The Wreck of the Warwick: History and final analysis of an early 17th-century Virginia Company ship.

Summary

The Warwick which carried the new governor, settlers, their possession, tools, and provisions across the Atlantic to the nascent Bermuda colony in 1619 sank during a hurricane while at anchorage in Castle Harbour. Over the course of four field seasons, a team of archaeologists, students, and volunteers excavated and recorded the Warwick’s hull. The remains of the Warwick are one of the largest and most articulated fragments of an early 17th century English ship. Notwithstanding the historical designation of the vessel as the "magazine" ship, the Warwick was far from being an ordinary freighter. As the analysis of its structure continues, it appears this ship was a finely crafted and finished vessel and a powerful fighting machine. The Warwick has a unique place in the history of Atlantic shipbuilding and the social history of Bermuda; while at the same time, it is an iconic representation of English business ventures. 

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2015   •
• Mercantilism and Hegemony; the crossroads of maritime ventures in the Americas from the 16th to 18th centuries

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 68