An extremely rare archaeological discovery marked the last months on the Orkney Islands, where a scientific team uncovered the sunken maritime heritage of a British warship from the 18th century. The wooden debris, initially raised from the seabed during a strong storm, turned out to be part of a legendary fleet vessel with a rich history.
Experts from the Wessex Archaeological Service, working together with local volunteers and researchers, conducted an in-depth analysis of the found wooden blocks. Through precise dendrochronological assessment, they managed to establish the origin and age of the wood, which came from the southern and southwestern regions of England.
The identification indicates that the ship is HMS Hind - a 24-gun sixth-rate frigate that was initially part of the Royal Fleet and later converted into a whaling ship. The vessel participated in several significant military campaigns, including the sieges of Louisbourg and Quebec in the 1750s, as well as the American War of Independence towards the late 1770s.
Ben Saunders, senior marine archaeologist from Wessex Archaeology, shared his excitement about the study: "This project revealed so many details not only about the sunken ship but also about the life of the community in Sanday during the 1780s". According to him, the area at that time was known as the "shipwreck cradle of Scotland".
Historical data shows that the ship, renamed "Graf Chatham", completed four seasons of Arctic expeditions before finally sinking in Lopness Bay in March 1788. During the incident, 56 sailors were on board and managed to survive.
The found wooden elements are currently being preserved in fresh water at the Sanday Heritage Centre, thanks to funding from the National Monuments Fund. This special reservoir prevents the destruction of wood, which is extremely sensitive immediately after being removed from the marine environment.
Clive Struve, head of the Sanday Development Fund, described the revelation of the sunken ship's identity as "extremely exciting". He emphasized that the next step would be to explore the expectations and interests of the local community towards this archaeological discovery.
Recent changes in the coastline have increased the likelihood of such finds, making this case particularly significant for the maritime history of the region. The joint efforts of professional archaeologists and local volunteers demonstrate how modern scientific methods can resurrect forgotten stories from the past.