DATELINE: 27th July 2001
COLOSSUS DISCOVERIES
A series of outstanding historical finds have been yielded by the wreck of HMS Colossus, the 18th century warship sunk off Samson Island in the Isles of Scilly.
Though the Colossus was excavated in the mid-1970s and has since been a regular dive, shifting sands have revealed a series of new sections, spread out over several hundred metres. Divers have recovered a wealth of precious items.
The most outstanding is a life-sized carved figure of a neo-classical soldier, thought to have adorned the ship's stern. Previously, the largest example of pre-19th century ship-carving ever recovered was a saucer-sized cherub's head, from the Swan off Mull. The precious figure will be raised in September under the eye of the Government's Archaeological Diving Unit (ADU).
The Colossus, a 74-gun third-rater, was lost in 1798 while carrying a valuable cargo of Etruscan and Greek pottery from Italy to England for Sir William Hamilton - whose wife, Emma, was Nelson's mistress.
In May 1999, local diver Tod Stevens explored away from the established site and was astonished to find a section of framing and deck timbers, uncovered by winter gales.
By skimming away sand by hand, he recovered items including brass gunlocks, pulley block cheeks and sheaves, spoons, scissors, wine bottles, medical flasks, pottery shards and leather shoes. A set of wooden gun muzzle plugs suggested that he was in the area of the gunner's store. The items are now displayed at the Isles of Scilly Museum.
Stevens went on to raise a 28-pounder gun carriage marked "Colossus", which is being conserved for the museum by the Mary Rose Trust in Portsmouth.
Further sections continued to be discovered and, with an expanded team of local divers, excavation continued through 2000 and into 2001. Discoveries have included four 32-pounder iron guns and bronze rudder hangings and window glass in an area holding the ship's stern.
It is here that wooden carvings, including the outstanding classical figure, were found.
"Of the estimated 100,000 shipwrecks around the UK, fewer than 30, typified by the Mary Rose, have been of historical importance," Cornish-based wreck expert Richard Larn told Divernet. "For a complete life-sized figure carving like this to survive in shallow water is truly amazing, considering the countless storms and enormous ground seas that have swept through Scilly for over 200 years."
In June, Martin Dean of the ADU decided that the recently discovered remains should be designated for historic protection. Those found in 1975 were among the first British sites designated under the 1973 Protection of Wrecks Act.
"The site is magnificent, and the carved figure is very special," he told Divernet. "We think it is of oak, and the quality of carving and state of preservation are very good."
Protected status has yet to be confirmed, and a licensee and dive team appointed for continued salvage. But Dean said the ADU planned to salvage the large figure carving in September, before winter.
*A Scottish diver found an ancient earthenware vase while diving at 35m in Loch Fyne, Argyllshire. George Telfer recovered the large, shapely vase which, after examination by the ADU, is thought to date as far back as the 14th century. Discovery of a 2m-high stone anchor nearby has led to speculation that the loch might hold an historically valuable wreck. Protected status and a licensed survey could follow.