It is a special excavation site for the underwater archaeologists from the University of Bournemouth: a ship from the 13th century lies in Poole Bay off the coast of the southern English county of Dorset. It is the oldest well-preserved wreck yet discovered off the English coast, according to the university. In the summer of 2020, Trevor Small discovered the captain of a charter boat company. Since then, the researchers have examined the wreck, the outline of which can still be clearly seen on the seabed. Scientists dubbed it the Mortar Wreck because they found large limestones there that were used as millstones at the time. Researchers suspect the ship may have been sailing off the Dorset coast when it got into distress and sank. “Very few 750-year-old ships can still be seen today, so we are very fortunate to have been able to spot such a rare example – and still in such good condition. A combination of low-oxygen water, sand and rocks preserved one side of the ship and the hull is clearly visible,” said underwater archaeologist Tom Cousins in a university press release. Next to the millstones, the scientists found two tombstones with medieval decorations. The archaeologists also brought to the surface a cauldron that was then used for cooking over an open fire. In 2024, the treasures will be on display at the Poole Museum.
Source: Bournemouth University
You might also be interested in:
Hidden ship part explored: Divers recover Hercules head from 2000-year-old wreck
Divers will find shipwreck of one of the most famous warships of the 17th century
Spectacular underwater videos: Shipwreck found at sea 130 years after sinking