultural resources staff, people from the Submerged Resources Centre, and a graduate from the University of Miami. After they conducted a survey and made the discovery, they have been researching records of the past to make more discoveries, especially about the identified grave.

The hospital remains found underwater were allegedly from a small quarantine hospital where yellow fever patients were treated between 1890 and 1900. The research shows that this couldn’t have been the only hospital in the area. As per the historical records, there had to be many patients who would have required treatment for yellow fever in those days.

While their research has come a long way, there is still much to know about Mr. Greer, whose grave has been identified, and others who were buried in that cemetery. Their research is ongoing, and the findings to date have been documented as an archaeological resource. 

Cover Image Courtesy: Twitter/Dry Tortugas National Park

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