Underwater discovery reveals 1787 shipwreck with probably intact treasures

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Underwater archaeologists could have found a long-lost 18th-century treasure ship that vanished over two centuries in the past.

Marine skilled Edmond O’Byrne informed Pen Information that his crew discovered what's believed to be the Restoration, a British ship that was misplaced off the coast of Wexford, Eire, in 1787. (See the video on the prime of this text.)

The ship carried numerous treasures, and its cargo included a big amount of marble and bronze. James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont, collected the dear supplies throughout a tour of Europe.

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The ship additionally carried uncommon artwork and pure curiosities owned by John La Touche, one of many wealthiest Irish bankers of his time.

However the ship met its finish when it sank 85 miles south of Dublin, its intended destination . The vessel had not too long ago stopped in London after starting its journey in Italy.

Underwater archaeologists could have discovered the Restoration, an 18th-century treasure ship misplaced off Wexford, Eire. (Getty Photos; Brian and Kevin Martin by way of Pen Information)

Six individuals died within the wreck, together with the ship's captain and two of his sons .

The ship was largely forgotten about earlier than researchers caught wind of its possible stays.

Throughout a latest interview with Pen Information, O’Byrne stated that, in the future, his side-scan sonar "picked up an uncommon object on the seabed."

"The ship was on the mercy of the ocean."

He informed the company, "At first I assumed it was a torpedo, as a result of the picture could be barely distorted on the side-scan sonar."

However the shipwreck revealed its age when his crew noticed a copper sheath on the vessel. Within the 18th century, copper was utilized by the Royal Navy to guard wood ships from barnacles and shipworms.

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"Once we went [underwater], it turned out to be a 20-foot-long rudder coated in copper sheet," O'Byrne recalled. "Now that basically recognized her."

He added, "In 1773, when she was in-built Chester, the Restoration was one in all about 200 ships out of the British service provider fleet of about 10,000 that had their hulls coated in copper sheathing."

Marine archaeologists additionally uncovered an 18th-century anchor on the wreckage web site. (Brian and Kevin Martin by way of Pen Information)

"Any wrecks that we have now a report of weren't copper sheathed."

Utilizing a drone, researchers additionally noticed a chunk of timber popping out of a sandbank, which O'Byrne stated was "positively from a ship."

"It may have been any little bit of timber however after I informed the pilot to drive nearer, I may see that there was a timber nail gap in that plank," he stated.

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"I informed one of many boys to go down and take that up, and when he did, there was a two-foot by one-foot copper sheath nailed to the timber."

The crew additionally uncovered an anchor, timber fittings and artifacts together with a teapot and inkwells.

A number of the findings supply a glimpse into how the ship went down: For instance, the rudder was discovered round 800 ft away from the shipwreck.

Specialists consider the ship carried beneficial cargo that will nonetheless be in good situation. (Brian and Kevin Martin by way of Pen Information)

"We reckon when she got here round Carnsore Level, she got here into shallower water, and pulled the rudder and a part of the strict off," O’Byrne described.

"After which the ship was on the mercy of the ocean."

The rudder was additionally coated in copper. It could be the one 18th-century copper-covered rudder that is ever been discovered.

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"We’ve searched and, to this point, no person can inform us that there's a copper-covered rudder in existence from that point anyplace," O'Byrne added.

"It may very well be the one one in all its time."

The true worth of the cargo is unknown, although La Touche's possessions have fetched huge sums of cash prior to now. One sculpture that he commissioned bought for £520,000 in 1997, which equals roughly $1 million U.S. {dollars} immediately.

Marine skilled Edmond O’Byrne's crew found the possible stays of a ship known as the Restoration — which additionally included a teapot. (Brian and Kevin Martin by way of Pen Information)

O'Byrne additionally believes that, with the shipwreck sitting 65 ft under the service, the cargo should still be in good situation.

"In the event that they needed to journey far on land to get to the port after which be loaded after which unloaded, they must be packed very, very properly," he noticed.

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"So there's a likelihood that one thing would survive."

For now, the ship goes to stay undisturbed whereas O'Byrne's crew screens it to see if any shifting sands reveal its treasures.

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Recovered shipwrecks are of nice curiosity to marine historians. Earlier this yr, a centuries-old ship was discovered beneath a former fish market in Spain.