Winter storms reveal possible 17th-century shipwreck tied to armed Caribbean voyages

The remains of a 17th-century vessel precocious resurfaced aft wintertime storms ripped unfastened a formation successful the United Kingdom.

The vas was recovered astatine Studland Beach successful Dorset, on the southwestern seashore of England. Bournemouth University announced the find successful a Feb. 9 property release. 

The vessel is believed to beryllium a vas called "The Fame," a merchant vessel from Hoorn, the Netherlands, that sank successful 1631 aft moving aground.

The timbers measurement astir 20 feet agelong and astir 6.5 feet wide, and officials said the ship's conception "consists of astatine slightest 15 frames connected with woody treenails to five outer hull planks."

The connection noted, "The frames appear eroded, but the hull planks are successful fantabulous condition."

The remains of a 17th-century merchant vessel resurfaced astatine Studland Beach aft almighty wintertime storms, officials say. Underwater pictures amusement the Swash Channel wreck, perchance related, astatine right. (National Trust, Fleur Castell; Bournemouth University)

"There would primitively person been different furniture of planking connected the wrong of the vessel, but this appears to person been lost."

The planks person been buried since the 1630s and person been "intermittently exposed" since, according to the university. 

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"This explains why the interior planks are missing and frames eroded, portion the outer hull planks survive in such good condition," said the statement.

"The ship was reported to person dragged its anchor, grounding on a nearby, notorious sandbank where it broke its back."

Though the timbers surfaced lone recently, the wreck itself was archetypal discovered successful the 1990s successful the Swash Channel adjacent Poole Harbor.

During a 2013 excavation, archaeologists noted immoderate pieces were missing — and present judge those sections person been found.

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The vessel "would have been susceptible of carrying more than 40 guns to support itself against pirates during voyages to the Caribbean to bring backmost salt," per the statement.

Also, the ship was reported to person dragged its anchor, grounding on a nearby, notorious sandbank where it broke its back," the assemblage said. 

National Trust officials are urging visitors not to interaction oregon harm the exposed timbers, arsenic shifting sands proceed to uncover fragile sections of the protected site. (National Trust, Jamie Lamb-Shine)

"Records state that all 45 unit abandoned ship safely, but local residents quickly acceptable to enactment looting the wreck."

Tracey Churcher, wide manager of the National Trust in Purbeck, called the find "a existent treasure."

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"I’m always astounded by the past we find at Studland," she said successful a statement.

"The woody histrion nails are inactive successful spot and holding aft 400 years — what a testament to the craftsmanship astatine the time."  

"Four 100 years ago, the country that's present the beach, wherever the wreck was revealed, was unfastened sea."

An excavation is slated for the adjacent future, said Fleur Castell, a spokesperson for the National Trust.

Castell told Fox News Digital the find "highlights the dynamic and constantly evolving quality of Studland's coastline."

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"Four 100 years ago, the country that's present the beach, wherever the wreck was revealed, was unfastened sea," she said.

Shifting sands and almighty wintertime storms person accelerated changes on the coastline, Castell added — exposing fragile sections of the protected wreck that officials accidental indispensable not beryllium disturbed.

The exposed timbers apt beryllium to "The Fame," a Dutch merchant vas that ran aground and sank successful 1631, officials said. (Bournemouth University)

The merchandise said visitors "are asked to assistance support the tract by not touching oregon damaging the exposed timbers."

Tom Cousins, a maritime archaeologist who inspected the wreck, told Fox News Digital the tract is presently being protected by the National Trust.

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"Historic England volition past money a task to get the timbers backmost to our conservation laboratory successful Poole, wherever we tin grounds them successful detail," helium said.

Dendrochronology investigating volition find the nonstop property — and identity, the experts anticipation — of the ship.

Dendrochronology investigating is expected to find the precise property of the wood and corroborate the ship's individuality successful the coming months. (National Trust, Jamie Lamb-Shine)

The find is the latest successful a agelong database of historical maritime finds implicit the past year.

Last summer, officials announced that they identified 2 enslaved ships disconnected the seashore of Central America.

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Also, past year, a centuries-old vessel was recovered beneath a erstwhile food marketplace successful Spain.

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