Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] I just got back from a lecture about the "Hunley."

["D. Blake" <dblake@bright.net>]

Word: "adipocere"
http://medstat.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/taph/boneadipocere.html
D.
-----Original Message-----
From: samdatl <samdatl@avana.net>
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Date: Thursday, August 10, 2000 10:39 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] I just got back from a lecture about the
"Hunley."


> Christ why dont they just put the dead back where they belong. keep the
>boat fine but why mess with the bodies. (Ex-bubblehead)
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Michael B Holt" <michaelbholt@juno.com>
>To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
>Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2000 6:47 PM
>Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] I just got back from a lecture about the "Hunley."
>
>>
>> One of the American archaeologists working on the project has bet
>> Mark Ragan that there will be brain matter in the skulls.  Ragan took
>> the bet, but he's hoping he'll lose.  Everyone working on the project
>> expects to find shoes and clothing in addition to the usual buttons.
>> Apparently, the sub sank in just the right environment to save
>> practically everything.
>>
>> The Hunley fell into a "goop" the "consistency of modeling clay,"
>> Ragan reported.  There's been an accretion of coral on the hull,
>> so it should be intact.  He expected to find it falling apart, but
>> it's complete, intact and self-supporting.   He stated that it will be
>> in good condition 500 years from now, with the usual care.  Ragan
>> calls the goop "good anaerobic mud."
>>
>> Right now, the boat's in a large box of 50-degree harbor water.  That
>> will be exchanged gradually for fresh water, over the next year.
>> Ragan expects little decomposition to occur before they enter the
>> hull.  By about September, they'll start working on getting into the
>> hull.

>> Mike Holt