Le Dragon Wreck 2019 Project

The Wreck Site Continued.

The first task after conducting a RECCE was to re-establish the archaeological survey grid in the same location as the previous year. The markers we had left were located and checked then the Team constructed the grid. The water barrel was still there thankfully and had been protected by the sandbags we put on it the previous season.

The next task was to check the trash pumps which powered the archaeological water dredge. These were fitted to the wooden skids, checked and then carried to the yola where Raimund Krob and Sandy checked the fittings and securely lashed them in place. Then the Yola was taken out on-site and divers put the blue hose in place checking it for kinks and we then connected it to the dredge head. Once that was secure the tailgate was set up and lashed to the end of the green tube which is attached to the dredge.

This was the daily routine and at the end of each day the trash pumps would be removed and put back in the van ready to go back to the Centre with us.

The dredge was used to remove a years collection of seagrass which had accumulated on the wreck site and to ensure the archaeological grid was clear. Then the dredge was relocated to the area where Dr Spooner and Dr Prudhomme located the sheets of bottom planking which were buried under the sand. The timbers were partially uncovered by hand fanning in 2018 and so it was decided to see the extend these timbers went by using the dredge. Once the location was located by using the measurements and datum points from the 2018 survey, the Team used the geophysical equipment to pinpoint it. Once the dredge was repositioned the overlying sand was removed.

It took Steven Abell and Raimund Krob about two days to uncover the two sections of wooden planking. One had a broken section that was bent up and the individual sections were separated. However, the copper sheeting was still attached. There was a slight curvature to the positioning of the planking and the copper sheeting was brittle and was covered in a mild concretion. Numerous trunnels could be seen and all of them had snapped off the frames the hull planking had been attached to leaving the broken trunnels still in the timber planking.

Featured

The Team gets all the equipment assembled prior to the day starting

Steve Abell and Raimund Krob checking the trash pumps prior to the morning action.

Dr Florence Prudhomme frustrated that she has to wait for her turn to get out on site.

Steve Abell showing off his strength by carrying his tank and integral weight belt on his shoulder.

Raimund Krob and Connor Grzesiak conduct a buddy check prior to going diving.

Raimund Krob and Sandy working to get the trash pumps fitted in the yola.

Connor Grzesiak as the official Team photographer getting ready to be first in the water to get the best visibility.

The archaeological dredge boat operational.

The beach from a different direction.

Looking further beyond.

Dr Louis Desvernay about to dive.

Rami and Connor Grzesiak.

Jessica Piner ensuring the lay flat hose is unkinked prior to starting the archaeological water dredge.

Jessica Piner and Raimund Krob on the tailgate.

Raimund Krob and Steve Abell digging deeper to locate the target.

Steve Abell uncovering a target found with the geophysical equipment.

Steve Abell uncovers the hull planking Dr Prudhomme and Dr Spooner found in 2018.

Part of the Team, Louis, Rami, Florence, Sandy, Lt Venture, Raimund, Jessica and Connor.

Steve Abell carefully uncovering some hull planking.

As Steve Abell uncovers more the planking is found to have copper sheeting on the underside.

Steve Abell documenting the hull planking which was uncovered.

Steven Fhren ready to go diving on site.

The two copper sheeted pieces of hull planking

At one end the copper sheeting was bent at 90 degrees as if this was the top section of copper sheeting along the side of the lower hull.

On the edge of the copper sheeting, the square nail holes made by the bronze nails can be clearly seen.

Close up showing the trunnel locations.

One trunnel had an iron nail through the middle of it.

Cross-section showing the copper sheeting shaped to go round the upper edge of the hull planking.