Sea Venture : A second interim report - part 1

Introduction Part 1 of this report is concerned with various aspects of the excavation carried out on the wreck of the Sea Venture, lost in 1609 off St. Georges Island, Bermuda (Fig. I ) . In particular; the excavation techniques used, and the results of the preliminary hull surveys, carried out between November 1982 and November 1983. Various classes of material recovered during the excavation will be discussed and illustrated in part 2; currently in preparation. The results of the previous phase of work, carried out by a team led by Allan Wingood on behalf of Bermuda Maritime Museum. were discussed in the first interim report ( I J N A 1982, 11.4: 333-347). I t succeeded in establishing the identity of the wreck beyond any reasonable doubt, and with the security resulting from the formation of the Sea Venture Trust, a long-term view could be brought to bear on the excavation, conservation, study. and display of the material from the site. Much of the remaining integral structure of the ship has been uncovered at one time or another by various workers since its discovery by Edmund Downing in 1958. In contrast to other wrecks 'worked' only for their contents, Seu Venture's hull was recognised as being