THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, February 21, 1997             TAG: 9702210813
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY TONY WHARTON, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   34 lines

REMAINS OF OLD SHIP FOUND ON PORTSMOUTH WATERFRONT POSSIBLY A VESSEL FROM THE 18TH CENTURY, IT MAY HAVE BEEN SUNK TO AVOID CAPTURE.

The remains of a ship found on the waterfront at High Street may be an 18th century warship deliberately sunk to avoid capture, historians said Thursday.

``It's an unusual find,'' said Randy Turner, director of the state Department of Historic Resources office in Portsmouth. ``I personally don't know of another wreck like this in the Hampton Roads area.''

Tidewater Construction is excavating the area to build a new slip for the Norfolk-Portsmouth ferryboat.

Last week, a crane operator pulled up lumber that he thought looked like ship's timbers, and work stopped until the lumber could be evaluated.

Turner brought in regional shipwreck experts who confirmed the historical find.

Based on the timber, they estimated the ship is from the late 1700s and may have been built from wood that grows in the region, he said.

Experts noted that Portsmouth has long been a shipbuilding port and that American ships, including warships, have been deliberately scuttled in the area at various times to prevent their capture.

The ship's remains are in relatively good condition, indicating it may have been new when it was sunk, Turner said.

Under state and federal laws, construction projects must halt until significant archaeological finds can be evaluated. Richard Hartman, Portsmouth's director of public works, said the city is willing to wait until the necessary steps are taken before work resumes.