First Transatlantic Cable Insulator Shard

First Transatlantic Cable Insulator Shard 1

Material/Specs: Gutta-percha rubber compound.

Context & Provenance

When It Was Found (Creation Context)

Recovered during a deep-sea salvage operation targeting the cable route in the 1980s.

Country & Location of Origin

Mid-Atlantic (Laying site)

Real History & Interpretation

The first successful telegraphic transmission across the Atlantic revolutionized global communication, shrinking the world instantaneously. This shard represents the fragile technology that made that connection possible, though the 1858 cable failed after only three weeks.

Image Licensing Note: All visuals for artifacts in this collection are assumed to be licensed under Creative Commons or Public Domain for educational display purposes.