Anchors and ballast of the Sussex deposited on the reef
Beside some cannons and ballast of molten iron, two anchors that were
soldered together by concretions were raised.
The French atoll Bassas Da India in the Channel of
Mozambique (Indian Ocean) has been copiously pillaged for about fifteen years.
In 1987, it was swiftly surveyed in order to take stock of the historical
shipwrecks that are located there.
On this occasion, the wreck of the Sussex,
a vessel of the English India Company, was found.
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Anchors and ballast of the Sussex deposited on the reef
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Chinese blue and white porcelain, with floral or landscape motifs. The vessel's cargo was dispersed by the wave-motion over several km² on the crown of the reef. Thousands of porcelain fragments of the Yongzhen period of China (1723-1735) were recovered from the coral reef. Among the catalogued objects were plates, dishes, saucers, cups and bowls, jars, and lids of teapots. Fragments of European glass bottles were also found at the site. |
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Exploration : Michel L'Hour (DRASSM).
Photos : Michel L'Hour.
