Diving's and exploration of the wreckWith the help of the C. Bendix foundation enough funding were raised in 1983 for the first more profound exploration of the wreck of the St. George including measurements of the wreck and the retrieval of finds. The exploration of wreck was done by Skibshistorisk Laboratorium (the Laboratory of Naval History) assisted by Jydsk Dykkerfirma and the diving club Delfinen. There were 8 days to do the work of which one was reserved for the retrieval of finds, the rest to perform all the measurements. The work took place under difficult conditions with big waves and poor visibility - less than 30 cm. A plethora of items were recovered: blocks, block sheaves in different seizes, a bucket with musket bullets, rope, oars, brass uniform emblems, barrels, faience, crockery, vax, metal buckles, leather belts and straps, pieces of uniforms, buttons, coins, etc. In the early summer of 1984 the wreck was explored again with the financial support from the Nationalmuseet (The Danish National Museum) and several foundations. This time with more and better equipment. Unfortunately, the sea had deposited 1,5 to 2 meters of sand where the artefacts had been free of sand the previous year which made it necessary to remove large quantities of sand in order to reach the layers where the items earlier had be lying free of sand. There were 2 weeks available and the divers succeeded in excavating large parts of the starboard side of the orlope deck. Many impressive finds were retrieved which following the expedition could be seen by the public at a weekend exhibition in the Thorsminde Auction Hall. About 2000 visitors attended the exhibition.
In 1985 it was possible to raise enough funding for a 2 week expedition. The work was difficult because of the bad weather conditions, the poor visibility and the large quantities of sand in the wreck. However, the divers managed to recover a considerable number of finds, but not as many as the year before. The remainders of the Defence was also located, but in such a state of destruction, that further exploration was given up. When the divers visited the wreck of the St. George in 1986, the winter storms had destroyed large parts of the lower gun deck and the sea had cleared large part of the orlope deck for artefacts. It was therefore decided to excavate the front part of the fore body under the lower gun deck. There were low visibility during the entire period of time, but despite this the divers succeeded in retrieving many items. The stores of the quartermaster and of the carpenter were explored. Therefore, there were mainly weapons and spare parts recovered, but also a number of personal belongings.
Yearly inspections of the wreck has proved that the wreck since the end of the diving campaigns in 1986 has been exposed to continued destruction. Once the St. George was the best preserved historical ship wreck known in the Scandinavia, but the exposure on the sea bottom in connection with the withdrawal of the coast line has exposed all the standing wood of ship to great attacks of erosion. Even the thick deck beams on the 3rd gun deck has long vanished. In the last years the destruction is so advanced, that it now is possible to enter the storage decks which have not yet been explored. |
Back
