The Wreck Site, Facilities & Conditions – Artefact Recording – Excavation Seasons 1 & 2 – Excavation Seasons 3 & 4
Excavation of the Batavia Wreck Site (cont...)
5. Excavation (cont...)
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The Third Season
After removing the protective cover from the stern timber area at the start of the season, the remains of the stern post was discovered. The post had water line markings and the whole post was carefully recorded and raised. Work continued on removal of the transom lodging knees. This aspect continued to give rise to problems as the cannon ball concretion extended down the narrow gaps between the knees, firmly wedging the knees in place. Work proceeded slowly as this concretion was carefully chipped out, following the use of small explosive charges. The ceiling was recorded and removed as the lodging knees were raised.
Finally, when all the knees were freed and raised, the remaining ceiling planking and ribs were raised. As the outer planking ran behind the fashion piece, it was necessary first to remove the wing-transom, and transom beams before removing the fashion piece. After removing the transom beams, the diagonal stern transom planking was exposed. The fashion piece was freed and raised. This was the largest single timber item recovered, being over 4 m from end to end, 0.3 m thick and about 0.5 m wide. It is estimated that its weight was about one tonne. After removal of the fashion piece, the outer planking was found to be arranged around the transom in a curious fashion. The inner layers of the strakes were butted up against the inner transom planking, under the fashion piece. However, the outer planking was bent around the transom in a continuous strake. These were removed and the excavation of the ship’s structure was finally completed.
The excavation work then moved into the area to the north of the old building block area, bounded to the east by the group of anchors and to the west by cannon 10. In the process of clearing coral in this area large numbers of coin were found, particularly to the west side. A large concretion containing iron and coins was raised. On breaking it up at the field station, an astrolabe was discovered in a fine state of preservation.
The excavation proceeded around the central lump, a small mound of coral and concretion about one metre high. Further to the north coins and miscellaneous finds were noted together with a large number of bricks. Before this area could be cleared, the excavation had to be terminated for the year.
The Fourth Season
This season was started in September and it proved to be a very bad period for weather. During the season only 10 days work was possible on the main site. During this period, excavation was continued around the central lump. More cannon balls and some other miscellaneous artefacts were raised. Due to the bad weather, about 200 diving hours were spent on the inside reef collecting pottery and searching for new areas of wreck material.
The Wreck Site, Facilities & Conditions – Artefact Recording – Excavation Seasons 1 & 2 – Excavation Seasons 3 & 4
