IDM-001 Shipwreck

Filipe Castro

 

Country: Mozambique
Place: Ilha de Moçambique
Coordinates: Lat. ; Long.
Type: Unknown
Identified: No
Dated: 1550-1650

Introduction

According to Alejandro Mirabal (2001), this site was found during the systematic visual survey around Ilha de Mozambique on the 15th of May 2001. In the course of its reconnaissance and assessment 24 dives were done amounting to 29.45 hours of bottom time.

It was referred in a 1964 report by Pedro Quirino da Fonseca, who recovered an unknown number of the artifacts, including anchors and at least one half-spherical lead ingot with 17 cm in diameter and weighing 9.6 Kg.

The shipwreck wreck is located at a depth of about 7 m and consist in a ballast mound of small stones (average size of 20 cm), some timbers visible on the surface, and a small intact olive jar, which was recovered for identification purposes. Fragments of Chinese porcelain and some coarse ceramics were found badly fragmented a few centimeters under the sediment of thick sand and shell fragments.

The shipwreck site extends to the North, into the channel, where ceramic fragments and glass bottles were observed.

An iron rudder pintle and a timber were exposed in the scatter of ballast stones.  A test pit was opened and revealed hull remains under a layer of ballast stones. Lead sheathing was still attached to the planking.

One small fragment of white/blue Chinese porcelain was also observed on the site. The depth of the sediment is described as considerable, but there is no indication of its thickness.

Team

This site was surveyed by a team from Arqueonautas SA., a treasure hunting company that operated in Mozambique from 2001 to 2015.

Ballast

Ballast with 20 cm dimensions is not further described.

Anchors

Not mentioned.

Guns

No information.

Iron Concretions

No information.

Hull remains

Hull remains were reported but not described.

Caulking

Not reported.

Fasteners

Not reported.

Size and scantlings

No data.

Wood

No samples are reported recovered for timber analysis.

References

Fonseca, Pedro Quirino da, 1964.  Pesquisas arqueológicas submarinas em águas de Moçambique.

Fonseca, Pedro Quirino da, 1972. “Algumas Descobertas de Interesse
Histórico- Arqueológico na Ilha de Moçambique,” in Monumenta, Boletim da
Comissão dos Monumentos Nacionais de Moçambique, nº8, Moçambique.

Mirabal, Alejandro, 2001. Interim Report of the Marine Archaeological Survey performed in Ilha de Moçambique, from May to July 2001.  Online PDF report, Arqueonautas Worldwide SA.