dredged up from the past - issue 15 - archaeology finds reporting service newsletter

7/27/2019 Dredged Up from the Past - Issue 15 - Archaeology Finds Reporting Service Newsletter

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Protocol Update

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Welcome to Issue 15 of Dredged Up, thenewsletter of the Marine AggregatesIndustry Protocol for the Reporting of Findsof Archaeological Interest. Since the lastnewsletter, 25 reports have been raised,

detailing 46 individual finds. Some of theseare highlighted on pages 2 and 3, includinga ships timber, further discoveries ofaircraft material from Licence Area 395/1,and ordnance.

With 2014 marking the centenary of thestart of the First World War, this issuefocuses on the military archaeology of theconflict with a spotlight on the south-eastcoast. Read more about some of the ships,

submarines and aircraft that were active offthe coast of Kent during the war, some ofwhich went to a watery grave, and whoseremains have been identified by divers andarchaeologists.

Also in this issue, we highlight exciting daysout with a First World War theme that arelocal to some of the wharves serving theaggregate industry. These include theAdmiralty Lookout at Dover Castle and theHeritage Lottery Fund supported 'Wor Life'

events in Tyne and Wear. See page 8 forfurther details.

Ud pDredgefr m the pasto

Autumn 2014

Issue 15

Archaeology Finds Reporting Service Newsletter

Awareness visits are available andWessex Archaeology's staff are planningto visit wharves in Kent before the closeof 2014. If you would like an awarenessvisit, which is structured flexibly to fitwith the operation of your site, contactthe Protocol team.

Bullets reported from Area 127

1 cm

[email protected] call 01722 326 867

To contact the Protocol teamat Wessex Archaeology:

Fugro EMU


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Finds from 2014

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Area 240: Rigging block

Over the last six months, a wide variety ofmaterial has been reported through theProtocol, from a ship's timber to aircraftmaterial. These exciting finds can provideinteresting clues to the past. Here is around-up of recent discoveries.

Ship's TimberA ship's timber was discovered by AnthonyGreenway on board Hanson'sArco Dijk,within aggregate from Licence Area 240, off

the Norfolk coast. Although badly damaged,the timber was still identifiable as a ship'stimber as it has two treenail holes and showssigns of having been shaped. Wood analysisindicates that it is well-preserved oak, acommon material for ship's timbers. Severalother artefacts from ships have beenrecovered from Area 240, including a numberof rigging blocks. These discoveries are notsurprising as the area saw heavy traffic froma range of wooden vessels in the Age of Sail,

from the 16th to the mid-19th century, andplayed host to several naval battles.

AircraftFurther reports relating to aircraft materialhave come from Licence Area 395/1. Thematerial was recovered at Lafarge Tarmac'sBurnley Wharf by J. Jerromes and N.C. Sait,and is likely to be associated with the wreckof a German Luftwaffeaircraft, believed oncurrent evidence to be a Junkers Ju 87 Stukadive bomber.

Images of the recovered material were

examined by Ewen Cameron of the RAFMuseum. One piece has been tentativelyidentified as part of the bomb release of aJunkers Ju 87.The other pieces of brokenand undiagnostic material could notconclusively be proven to be related to theaircraft, although they are similar to whatwould be expected from a World War TwoLuftwaffeaircraft, such as the Ju 87.

Parts of a Ju 87 bomber have been recovered

from the area since the summer of 2013,many of which were included in Dredged UpIssue 13.

http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/dredged-up

A review of geophysical data from theLicence Area has not revealed a distinctaircraft crash site. Based on currentevidence, the rest of the aircraft is believedto be highly dispersed, to lie largely outside

of the Licence Area or to be well buried bysediments.

Mystery FindThis was dredged by theArco Arunand foundby G. Price. It has not yet been conclusivelyidentified. Suggestions range from the remainsof ordnance, to fishing gear, to a device fortensioning chains onto a sub-sea tool such asa grapnel. Nothing like this has previously beenreported through the Protocol, and we haven'tseen anything like it before.

Do you know what it is? Let us [email protected]

10 cm approx.

10 cm

Further aircraft material from Area 395/1
http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/dredged-uphttp://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/dredged-uphttp://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/dredged-uphttp://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/dredged-up


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OrdnanceA range of ordnance has been reported in thelast few months, including a torpedocomponent discovered at Greenwich Wharfby Jamie Wallis, in mixed aggregate fromArea 458/462, West Bassurelle, and Area 430,Southwold. George Burgess, formertorpedoman of A-class submarines andvolunteer at the Royal Navy SubmarineMuseum, confirmed the identification. Thefind is made of brass and copper which not

only protects it against marine corrosionand rust, but also minimises the risk ofpotentially fatal sparks igniting the torpedobefore it reaches its target. This exampleshows signs of damage consistent with thedevice having been fired. A torpedo is aself-propelled weapon with the capacity toexplode on contact or in proximity to achosen target. Developed in the 1860s,torpedoes were used in both the First andSecond World Wars, and there are examples

comparable to this find that date to theSecond World War. Although this find exhibitsclear markings, it has not yet been possibleto determine its nationality or the locationof manufacture.

Burnley Wharf: Driving band

Protocol discoveries link

Information about all recent finds can be foundonline:

http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/discoveries.php

Some have also made it onto theWessex Archaeology Twitter feed. Follow@wessexarchon Twitter for news about theProtocol, and all of our archaeological work.

Torpedo component found at Greenwich Wharf

A collection of six bullets was recovered fromLafarge Tarmacs Burnley Wharf by N.C. Sait,with material dredged from Area 127, to thewest of the Isle of Wight. One of the bulletsis a .50 BMG fired by a Browning machinegun, probably from an American aircraftduring the Second World War. Four were firedby a British .50 Vickers, a gun prevalent onships as an anti-aircraft gun. The last bulletis far rarer. It was identified by JonathanFerguson of the Royal Armouries Museum as

a .276 Enfield bullet from the Pattern 1913rifle, which was only produced in limitedquantities for testing. The tests led tosuggestions for design improvements and,as these had not been finalised before theoutbreak of the First World War, the Pattern1913 was never put into mass production,the Short Magazine Lee Enfield remainingthe standard issue rifle during the conflict.Few examples exist today. Intriguingly, thePattern 1913 was only tested on Whale

Island, Portsmouth, but these bullets werefound some 50km away. This mystery has notyet been solved.

The driving band picturedabove, which would havebeen positioned around aprojectile, was discoveredby N.C. Sait at LafargeTarmacs Burnley Wharf in

Southampton. It was amongst cargo fromLicence Area 395/1. Driving bands form a

tight seal with the breech of a gun, whichensures efficient firing. This driving bandmeasures approximately eight inches indiameter, which is a common calibre fornaval guns. Driving bands were used withbreech loading and quick-firing guns fromaround 1880 onwards. The faint diagonalincisions on the outside indicate that theprojectile had been fired.

Munitions should only be reported onceappropriate site procedures have been followedand the object has been declared safe:

http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/media/5423/ei-dealing-with-munitions-in-marine-sediments.pdf

10 cm
http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/discoveries.phphttp://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/discoveries.phphttp://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/discoveries.phphttp://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/discoveries.php


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On Monday 4 August 2014 commemorativeevents took place across the UK and abroadto mark the centenary of the start of theFirst World War. Thousands of lights weredimmed at 10pm to mark the anniversary.The First World War was characterised bytrench warfare on the Western Front inFrance, but the conflict also had a bigimpact at sea, in regions where aggregatedredging is taking place today.

The First World War was the first majorconflict where the war at sea took place inthree different operational areas: on thesurface, underwater and in the air.

Warfare on the surface was not a new idea,and during the race for naval armamentsthat led up to the war, Britain, Germany, theUS, France, Italy and Japan began to buildever larger and more powerful warships.But the war was not destined to be fought

between warships, and the only full-scaleclash of battleships took place during theBattle of Jutland in 1916. Instead, one ofthe main maritime features of the war wasBritain's naval blockade of Germany, wherepowerful warships and minefields were usedto cut Germany off from overseas tradeand resources.

Germany retaliated and began to use U-boatsto cut off supply routes to and from Britain.Submarines could attack without warning,

and although Germany agreed not to targetpassenger liners after the sinking of thepassenger ship RMS Lusitaniain 1915, Britishmerchant ships were armed, placing thembeyond the protection of 'cruiser rules'('cruiser rules' or 'prize rules' govern thetaking of vessels during war and requirethat attackers give warning and ensure thesafety of ships' crews). Vast numbers ofmerchant ships were lost. To protect them,Britain introduced anti-submarine measures,and from 1916 British ships began to travelin convoy.

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The First World War 1914-1918 Spotlight on Kent

At the start of the First World War, aircraft

were just coming into military use, and thiswas to be the first time that aircraft wereused on a large scale. Initially aircraft wereused for reconnaissance, but as the warprogressed, they became more specialised,and were put into use as fighters andbombers.

Material recovered from merchant ships,warships, vessels hired by the Admiralty,submarines and aircraft on the seabed hasthe potential to inform us about

technological advancements before andduring the war, and also to remind us of thefascinating stories of the people involvedin the conflict. A service revolver from theFirst World War has been reported throughthe Protocol previously (see Issue 14-http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/dredged-up) and there is greatpotential for more remains to be recoveredin the future.

U-48

Deal

St Margarets at Cliffe

KENT

Dover Castle

Folkstone

UB-33

UB-31

HMSAries

TowardEidsiva

HMS Othello II

The following examples off of Kent exemplify FirstWorld War losses around the coast, and illustratethe interwoven battle between aircraft, ships onthe surface of the water and submarines.

WWI Crouse hinds spotlight by L. Radka
http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/dredged-uphttp://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/dredged-uphttp://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/dredged-uphttp://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/dredged-up


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Mine sweeping by JE Russell

ShipsOn October 31, 1915, four ships travellingseparately fell victim to a minefield laid thenight before by the German submarine UC-6off the coast of St. Margaret's at Cliffe, nearDover. The four ships, HMS Othello II, HMSAries, Towardand Eidsivaare just four ofthe 54 ships sunk by the UC-6 during thewar, but they provide a fitting cross sectionof the types of vessels that were lost duringthe war.

HMS Othello IIwas a 206 ton Admiraltytrawler that worked as a minesweeper, basedin Dover. En-route to 'Section Two', an areabetween Goodwin Gate and the Gull LightShip, she struck a mine. The vessel startedsinking immediately, and the ship was sodistorted by the explosion that the door tothe wheelhouse jammed shut, trapping thecrew inside. Only the cabin boy, smallenough to squeeze through a partly open

window, survived. This tragedy subsequentlysaved numerous lives because, as a result ofthis incident, orders were given to removeall the sliding doors of the trawlers'wheelhouses and to replace them withcanvas screens, enabling ships' crews toescape. The wreck was positively identifiedby her builder's plate.

The wreck of HMSArieswas also identifiedby artefacts from the wreck. In this case, itwas the crockery that provided the identityof this 268 ton yacht, hired by the Admiraltyfor boarding and inspecting suspect vessels.

The two merchant ships, TowardandEidsivaillustrate the types of local andinternational trade that were at risk duringthe war. Towardwas a 1218 ton Britishmerchant steamer, built in 1899 by the

Clyde Shipping Co. of Glasgow, and carryinga general cargo from London to Belfast.Divers have indicated that much of thewreck lies proud of the seabed, and the bowand the stern are about 10m apart. In thepast, a variety of material was recoveredfrom this wreck and reported through theReceiver of Wreck, including portholes, abell and keys. The Eidsivawas a 1092 tonNorwegian steamer carrying coal to France.Divers indicate that she is lying on her port

side, surrounded by her cargo of coal.Material recovered from this wreck, andreported through the Receiver of Wreck,includes a lamp guard and portholes.

HMT Swansea Castle IWM FL 4393Castle Class Admiralty Trawlersource http://en.wikipedia.org

Imperial War Museum

Chatham Dockyard, which is very close toFrindsbury Wharf, commemorated the sinkingof three First World War ships on 22 September:theAboukir, Cressyand Hogue.

Read more on Wessex Archaeology's blog:http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/blogs/news/2014/09/22/remembering-war-sea-part-1
http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/blogs/news/2014/09/22/remembering-war-sea-part-1http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/blogs/news/2014/09/22/remembering-war-sea-part-1http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/blogs/news/2014/09/22/remembering-war-sea-part-1http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/blogs/news/2014/09/22/remembering-war-sea-part-1


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U9 submarine

SubmarinesSubmarine technology advanced dramaticallythroughout the 19th century, from hand-powered vessels that could carry a singleperson, to multi-person vessels with dieselelectric propulsion. These advancements,and many others, made submarines viablefor military use, and by the beginning of theFirst World War, a number of countries hadadded them to their navies, includingBritain, Germany, France, Russia and

America. Submarines posed a considerablethreat to ships, with armaments includingdeck guns and torpedoes, and in 1915 mine-laying submarines took to the seas.

In order to detect enemy advances insubmarine technology, and in the hope ofdiscovering further intelligence, militarydivers were deployed to explore sunkensubmarines shortly after their loss. Aparticularly exciting discovery awaited

British naval divers when they explored thewreck of the UB-33. This German submarinewas lost after hitting a mine off the coast ofDungeness on 11 April 2018. When RoyalNavy divers reached the wreck, they found asteel box which, once recovered to thesurface, turned out to contain the latest topsecret German codes and signals.

The U-48was a 240 ton, 213ft longGerman submarine. On 24 November 1917,60 miles from Dover, a seaplane spottedthe submarine travelling on the surface,dropped a bomb, but missed. The submarinedived, and waited, but a strong westerlytide carried her on to nets off the NorthGoodwins, which entangled the propellers,leaving U-48stranded. The submarinejettisoned 60 tons of fuel, fresh water, gunammunition and three torpedoes but could

not get free. Spotted at dawn by the trawlerMeror, and drifters Majesty, Paramount,Present Help,Acceptableand Feasible, a gunbattle ensued between the drifters' six-pounders and the submarine's 4.1 inch gun.The battle was also joined by the destroyerHMS Gipsy. The submarine caught fire andthe crew jumped into the water. Somesources say that no-one was rescued, whileothers indicate that about half of the crewwere saved. The submarine is generally

covered by the shifting Goodwin Sands,although it reappears from time to time.Because the wreck is often hidden, itsidentity has never been confirmed.

Two German U-Boats grounded near Falmouth in 1921.UB-86 (nearest) and UB III-class submarine (behind).Source U.S. National Archives file 208-PR-10K-1

wikimedia.org


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Dover Castle by M Rowe

AircraftThe history of fixed wing aviation in the UKbegan in the early 20th century, but reallyexpanded during the First World War when,for the first time, fixed wing aircraft wereproduced in large numbers. The majority ofaction took place in Continental Europe, butthere was limited activity over the sea (asillustrated by the story of the U-48above),where aircraft were mainly used in patroland reconnaissance roles, rather than in

direct combat.

Additionally, the first German 'air-raid'was recorded at Dover Castle in December1914, when a single bomb fell into the sea.Following this event, the castle wasequipped with anti-aircraft guns andsearchlights.

There are few records of First World Waraircraft lost at sea. For example,Aircraft

Crash Sites at Sea, a scoping study assessingrecords of known wrecks and reportedlosses, indicated that there were only sixrecords of First World War aircraft losses inthe Dorset to Suffolk study area, comparedwith over 2000 records from the SecondWorld War. The difference in number islargely due to the different ways aircraftwere deployed during the wars, but is alsodue to differences in record keeping and the

Further ReadingCanterbury Divers website:http://www.cante bu ydive s. g.uk/index.html

English Heritage, 2012, Ships and Boats:1840-1950: Introductions to Heritage Assetshttps://www.english-he itage. g.uk/publicati ns/iha-

ships-b ats-1840-1950/

Grant, R.M., 2003, U-Boat Hunters:Code Breakers, Divers and the Defeat of theU-Boats, 1914-1918. Periscope Publishing Ltd

McCartney, I., 2003, Lost Patrols: Submarine Wrecks

of the English Channel, Periscope Publishing Ltd

McDonald, K., 1994, Dive Kent, Underwater WorldPublications Ltd

Wessex Archaeology, 2008, Aircraft Crash Sites at Sea:A Scoping Study Archaeological Desk-based AssessmentUnpublished report. Ref. 66641.02http://a chae l gydatase vice.ac.uk/

survival of aircraft material on the seabed.Aircraft during the First World War weregenerally built from wood and linen, andtherefore were relatively light, compared to

the larger, heavier aluminium aircraft usedduring the Second World War, which are morelikely to be identified on the seabed. Wrecksof aircraft from the First World War areextremely rare, and therefore would beconsidered to be particularly important.Additionally, all aircraft that were lost whilein military service are automaticallyprotected under the Protection of MilitaryRemains Act 1986.

Scout C, RFC serial no. 1611, flown by Lanoe Hawkeron 25 July 1915 in his Victoria Cross-earning engagementSource wikimedia.org
http://www.canterburydivers.org.uk/index.htmlhttps://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/iha-ships-boats-1840-1950/https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/iha-ships-boats-1840-1950/http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/iha-ships-boats-1840-1950/https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/iha-ships-boats-1840-1950/http://www.canterburydivers.org.uk/index.html


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Here are some events commemoratingthe start of the First World War that arelocal to some of the wharves involved inthe Protocol.

Dover Castle, Kent

Want to learn more about shippingmovements off the coast of Kent during theFirst World War? Why not explore theAdmiralty Lookout at Dover Castle? Duringthe First World War, Dover Castle played akey strategic role in the defence of Britain,and the signal station controlled shippingactivity leaving and entering the newlycreated Admiralty harbour below the Castle.http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/dover-castle/

The Last Poppy Project, EssexThis website contains informationabout Essex during WW1, including acomprehensive list of local events andexhibitions.http://lastpoppyproject.wordpress.com/

Tyne & Wear Museums, Wor LifeAggregate staff in the north-east can find outabout life during the war in their areathrough a range of exhibitions, talks andevents run through the Wor Life project.Find out more here:

http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/worlife

Royal Navy Submarine Museum, HampshireEver wondered what it would be like to workon a submarine? Visit the Royal NavySubmarine Museum in Gosport, where youcan go on board the very first Royal Navysubmarine Holland 1, built in 1901. Althoughthis submarine sunk in 1913 before thebeginning of the First World War, it pavedthe way for later Royal Navy submarines. Atthe museum, there are lots of excitinghands-on activities for the whole family!http://www.submarine-museum.co.uk/

Other English Heritage PropertiesFor other exciting days out inspired bythe First World War visit:http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/inspireme/pick-of-season/first-world-war-connections/

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Learn More!

wessexarchaeology

[email protected] or call 01722 326 867

To contact the Protocol team at Wessex Archaeology:

Dover Castle by Olivier Porez
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/dover-castle/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/dover-castle/http://lastpoppyproject.wordpress.com/http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/worlifehttp://www.submarine-museum.co.uk/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/inspireme/pick-of-season/first-world-war-connections/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/inspireme/pick-of-season/first-world-war-connections/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/inspireme/pick-of-season/first-world-war-connections/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/inspireme/pick-of-season/first-world-war-connections/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/inspireme/pick-of-season/first-world-war-connections/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/inspireme/pick-of-season/first-world-war-connections/http://www.submarine-museum.co.uk/http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/worlifehttp://lastpoppyproject.wordpress.com/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/dover-castle/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/dover-castle/

dredged up from the past - issue 15 - archaeology finds reporting service newsletter

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