Marine Archaeologists Explore 17th Century Dutch Shipwreck in Iceland
The oldest known shipwreck around the coast of Iceland is currently being researched by marine archaeologists as part of a Rannís funded research project examining the archaeology of the Danish trade monopoly period 1602-1787.
The wreck was originally discovered in 1992 by two divers, Erlendur Guðmundsson and Sævar Árnason, in the old harbour of Flatey Island in Breiðafjörður along the west coast of Iceland. A survey project was carried out on the wreckage in 1993 by Dr. Bjarni F. Einarsson for The National Museum of Iceland.
The ship in question is believed to have been a Dutch armed merchant ship named Melkmeid (Milkmaid), which is believed to have sunk in Flatey harbour in the autumn of 1659. While at anchor in Flatey harbour, just as it was due to sail back to Europe with a full cargo of fish on board, a fierce storm blew up and caused it to catch fire and sink. All but one of the 15 crew members on board survived.
The current research project was led by Kevin Martin, a marine archaeologist and PhD student in archaeology at the University of Iceland. He was joined by two Dutch marine archaeologists, Thijs Coenen and Johan Opdebeeck, from the Dutch Cultural Heritage Agency as well as a marine biologist, Fraser Cameron, from the University of Iceland.
In May, the team carried out a 7-day intensive underwater survey of the Melkmeid remains. A larger area of the wreckage was uncovered than had been in 1993 and a number of dendro-chronological oak samples were taken for further specialist analysis. The results of this should enable the archaeologists to confirm conclusively that the wreckage is that of the Melkmeid and also when and where the wood for the ship had been originally cut.
Screenshot of dense point cloud stage of 3D photo-grammetrical model of Melkmeid shipwreck.
A large part of the project was devoted to conducting a 3D photo-grammetrical recording of the ship remains. This was the first time this recording technique has ever been attempted underwater in Iceland to record archaeological remains. The final results of this which include a 3D model creation are still currently being processed but initial findings have been very good.
The team also accessed the archaeological preservation of the wreckage and in order to slow down its natural deterioration they covered the exposed parts of the wreck with a protective fabric. A follow up project involving archival research on the Melkmeid in the Netherlands is planned in the autumn.
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Source: Iceland Monitor
