Has Simon found'The Dolphin'?
Simon Boxallwith an artifact from 'The Dolphin'
What could be a significant link to Cayman'shistorical past was recently discovered by Mr. Simon Boxall, aformer news producer with CITN and a friend. They have uncoveredan ancient trail and shipwreck on Grand Cayman, and is seekingconfirmation of their find from Dr. Philip E. Pedley, Directorof the Cayman Islands National Archives.
According to Mr. Boxall, he believes thediscovered ship 'The Dolphin' struck the shores of Grand Caymanon the 1st of August, 1630 and the crew subsequently rebuilt anothervessel from the retrieved timbers. This rebuilt ship, which theycalled 'The Cayman' was then used by the shipwrecked sailors tosail away.
Mr. Boxall admits that there is no proofas yet that the artifacts discovered are from the "The Dolphin".However, old records in the Cayman Islands National Archives referto four bronze cannons being transferred to a vessel called TheCayman.
Simon believes that the trail was createdwhen these guns were being dragged across the ground. An independentappraisal by a historical expert in the Islas of Scilly of Cornwall,England of the artifact, who suggests that the bronze breech isover 400 years old, making it even earlier than an onion bottle,currently in the Cayman Islands Museum collection.
According to Mr. Boxall, the Museum wasfirst alerted of this significant find back in 1998. Realisingthat there has been no action being taken to document and protectthe site, he says that the ancient shipwreck is too vulnerablefrom the shore and has made efforts to raise the funds to initiatescientific research arrangements and for it to be photographed.
Recognising the importance of this discovery,the shipwreck has now got the attention of the National Trustand the National Archive. The Department of Environment has alsobegun part-time monitoring of the site.
An obviously frustrated Simon Boxall says,"There is no current legislation in place to protect artifactsand shipwrecks that are not properly protected under Cayman'sMarine Law". He stated further, that he is "compelledto launch a claim in the hope" that he can raise funds tobegin scientific research on the site for such a very importantlink to Cayman's history. I definitely believe that the excusesoffered so far in connection with the preservation of this siteare not in the interest of efforts being made to celebrate andpreserve Cayman's maritime heritage." To this end, he isin touch with the Government's Receiver of Wrecks, in the hopethat the National Trust can raise funds to begin research on thesite.
Mr. Boxall believes that "this is agood opportunity for the National Trust, the National Archive,the Museum and the DoE to come to together to preserve what mayturn out to be the most important cultural property in the country."