Anchors, Chains, and an Absence of Knees: Identification of an Early 19th-Century Shipwreck at Boot Reef, Australian Coral Sea Territory

In 2012, the Australian National Maritime Museum and Silentworld Foundation commenced a long-term research project to investigate historic shipwreck sites associated with shipping routes through and around the Great Barrier Reef that connected 19th-century Australia with the rest of the world.This systematic survey of the Great Barrier Reef and the Australian Coral Sea included December 2018 investigations at Boot Reef, which lies 80 km east of the entrance to Torres Strait.The survey resulted in discovery of a previously undocumented early 19th-century shipwreck site, the surviving material culture of which proved critical to narrowing the field of potential vessel candidates.However, it was not just what was present that helped solve the mystery of the site's identity, as the investigation's evidence-based approach was complemented by the notable absence of specific artefacts and naval architectural components.