What’s next: Bermuda

We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of enthusiasm since we were Freshly Pressed. We deeply appreciate every comment, like, and read – and are thrilled for every new follower. For us, this has been an incredible introduction to hundreds of new blogs! Thank you all so much!

So here’s what’s next: We hope that you will follow us to Bermuda this summer. At the end of May, Veronica and I will join a team of archaeologists from the island and around the world for the third and final season of the Warwick excavation. We will be diving on a 17th century shipwreck, dredging away sands that have covered her for nearly 400 years.

Coral Reef © 2011 Douglas Inglis

Dr. Piotr Bojakowski recording Warwicks hull - © 2011 Jon Adams, edited by Douglas Inglis

Warwick was an English galleon that  sank upon Bermuda’s reefs in 1619. Her remains lie in shallow water just inside of Castle Harbor. (Click here to read more about the ship and the hurricane that wrecked her).

During June and July, we will blog live from the project, posting daily updates on the underwater excavation, crew and artifacts uncovered by the team. We want to make you a part of the Warwick project, and are excited to have you on board with us! We will answer as many questions as we can from the field.

Cote Zegers holds a wooden jar stopper © 2011 Douglas Inglis

Here is how the plan for 2012 is shaping up:

At the start of 2010, we had no idea how much of Warwick remained. We began by excavating the galleon’s stern – previously uncovered by famous Bermudian diver Teddy Tucker. In 2011 we removed a massive pile of ballast from the hull, revealing timbers that had not been seen for some 400 years.

Top timbers and encrusted spiked shot - © 2011 Warwick Project, Douglas Inglis

This year, we intend to uncover the rest of the wreck, scan the area for Warwick’s lost cannons and determine if any portions of the ship’s missing keel or starboard side remain. We still do not know how much of the hull is buried beneath the sand and silt. The ship is lying at an angle; the further we move towards her bow, the deeper the sediment gets, and the longer it takes us to uncover her.

Screening the overburden for artifacts - © 2011 Warwick Project, Douglas Inglis

James Davidson, Douglas Inglis and Dr. Piotr Bojakowski discuss the next move at the swim step. © 2011 Warwick Project, Douglas Inglis

Although we have two months – our longest season yet – we will be racing against time because 2012 is the last year of excavation. We have been trained by the last two seasons, and know what to expect from the ship, the site, and the equipment. At this point, Warwick is an old friend, though she holds many mysteries still.

Thanks for following!

-Doug and Veronica

Fish swim above the ballast pile - © 2011 Warwick Project, Douglas Inglis