WORKMEN DIGGING ON WRECK; PARTS OF SHIP; PART OF SHIP LIFTED TO SURFACE; SHIP'S ANCHOR AT WORKSHOP; OBJECTS FROM SHIP ON DISPLAY.




Initials MJS/V/BOB/ES



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Background: A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, THE REGION OF THE NORTH EAST POLDER, IN THE NETHERLANDS, WAS PART OF THE OCEAN BED. RECLAMATION PROGRAMMES OVER THE PAST FIFTY YEARS HAVE YIELDED NEW LAND FOR THE DUTCH FARMER -- AND A FASCINATING SUBJECT FOR DUTCH ARCHAEOLOGISTS. FOR THE FORMER SEA-BED IS LITTERED WITH THE WRECK OF SHIPS, WHICH SANK INTO THE EARTH WHEN IT WAS STILL SOFT OOZE.

EXCAVATIONS ON THE REMAINS OF ONE OF THESE SHIPS REACHED THEIR FINAL STAGE THIS WEEK. THE VESSEL IS FROM THE EARLY 17TH CENTURY, BUILT IN A DUTCH SHIPYARD. IT IS 85FT IN LENGTH (26M) AND HAS A BEAM OF 22FT (7.???.). A SUPPLY VESSEL FOR THE EAST INDIES COMPANY, IT MUST HAVE BEEN SUNK IN 1660.

THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST COMPLETE SHIPS FOUND IN THE REGION SO FAR. THE PEATY SOIL HAS PRESERVED THE TIMBERS IN REMARKABLE CONDITION, AND WHOLE SETIONS OF THE HULL HAVE BEEN REVEALED COMPLETE WOODEN PEGS WHICH HELD THE PLANKS TOGETHER.

WORK ON THE SITE IS BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT HISTORIC BODEN-RESEARCH INSTITUTE. THE EARTH ROUND THE HULL IS CLEARED, AND THE WRECK IS THEN LIFTED OUT IN SECTIONS, HELD TOGETHER BY WOODEN BEAMS. THESE ARE TAKEN TO THE INSTITUTE'S WORKSHOPS AT KETELHAVEN. THERE THE BEST PARTS OF THE WRECKS ARE GIVEN A SPECIAL TREATMENT WITH WATER AND POLYETHYLEENE-GLYCOL TO PRESERVE THEM. THEY WILL GO ON PERMANENT DISPLAY IN A MUSEUM WHICH OPENS LATER THIS YEAR --TOGETHER WITH POTTERY AND OTHER RELICS RECOVERED FROM THE WRECKS.

AT LEAST ANOTHER 355 WRECKS STILL AWAIT THE ARCHAEOLOGISTS IN THE AREAS RECLAIMED FROM THE SEA.