Researchers from the University of Rhode Island, in conjunction with the Stonington Historical Society, are conducting a preliminary survey of the ocean floor in the shallow water just off Stonington Borough to look for artifacts from the 1814 Battle of Stonington during the War of 1812.

The survey will help plan a much longer survey this summer being funded by a $52,000 Battlefield Protection Program Grant from the National Park Service. The society is also contributing $11,000 to the work for a total of $63,000.

The students aboard the Shanna Rose, under the direction of assistant professor of ocean engineering Brennan Phillips, will use side scan sonar and a magnetometer to locate sunken artifacts such as cannonballs, cannons, muskets and other metal items.