London, Jul 23 (AP) A routine jog along a remote Scottish beach led to a surprising archaeological discovery when a schoolboy stumbled upon the wooden ribs of a ship sticking out of the dunes. The find sparked a concerted effort by archaeologists, scientists, and local historians to unearth its past.
By combining advanced scientific methods with community involvement, researchers announced on Wednesday that they have identified the vessel as the Earl of Chatham, an 18th-century ship. This ship had a distinguished military role in the American War of Independence before it was later repurposed as a whaler in the Arctic, ending its life in a dramatic shipwreck.
“I would regard it as a lucky ship, which is a strange thing to say about a ship that's wrecked,” remarked Ben Saunders, a senior marine archaeologist at Wessex Archaeology, a charity that collaborated with local researchers during the investigation.
Saunders attributed the success of the investigation to the strong sense of community drive and spirit. "If it had been discovered elsewhere, it might not have received the same local effort and enthusiasm to recover and study it," he said.
Uncovered after 250 years
The shipwreck was uncovered in February 2024 after a storm eroded the sand covering it on Sanday, one of the Orkney Islands located off Scotland's northern coast. With a population of only 500, Sanday is no stranger to shipwrecks, having recorded around 270 since the 15th century.
Local farmers played a crucial role in the recovery, using tractors and trailers to haul 12 tons of oak timbers from the beach, allowing community researchers to identify the vessel.
“It was great fun and a wonderful experience seeing the community come together,” said Sylvia Thorne, one of the community researchers. “Quite a few people are getting deeply interested and becoming experts in maritime history.”
Dendrochronology, the technique of dating wood using tree rings, revealed that the timbers originated from southern England in the mid-18th century. This was a fortuitous discovery as it aligned with a period of meticulous British record-keeping.
Saunders described the process as one of elimination. “With the archive evidence available for wrecks in Orkney, we ruled out those from Northern Europe and smaller vessels, narrowing it down until the Earl of Chatham was the last viable candidate.”
Wars and Whaling
Further investigation revealed that the ship was initially named HMS Hind, a 24-gun Royal Navy frigate built in Chichester on England's southern coast in 1749.
Its military history saw it contribute to Britain's imperial expansion and contraction, including the sieges of Louisbourg and Quebec in the 1750s and convoy escort duties during the American Revolutionary War.
Decommissioned and sold by the navy in 1784, it became a whaling ship in the Arctic, chasing whales in the Greenland waters. Whale oil, essential to the Industrial Revolution, was used for machinery lubrication, fabric softening, and city lighting. By 1787, there were 120 London-based whaling ships in the Greenland Sea, including the Earl of Chatham.
A year later, it met its end during a storm off Sanday. Remarkably, all 56 crew members survived, underscoring its reputation as a lucky vessel.
Community Effort
The ship's timbers are currently preserved in a freshwater tank at the Sanday Heritage Centre as plans are made for a permanent exhibition.
Saunders hailed the project as a prime example of successful community involvement in archaeology. “The community's enthusiasm and pride have been instrumental from discovery to recovery and preservation,” he said.
For the island's residents, the discovery strengthens their connection to Sanday's maritime history and its future. With climate change affecting wind patterns and coastal lines, more hidden shipwrecks may surface.
“One of the biggest things I've realized through this project is how the past in Sanday is always present, either visible or just beneath the surface,” said Ruth Peace, another community researcher. (AP) RD RD
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