Two previously unknown 18th-century shipwreck sites in the Caribbean, discovered by a team from the University of Bristol, will give up their secrets to marine archaeologists this month.
The two sites were found last year during attempts to locate the wreck of HMS Nymph, a sloop of war which burned in Road Town harbour, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands in 1783. The wreck was discovered during dredging of the harbour in 1969 but its location has since been lost.
Although the Bristol team did not locate the Nymph, they found two other wrecks in the harbour. Initial investigations indicate that the first site, the South Site, is probably a vessel of 80-100 tons, built for trade, and originating in Bermuda or the circum-Caribbean region.
The North Site appears to be a vessel of 250 tons, also built for trade, and constructed along the eastern North American seaboard. Further archival research and additional wood samples may help to refine identifications and allow the archaeologists to ‘name’ these sites.
The team, led by Kimberly Monk of the University’s Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, returns to the Caribbean this week to carry out further investigation on the two sites and examine others in the area. They hope also to locate the missing Nymph.
The researchers will survey the sites with both divers and remote sensing technology. They will collect video data through the use of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), allowing them to build a catalogue of the wrecks thereby preserving data in advance of any further changes to the harbour seabed.
Their investigations will shed light on Road Town’s important maritime history. As a centre of cotton, sugar and indigo production, it became a bustling port for export to England and the American Colonies during the 18th century. European ships were also drawn to the island’s natural resources such as timber, fresh water and salt. With this increase in shipping, there were inevitably shipwrecks whose hulls were accidentally lost or purposefully abandoned.
Kimberly Monk said: “These wrecks are fascinating time capsules providing a unique window into the past and we are delighted to have this phenomenal opportunity to document them. Identifying the origin of these mystery ships may fill in breaches of Road Town’s maritime past.
“Unlike land-based archaeological sites, the nature of harbour environments, which quickly engulf material, has allowed for impressive organic preservation. This will enable us to expand on existing knowledge in the areas of colonialism, warfare and 18th century society by means of underwater archaeological study. Through a programme of continued research we intend to interpret these sites, thereby making their waterlogged secrets accessible to future generations.”
A two-week field school entitled ‘Methods and Techniques in Maritime Archaeology’, led by Kimberly Monk, will take place at the wreck sites from 17 June to 1 July 2006. Seven students and three staff will take part in lectures, diving and ROV operations.