New evidence that may be related to a Russian shipwreck over 200 years ago has been found at an Archaeological work near Sitka this summer. In 1813, a Russian-American Company frigate, Neva wrecked somewhere near Cape Edgecumbe. In the wreck, 26 passengers and crew survived and made a crude camp on shore. They stayed in the camp for around a month before being rescued.

Dave McMahan was the principal investigator in this year’s archaeological dig. He is also known in Sitka as the leader of the archaeological dig on Castle Hill in 1997-98, in which thousands of Russian era artifacts were found. During that time, McMahan was with the Alaska Division of History and Archaeology. Since his retirement from state position, he is doing archaeological work on grant-funded projects.

McMahan said people have been looking for the Neva wreck site for more than 200 years, and a number of legends and rumors had sprung up.

McMahan and other archaeologists found a collection of Russian axes in a 2012 dig at the suspected site of the Neva survivors’ camp and in this past July, they discovered more artifacts.

McMahan said, “We didn’t find any smoking guns. No tea sets that said ‘Neva’ or anything like that. But we didn’t expect that. Rarely do you find anything, carrying ship’s name on it, but this is definitely a strong indication of survivors’ camp”.