Archaeologists believe they have located the remains of 800 tons of Dutch merchant ships that sank off the coast of Australia 168 years ago.
The Koning Willem de Tweede was lost near Robe, Australia in June 1857, resulting in the deaths of 16 out of 25 crew members.
This significant find, termed “Major Discoveries,” was announced by the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Silent World Foundation following four years of investigation.
According to the museum, the discovery “connects us to the trade and migration narratives that involved over 400 Chinese miners discharged from the hospital just days before the sinking.”
James Hunter, the maritime archaeology manager at the museum, shared with Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) on Wednesday that several parts of the ship had been identified.
“We noted the depth of the ship, which had a particular draft. And the water depth matched really well,” he said.
He also mentioned the detection of “magnetic anomalies” that corresponded to the length of the 140-foot vessel.
This discovery was a joint effort between a nonprofit organization focused on underwater archaeology and the SilentWorld Foundation, which collaborates with the Ministry of Environment and Water and Flinders University in South Australia.
The museum stated, “This crucial finding, backed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch Cultural Heritage Agency, represents the culmination of focused research since 2022.” They indicated that future assessments of the site are planned to unearth further aspects of this maritime history.
SilentWorld reported on Facebook that “when weather conditions permitted, they conducted explorations to search for the shipwreck. Despite visibility challenges, the recent visit to Robe enabled identification of the wreck.”
Hunter pointed out that the ship might be resting on the seabed, potentially buried in sand.
The team initially thought they had found the wreck three years prior but faced difficulties due to sandy conditions.
“Once the sand is stirred, it’s like being in a snowstorm underwater,” he explained.
