LONDON - (BUSINESS WIRE) - August 11, 2003 - World leading archaeological and deep-ocean exploration skills are being combined in an effort to investigate and record the wreck of a 17th century Royal Navy ship-of-the-line.
Following its partnering agreement with the Ministry of Defence,
Florida-based Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc has appointed
Southampton-based
Gifford and Partners Ltd as its archaeological consultant in a path
breaking
deep ocean archaeological excavation of HMS Sussex, which sank in a
storm in
the Mediterranean, off the coast of Gibraltar, in 1694.
Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (OMEX), a world leader in deep-ocean
archaeological investigation, began the search for the wreck in 1998
using
sidescan sonar surveys and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV's). Odyssey
has
now found a wreck site believed to be that of HMS Sussex in a position
which
matches contemporary accounts of the sinking. The UK government has
entered
into a partnering agreement with Odyssey to conduct an archaeological
investigation of the wreck site and recover the cargo whose value will
be
shared between Odyssey and the UK.
Gifford is a long established multi-disciplinary consultancy with a
significant track record in large scale archaeological projects. As one
of
the UK's leading engineering and archaeology consultants with over 400
employees in the UK, and worldwide offices including a presence in
Gibraltar, Gifford also has an established track record of working with
the
UK government, including the Ministry of Defence.
Gifford has wide experience of internationally significant
archaeological
projects such as at Niuheliang, China, where on behalf of the Liaoning
Environmental project an assessment was made of a complex of Neolithic
ritual sites and a programme of analysis and conservation for this
significant prehistoric landscape was designed.
At Villa Dionysus, Crete, Gifford was commissioned by the British School
of
Archaeology in Athens to advise on the conservation, interpretation and
display of the villa and its important mosaic floor. At Stonehenge in
the
UK, Gifford has been appointed by the Highways Agency to advise on a
road
improvement scheme, and will report on the archaeology of Stonehenge and
its
environs at the forthcoming public inquiry as well as designing and
implementing a programme of large-scale archaeological works in advance
of
construction of a new tunnel for the A303 trunk road.
Odyssey co-founder, Greg Stemm said: "Gifford is a Registered
Organisation
with the Institute of Field Archaeologists and has a great breadth of
experience. They seemed like the clear choice to join us as partners to
look
after the archaeological aspects of this project. Combining Gifford¹s
skills
with our deep-ocean search and recovery capabilities will establish new
standards for archaeology in the deep ocean."
The project will be the most technologically advanced deep-ocean marine
archaeological expedition in the world to date, working to a depth of
nearly
900 metres in the western Mediterranean. The 1,200 ton Sussex was
launched
in 1693, the flagship of a fleet of 39 warships assigned to strategic
duties
in the Mediterranean. The specie which it is hoped will be recovered was
thought to be payment to the Duke of Savoy for supplying soldiers in the
war
of the League of Augsburg against France. On its way to deliver the
valuable
cargo, the ship sailed into a violent storm, sinking the Sussex, the
flagship of Admiral Sir Francis Wheeler.
Gifford will direct the archaeological operation throughout the lifespan
of
the expedition, ensuring that the archaeological elements of the
material
recovered will be conserved, analysed and widely published in academic
as
well as popular formats. Gifford is working closely with Odyssey in its
negotiations with the UK Ministry of Defence, and its capabilities will
ensure that the expedition is conducted to the best archaeological
practice.
Gifford Principal Archaeologist Anthony Martin said: "We hope to learn a
great deal about 17th century naval history from this expedition. The
specie
will obviously attract international attention, but from a purely
archaeological perspective this is a tremendous learning opportunity.
Gifford, Odyssey and the Ministry of Defence are committed to maximising
the
research opportunity which the project represents, and we will ensure
that
all work is conducted in accordance with the highest archaeological best
practice.
The Ministry of Defence Team Leader, Geoff Reakes said: "As this is a
sensitive and high-profile undertaking, it is important that all aspects
of
the project are managed by an experienced, multi-disciplinary team. The
integration of Gifford into the project is a welcome development."