Home / Science / Divers Uncover Secrets of 17th-Century English Warship Buried for Centuries
Divers Uncover Secrets of 17th-Century English Warship Buried for Centuries
15 Aug
Summary
- Preserved 1703 shipwreck off Kent's coast documented in stunning detail
- Wreck contains wooden structures, artifacts threatened by shifting sands
- Researchers found chests, cannons, and other artifacts from the Stuart era
In a remarkable discovery, researchers have recently documented the wreck of the 1703 Northumberland, a Stuart-era English warship that sank off the coast of Kent, England over 300 years ago. The dive, conducted last summer by a team from Historic England, British coastal contractor MSDS Marine, and the wreck's licensee Dan Pascoe, has revealed an extensive and well-preserved hull structure, deck planks, and wooden frame of the ship - much more than was previously known.
Among the stunning finds were multiple wooden chests, some still containing musket balls, as well as a sealed chest with unknown contents. The researchers also uncovered seven iron cannons, copper cauldrons, and rope, providing a fascinating glimpse into the ship's history and the lives of those who sailed aboard it.
However, experts warn that this remarkable wreck may not remain in this state for long. The highly dynamic sands of the Goodwin Sands, where the Northumberland lies, have aided in the preservation of the organic materials, but they also pose a serious threat. As the sand cover shifts, the wreck is left exposed to biological and physical processes that can cause it to deteriorate rapidly. Archaeologists are now focused on surveying the site rather than removing the artifacts, in order to preserve the integrity of this important historical site.
