Rooswijk Shipwreck Excavation Summer 2018

The wreck

The Rooswijk was a Dutch East India Company vessel which sank on the treacherous Goodwin Sands, off Kent, in January 1740. The ship was outward bound for Batavia (modern-day Jakarta) with trade-goods. Now a protected wreck site the ship's remains lie at a depth of some 20 metres. They're owned by the Dutch Government and managed by Historic England on behalf of the Department of Digital, Culture Media and Sport.

Excavation so far

In 2016 and 2017 Dutch and British maritime archaeologists have worked together to carry out a joint project at the Rooswijk protected wreck site. The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands and Historic England worked with an archaeological dive team that partly excavated the wreck in 2005, the Licensee and the owner of the wreck's cargo to carry out a detailed survey of the wreck to find out more about the site.

Watch a video about the 2016 survey

Take a look at objects recovered from the wreck

Plans for this summer

Following on from this survey and excavation work in 2016/2017, archaeologists will be based out on site on a diving support vessel for 90 days this summer. They'll excavate and record large areas of the site. The archaeologists will bring material they recover to a shore side facility in Ramsgate where they'll carry out first-aid conservation and record it before taking it to a Historic England storage facility. We will then assess, analyse and conserve it, before returning it to The Netherlands. We hope some material may be made available for display in the future in Ramsgate.

More about the work of the expedition team

Focus on areas of the wreck site that are at risk

The wreck is classed as High Risk on the Heritage at Risk register due to its exposed remains and vulnerability. In response to these threats this project will record and assess an area of the at-risk remains of the Rooswijk, contributing to a better understanding of the wreck and establishing a way forward for the future management of the remains. In particular, the proposed investigations aim to contribute to a better understanding of the wreck and site formation processes, including the ship's design and the state of preservation.

Ramsgate to benefit

The Rooswijk project will contribute to Ramsgate's Heritage Action Zone initiative by providing a focus for community pride, a sense of shared history, and a sense of belonging.

Get involved

Details of open days will be published here once confirmed and advertised via social media.

Wrecks such as the Rooswijk are part of the shared cultural maritime heritage across Europe and it's important that cultural heritage agencies are able to work together to ensure that sites like this are protected, researched, understood and appreciated by all.

The archaeological information that can be gained from the wreck such as the Rooswijk is a unique resource. Shipwrecks are time capsules that offer a unique glimpse into the past and tell a story. Telling that story to a wide audience and engaging the public is very important to the #Rooswijk1740 project.

The project offers a real opportunity for education and capacity building especially for archaeology, conservation and maritime history students.

We're planning to hold other open days at different locations and lab tours following the end of the diving work. Please check back later or follow us on social media to stay in touch.

Contacts