Lynn B. Harris. A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF THE SEAPORT, TABLE BAY, AND SHIPWRECKS IN THE VICINITY OF CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA. (Under the direction of William Still) Department of History, December 1988. 

The purpose of this study is to explore the potential of both documentary and archaeological sources to supplement the maritime history Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town played an important role as a shipping station for the Dutch East India Company (1652-1795), British base to suppress the slave-trade and ship prisoners during the second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), focal point for World War I and II troopships, and stopover for passenger shipping services during the nineteenth century. Shipwrecks in the treacherous anchorage, Table Bay, were the cause of financial loss to many nations, particularly the Dutch. Since the eighteenth century, when John Lethbridge ventured into Cape waters with his "most famous diving machine," salvage of these shipwrecks has also become a feature of South Africa's maritime history.

 Salvage, urban developments, and heavy surf has depleted, destroyed, or buried many shipwreck sites in the vicinity of Cape Town. Artifacts recovered by divers and various collections donated to the South African Cultural History Museum, as well as and the timbers of the (1776) excavated during the Civic Center building operations, represent the only material evidence of these sites.