Archaeological Excavation of the Mardi Gras Shipwreck, Gulf of Mexico Continental Slope

The goals of the data recovery were to record the exposed remains of the shipwreck and to recover sufficient artifacts and features to reduce the visibility of the site. The data recovery plan was also designed to identify the age, national affiliation, function, and demise of the vessel, as well as to determine the nationality of the crew and to learn details of life aboard the ship through analysis of the recovered remains and features noted on the seafloor. Analyses of the hull remains and recovered artifacts were additionally used to explore the preservation of shipwrecks in deep water.