The Cromwellian shipwreck off Duart Point, Mull: an interim report

Abstract

Book reviews archaeological resource, providing information not easily accessible elsewhere. While being largely descriptive, it signposts key areas for future research and most certainly fulfils its function as a tool for the management of Winchester's archaeology. It also has potential as a research tool, providing a baseline level of information that will help researchers set the trajectory of future research into Winchester's archaeology. My main reservation is less about the content of the book and more the medium chosen for publication. Although a well-produced and exceptionally illustrated book, in the twenty-first century its function may have been better served by a digital resource more able to keep up with the rapid pace of excavation and research within the city of Winchester.

In situcorrosion studies on the Duart Point wreck, 1994

“…1. Inspection of the general site-plan (Martin, 1995, fig. 3) shows that cannons 1-3 are located close to the foot of the cliff, where the current flow is particularly strong, and would therefore experience a more dynamic environment than cannon 4, which lies in a deeper and more open situation.…”

“…Following discussions during Dr Colin Martin's British Council-sponsored visit to 01 S7-2414/95/0 I0053 +07 $08.00/0 Australia in 1993 it emerged that a corrosion study of iron objects on the Duart Point shipwreck (Martin, 1995) might add significant information about formation processes active on the site. Comparative data from a coldwater environment, moreover, would complement research into iron corrosion already undertaken by the writer on tropical and subtropical shipwrecks.…”

A 17th-century binnacle and mariners' compasses from Duart Point, Mull

“…Since the publication of work on this site up to 1994 (Martin, 1995), three further field seasons have been conducted with the support of Historic Scotland. A detailed survey of the wreck formation, including contouring at 0.1 m intervals, has been completed, and the areas most vulnerable to erosion have been secured with a covering of sandbags and are regularly monitored.…”

An underwater photomosaic technique using Adobe Photoshop™

“…An opportunity to develop a simple technique for taking controlled vertical photographs under water, combined with the digitization, computer rectification, and multiple-image manipulation and assembly of the resulting photographs into a mosaic, was provided by the project to investigate the wreck of the Swan, a mid-17th-century warship lost in the Sound of Mull off the west coast of Scotland (Martin, 1995). The systems adopted and tested during this work are described below.…”