Researchers teach locals about ancient canoes at St. Stephens
May 23, 2025
By Jason Boothe
Washington County News
A lunch-and-learn class at the Old Stephens Courthouse showcased Washington’s County’s two ancient canoes as researchers from University of West Florida presented their findings to a group of locals.
UWF maritime archaeology student Heather Jeans said both canoes have been on display for more than 50 years. Jeans said the first research conducted on Washington County Museum canoe made of bald cypress dated it to 1345 A.D. It was found in the Tombigbee River in 1973 and preserved with polyethylene glycol in 1974.
The St. Stephens Canoe, located at the old St. Stephens Courthouse, has been carbon dated to between 1026 and 1158 A.D.
“I think it has been a wonderful project that I have been a part of and I think we have learned a lot,” Jeans said. “I think it is important to have people who care to make sure these canoes keeps going for the future generations, whether it’s through volunteering time or donations in the perserving efforts. This is Washington’s County’s history.”
UWF students spent more than a year collecting materias for carbon dating, preserving and developing photogrammetry models of canoes.
Jeans said climate control and other factors could preserve the canoes for future generations. She said photogrammetry is a new process that takes more than 2,500 photos to create a 3D model of each canoe.
