A shipwreck discovered off the south coast of England in 2019 is a Dutch warship from the 17th century. This is shown by research by maritime archaeologists.
It concerns the ‘Klein Hollandia’. The wreck lies at a depth of 32 meters at the bottom of the sea off the coast of Eastbourne in the south of England.
The archaeologists were able to identify the ship by collecting evidence during diving expeditions. Archives were also examined and growth rings of wood samples were examined.
The Klein Hollandia was built in 1656 and was owned by the Admiralty of Rotterdam. In 1672 the ship sank. It was involved in all major naval battles in the Second Anglo-Dutch War, which lasted from 1665 to 1667.
Shipwreck is in remarkably good condition
According to the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, the wreck is in remarkably good condition. The ship can provide a lot of information about, among other things, how warships were built at that time.
“From our very first dive on the wreck in April 2019, we have been fascinated by the array of materials on the seabed,” said Mark Beattie Edwards of the Nautical Archeology Society, who helped lead the study.
He mentions the parts of the wooden hull, the guns on board the ship and even marble tiles and pottery that have been found. These finds indicate that the Klein Hollandia dates from the late seventeenth century and was on its way back from Italy.
State Secretary Gunay Uslu of Culture and Media says in a response that such studies “provide valuable knowledge and important insights”.
