Park Rangers Discover 200-Year-Old Shipwreck on Sable Island, Known as 'Graveyard of the Atlantic'
Park rangers in Canada have uncovered a shipwreck believed to be over 200 years old on Sable Island, a location notorious for maritime disasters. The shipwreck is thought to be the Swift, a civilian vessel that sank on September 27, 1812, while traveling from Bermuda to Newfoundland. The Swift sank alongside the British Royal Navy frigate HMS Barbadoes and the schooner Emeline. The discovery was made by Parks Canada officials, who were first alerted to the site in February 2024 after finding a pulley wheel marked with the British Royal Navy insignia. Further excavation revealed additional artifacts, including copper sheathing with Admiralty stamps, suggesting a connection to the Barbadoes. The shipwreck's completeness and condition are unusual for Sable Island, where most shipwrecks are found as small fragments. The excavation involved collaboration with Mi’kmaw archaeological technicians and required adapting methods to the island's shifting sands. 
