Maritime Center joins search for the Griffon Diver at the Shipwreck Photo courtesy Lasalle - Griffon Project AP writer John Flesher reports that the Center for Maritime and Underwater Resource Management wants to help Steve Libert of the Great Lakes Exploration Group determine whether the wreckage he found in 2001 is the Griffon, the 17th century ship built by the French explorer La Salle. The Center's president, Ken Vrana, said "Government alone should not be writing our maritime history. We should all be involved." The Griffon disappeared on its maiden voyage in 1679 after setting sail from an island near Green Bay and it is believed to have sunk in northern Lake Michigan (where the wreckage was found). Libert and marine archaeologists carbon tested of wood slivers and the results show they could date to the period when the Griffon was built. Michigan officials say the state owns all abandoned Great Lakes shipwrecks within its jurisdiction and Libert has no claim to the Griffon. They want to determine what's there before making any deals about his future involvement. Libert has informed the state of the general location, but he wants a promise from the state that he can stay involved as the wreckage is studied and take part in decisions about what to do with it. Read Heritage group is helping in ship search in the Traverse City Record-Eagle Be sure to also visit the Great Lakes Exploration web site (LOTS of information including pictures and video!) Also check out Search for the Griffon - Great Lakes oldest shipwreck on the Shipwreck Blog. For more on LaSalle & the Griffon/Griffin (nobody can make up their mind on how to spell it!), check out Absolute Michigan Keyword "Griffin" for more on the wreck. Posted/updated Aug 16, 2006 by Andrew McFarlane (Absolute Michigan) click to Send This Story to a Friend! Main Michigan News Page Go Back One Page

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