Experts Recommend Preserving Last U.S. Slave Ship Underwater

The Clotilda, discovered in Alabama, is too damaged to be excavated without losing critical historical evidence.

A task force found the Clotilda broken and eroded, deeming it too fragile to be raised from the water.
The ship's remains were discovered in 2019, reigniting discussions on how to honor its historical significance.
Preserving the ship underwater involves installing protective pillars to safeguard it from further damage.
Some descendants of the ship's survivors support underwater preservation, while others advocate for a museum.
The Clotilda's legacy continues to impact Africatown, a community founded by the ship's freed survivors.