Archaeologists begin conservation work on HMS London's "absolutely beautiful" gun carriage

This article originally appeared on Culture24.

Conservation experts have had the first chance to examine the HMS London's gun carriage, excavated off Southend Pier

Conservation work has begun on the “incredibly rare” gun carriage of the 17th century warship HMS London. Archaeologists used a custom-made box to transport the unique artefact to York from the Thames Estuary, where it had been perfectly preserved by silts after exploding 350 years ago off of Southend-on-Sea.

Divers reported a “fantastic” array of well-preserved finds when they excavated the gun carriage, which was at risk of erosion, and lifted it from the seabed aboard a boat, Jumbo, in August. Conservation experts, archaeologists and an ordnance specialist have inspected the carriage at the York Archaeological Trust’s Resource Centre.

“It’s absolutely beautiful,” says Alison James, a maritime archaeologist for Historic England.

“The wood is in excellent condition. You can see where it’s been exposed and the parts that have attracted organisms, but that’s only the very top of the carriage.

“Below that, it’s in as good a condition as it was 350 years ago. You can see the maker’s mark.

“Our work is looking at how the gun carriage works. These things don’t exist out there – it’s a really rare opportunity to study it.

“It’s incredibly rare. As far as we’re aware it’s the only 17th century gun carriage anywhere that’s been under water on the sea bed and recovered.

“We have also got all the gunners’ implements to make cannon fire which were found next to it. It’s a real snapshot into the work that went on firing the cannon.”

Large numbers of linstocks, used for lighting the cannon and said to be in “pristine” condition, were found on the seabed alongside large timbers, fragile glass vessels, tampions used to plug the muzzle of the gun, hand sticks and rope.

A wooden shoe sole and a decorated tile were also found during a single week of searching when the team worked into the night to recover around 140 fragile artefacts.

“Its really exciting to be working on a complete and intact gun carriage dating from Cromwell’s time,” says Ian Panter, the Head of Conservation at the trust.

“I’ve conserved fragments of gun carriage over the years, but this is my first complete one in over 35 years in the profession.”

The carriage could go on public display before returning to Southend-on-Sea next year.

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Three museums to see marine archaeology in

Tower Museum, Derry
The permanent exhibition, Armada shipwreck – La Trinidad Valencera, narrates the story of La Trinidad Valencera, one of the largest ships in the Armada Fleet. In 1588 it foundered in Kinnagoe Bay in Co. Donegal during a violent storm and was discovered nearly 400 years later by divers from the City of Derry Sub Aqua Club.

National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Forgotten Wrecks of the First World War provides a rare opportunity to find out about the shipwrecks along the south coast of England that date from the First World War. Until March 21 2016.

Weymouth Museum
Located on the first floor of Brewers Quay, the home of the Borough Collection, reflects the physical, cultural and economic history of the area, including Archaeology, Maritime, Trade and Commerce collections.

Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art540483-hms-london-warship-excavation-york-archaeological-trust