Page 57 - TVH 2000 Anniversary Shipwreck Project

Conclusions Interpretation of Structure Trench 1 The stern is intact between the sternpost and the port side and the expected depth of burial at the stern is at least four metres comprising the hold of the vessel. Summary Angle of heel of sternpost to vertical. The angle of heel from vertical to port was measured as 33_ and the distance between CP1 and CP2 was 4.3m. This encompasses some of the area of the orlop deck towards the port side. There are a number of structural indicators that can be used to support this theory. Structural Indicators The combination of external wooden cladding and copper sheathing on the sternpost suggests a position below water. The presence of external hull sheathing on the outside of the vessel suggests a depth below the stern ports, consistent with around orlop deck level, this would suggest a depth of burial at this point of 4m or more. Deck plans of the slightly larger, 150ft East Indiamen of 1742 (Gawronski, 1986, p.56) show that on the orlop deck at this level one would expect the gunroom containing hand weapons and the steering gear. Below this, in the hold, the cable well, cartridge lockers, gunpowder stores, bread and spare sails. This is similar for the 145-foot vessels. Artefactural Indicators This is based on an analysis of the finds recovered previously, including lead ingots, musket balls and lead sheathing in grid squares B2B and B2C. The size of the one measured gun suggests a lighter gun derived from the upper deck (8lbs) but these could be cargo guns of unimportant size. These guns could have collapsed. The observed ‘galley structure’ noted previously and on ROV reconnaissance suggests orlop deck level or higher, but this could have collapsed. The lead ingots suggest that we are low in the ship. If the level is the orlop deck then this area should be the gunroom where the tiller enters the ship and where hand weapons, artillery and steering gear were kept. If this was at a lower level then this would correspond to the cable store and towards the bow the cartridge store and gunpowder locker. To have items relating to the gunroom, these must have been derived from the collapsing structure of that area, so it is unlikely that we have the full height of this compartment. Similarly, the absence of large amounts of cable suggests that this area beneath the gunroom is potentially intact inboard. Should any of the constituents of gunpowder be identified within the concretions outboard, this would suggest a level at or below the area of the orlop deck. Knife handles and sword blades were previously excavated from this area and from outside the port quarter and these would have been stored in the gunroom. Structural analysis together with the artefacts recovered suggests a level at or just below the level of the orlop deck. The angle of heel to port and possibly an orientation stern down would distribute artefacts from the cabins of the captain, officers and passengers over the stern of the vessel and outside the port side. The aims of evaluating the nature and extent of the stern structure were achieved by the Trench 1 excavation, although the excavation inside and towards the starboard side were not. Excavation of both these areas will entail the removal of a substantial amount of concretion, nets and chain. The original control points on the sternpost and corner with the port side could not be found. They have either corroded away, or the structure has eroded below this point. The accuracy of the acoustic positioning of the new points means that this can be assessed in the future. - 51 -