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Under the murky, fast-flowing waters of the River Hamble, in Hampshire, lies the skeleton of a great medieval warship. Experts believe it to be the Grace Dieu, Henry V's flagship, which was the biggest ship of its day. Indeed, no bigger ship was to be built for 200 years.
Prior to Time Team's visit, the wreck had never been excavated underwater, nor its size verified. Donning their dive suits and masks, Tony Robinson and Phil Harding got to work with a team from the nearby Southampton University. Onshore, Francis Pryor and Stewart Ainsworth led the hunt for the local boatyard, while ancient woodwork expert Damian Goodburn tried to replicate the unique style of construction that was pioneered in the building of this massive ship.
Fighting the tide and the mud, the Team had three days to prove that this wreck was indeed that of the Grace Dieu, as well as finding out just how big it was and how much of it remains buried.
Time Trail
Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third-party sites.
As well as shovelling more muck on land in an average digging season than many archaeologists shift in a lifetime, Time Team's Phil Harding is also an expert underwater archaeologist. For this programme, he donned his diving suit with a team from Southampton University, led by marine archaeologist Jon Adams, the former deputy director of the project to raise Henry VIII's famous warship, the Mary Rose.
Phil has taken part in underwater excavations for Time Team on a number of previous occasions. These include the investigation of a crannog, a prehistoric man-made island, at Loch Migdale, in the Scottish Highlands, as part of the 2004 series; the wreck of the British warship, the Colossus, which sank in the Scilly Isles during a gale in 1798 and featured in a Time Team Special in 2002; and that of a ship from the Spanish Armada some 20 metres down on the seabed just off the coast of Kinlochbervie, in north-west Scotland, which featured in the 2002 series.
The Team has also been involved in some underwater archaeology in unexpected locations – and not just the kind that results from heavy rain and waterlogged trenches. At Merton Abbey Mills, in south London, for example, during the 2003 series, Time Team called in diver Gordon Bell and some of his colleagues from the Mole Valley and Meadhurst sub aqua clubs to see if they could find anything from Arthur Liberty's 19th-century works on the Wandle riverbed.
Of course excavating underwater poses special problems for archaeologists. Not the least of these is the way that shifting tides and currents can disturb the stratigraphy of a site. At Merton, Gordon Bell described the effect of the currents swirling around as 'like one big washing machine – you can find a Victorian coin and then sealed in the clay bed below it can be a modern 50-pence piece.' Time Team's Mel Morpeth gives a director's take on filming underwater on the Kinlochbervie programme web pages.
As well the shipwrecks featured in underwater excavations, Time Team has also looked at boats and boat-building in more orthodox digs. For example, Damian Goodburn appeared in the very first Time Team series, when he was called up to make a log boat. And the Team went to Smallhythe, in Kent, as part of the 1999 series to see if they could find any traces of the medieval shipwrights who built, among other craft, Henry V's 1,000-ton Jesus. There's an animated 3D reconstruction of the Jesus, which was much smaller than the Grace Dieu, on the Smallhythe web pages.
Large ships such as the Grace Dieu are only a part of the rich nautical history of the British Isles. Test your knowledge of that history with our lighthearted Time Trial quiz.
If a mile is 1,760 yards, or 5,280 feet, what is a nautical mile?
6,076 feet
5,280 feet
Whatever the ship's captain says it is
What is the nautical term meaning that something is at right angles to the keel of a boat, but not on the boat?
Abreast
Abeam
Adrift
It's often said (almost certainly wrongly) that the phrase, 'cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey', originated on board ship. What is the brass monkey supposed to be, according to this account?
A frame for storing cannonballs
A device hanging from a nautical compass
The captain's toyboy
Nautically speaking, what is a 'fluke'?
A flatfish often found hanging around wooden sailing ships
A lucky break in the weather
The end of an arm of an anchor
The phrase 'over a barrel' has a nautical origin. What was the barrel?
A barrel of tar
A barrel of rum
A cannon barrel
British naval vessels used to be rated according to the number of cannons on board. How many cannons did a 'first rate' vessel have?
At least 20
At least 50
At least 100
Answers here.
Southampton University has been monitoring the Grace Dieu shipwreck for more than 30 years. Finished in 1420, it was the largest medieval ship ever built, but very little of it has been investigated. Time Team helped the university to bring an experimental new method of underwater excavation to a site protected by English Heritage.
To avoid the bad visibility normally associated with river estuary sediments, an inflatable 'sea curtain' was constructed. The theory was that this would provide a bubble around the trench and that clean water could be pumped in. This method had been successful in still harbour waters but proved inefficient in the Hamble's strong river and tidal currents.
New sonar CHIRP technology was successfully trialled on site and excavation proceeded on the stern end of the ship. Timbers from the hull of the ship were uncovered, highlighting the construction techniques used – specifically the use of much longer planks than thought.
Landscape investigation at Bursledon highlighted a possible site for contemporary shipbuilding. Trenches placed on the edges of an old creek produced evidence for later structures but nothing that could be directly related to 15th-century industry.
Ros Ereira, cameo producer
Ros Ereira, Time Team cameo producer, explains the experimental archaeology involved in the reconstruction cameo for the Grace Dieu programme. This involved ancient woodwork specialist Damian Goodburn attempting to recreate the unusual clinker boat building techniques used for the Grace Dieu.
This was less of a traditional Time Team 'cameo', and more the attempted creation of a partial 3D model to show us what a section of the Grace Dieu would have looked like, to help us see the complex design more easily, and to demonstrate just how time-consuming it was. From the small section that Damian and Alex Farnell (of the Centre for Maritime Archaeology at Southampton) made, we could see just how massive the ship must have been. The very fact that they couldn't finish the small section in the time available demonstrated what a very labour-intensive way this was to build a ship.
Local blacksmith Colin Philips made the nails, and even though I had given him the measurements and commissioned them myself, I was still astonished when I saw just how enormous they were. Each nail weighed more than one and half pounds and was four times the size of the nails normally used in shipbuilding during this period, so it was hardly surprising that Damian was struggling to bend them over by hand!
Damian Goodburn, archaeologist and ancient woodwork specialist
Time Team has made a tradition of experimental archaeology cameos as part of most of its projects. Those of us who work in archaeology and are particularly interested in understanding how things were made in the past have found this an important part of the programme. This is especially so because while our grandparents lived in a Britain where 'making things' was commonplace and highly valued, this is not the case now.
Archaeology involving experimentation with practical techniques is a way of getting in touch with that disappearing part of daily life. I've been very lucky to have helped Time Team with other ship- or boat-related experiments, from building a replica of a 9th-century AD dugout boat to building a section of a 14th-century clinker ship hull for the Smallhythe programme in the 1999 series.
Clinker boat building started in the Iron Age, when people built boats as a shell of partly overlapping boards strengthened by cross frames that were added later. By medieval times in England, ships were normally built with a single thickness of boards held at the laps with iron rivets and strengthened with heavy cross frames and beams. The boards were still assembled first and not bent round a rigid framework, so they had to be fairly thin. The shipwrights who built the Grace Dieu, which was far larger than other clinker ships, were struggling to make a strong hull of thin boards by using three layers with tarred moss between them.
Alex Farnell, of the Centre for Maritime Archaeology at Southampton, and myself were asked to find out more about how this was done by making a reconstruction of a small section of the hull. The work was a very complicated and laborious procedure for them, and so it proved so for us too – even though, when we examined some fragments from the wreck, we found the finish was actually quite rough.
The main nails were massive, with 20mm-square shanks of iron at the end. Here we were unlucky: despite the best efforts of the blacksmith, we had wrought iron that was far harder than the medieval material and forming the rivets proved virtually impossible. However, despite failing to complete the intended experimental hull section we did learn a lot about the skills, effort and materials needed to build the ship, as well as what further questions we need to ask of those studying the wreck in the Hamble and the fragments in local museums.
Medieval shipbuilding talk
Damian Goodburn will be giving a talk on 'Medieval shipbuilding crafts and the problem of the Grace Dieu of 1416', organised by Winchester Museum, on 12 May 2005 at 7.30 pm.
Amtec Co-op
Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third-party sites.
To find out more about Damian Goodburn and ancient technology, visit the Amtec Co-op website describing the work carried out by Damian and other experts in ancient materials, technology and conservation.
Time Team's 3D graphics supremo, Raysan Al-Kubaisi, is a talented artist able to bring the archaeology of the trenches to life with striking and often eerily realistic three-dimensional computer models. When his smooth morphing reconstructions are combined with actual film footage of Time Team sites, the viewer is witness to some dramatic effects as presenter Tony Robinson appears to walk through a computer world that emerges from the basic archaeological foundations of a site.
With his special knowledge and love of architecture Raysan brings his own magic to the Time Team party. This was especially useful for the Grace Dieu programme, where it would have been very difficult otherwise to communicate a sense of the scale and structure of Henry V's ship.
'If I'm building a reconstruction then I start with a "wire frame" on the computer,' says Raysan. 'This is drawn with each part having its own "identity" within the whole. If something is going to move it has to be a separate part within the object. The next stage is rendering the model with textures to make it look solid and more realistic. It's here that I play around with light and shadow.'
Raysan can create some real depth to a graphic by altering the way a virtual light source is reflected from the surfaces of the model. The next step is animation.
'To make an animation work properly you need to blend different frames together so that you get a smooth movement,' says Raysan. 'Of course sometimes when you need a bit of reality you need to make things judder about a bit too. The end result can be a very short piece of film that takes a good couple of days' work.'
Audio file: Listen to Raysan talking about his reconstructions.
Meet the Team: Find out more about Raysan and how he produces his reconstructions.
The Story Beneath The Solent: Discovering underwater archaeology by Alison Gale (Hampshire & Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology, 2000) paperback £3
The discoveries of anglers and divers show the richness of maritime archaeology in The Solent, its harbours and adjacent waters. Their reports tell us of the bones of a buried mammoth here, the flint tools of a prehistoric hunter there. Elsewhere they find wine jars from a Roman cargo and nearby the timbers from an ancient wreck. The Solent's creek and estuary shores provide the location for the remains of prehistoric settlements, along with those of ships, boats and other craft from many periods in our maritime history.
The Rising Tide: Archaeology and coastal landscapes edited by Carenza Lewis and Alan Aberg (Nautical Archaeology Society, 2000) paperback £20 (£18 from NAS)
The papers published in this book were presented at a joint conference of the Nautical Archaeology Society and the Society for Landscape Studies. They review various aspects of and approaches to archaeological research in British coastal landscapes, bringing together research from two traditionally separate disciplines: terrestrial and maritime archaeology.
Underwater Archaeology by Jean Yves-Blot (Thames and Hudson, 1996) £6.95
For centuries divers have been raising treasures from the sea. Today archaeologists can excavate at previously unimaginable depths, using sophisticated technology to provide invaluable information about our past. This book highlights the danger and excitement of this work, and shows the painstaking research involved in exploring our unique underwater heritage.
Encyclopedia of Underwater and Maritime Archaeology edited by James P Delgado (Yale University Press, 1998) £60
More than 200 experts have been brought together to produce this well-illustrated and comprehensive view of underwater archaeology worldwide.
Maritime Archaeology by Jeremy Green (Academic Press, 2003) hardback £45
This systematic overview of maritime archaeology provides a step-by-step description of this fast-growing field. With new information about the use of computers and global positioning systems (GPS), the second edition of this handbook shows how to extract as much information as possible from a site, how to record and document the data, and how to act ethically and responsibly with the artefacts. Well illustrated and comprehensive in its approach to the subject, the book provides an essential foundation for everybody interested in underwater environments, submerged land structures, and conditions created by sea-level changes.
Ships and Shipwrecks by Peter Marsden (English Heritage, 1997) paperback £15.99
A clear and concise overview of British maritime archaeology from prehistoric log boats and medieval seafarers to the early 19th century. For anyone interested in the construction, use and function of boats.
The Good Ship: Ships, shipbuilding and technology in England by Ian Friel (British Museum Press, 1995) hardback £25
Looks at the technological developments in shipbuilding in medieval England from 1200 AD to 1520.
Medieval Ships and Shipping by Gillian Hutchinson (Leicester University Press, 1994) paperback £18.99
A readable and scholarly introduction to shipping and shipbuilding in Britain during the period 1066-1500.
Ships of the Port of London: Vol. 2: 12th to 17th centuries (English Heritage, 1996) paperback £30
Study of the archaeological remains of ships and boats used in the port of London. The author reconstructs the design and use of the ships, employing evidence from the vessels, from waterfronts and from trade goods.
Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third-party sites.
Amtec Co-op
www.amtecco-op.com
To find out more about Damian Goodburn (see Clinker boat building) and ancient technology, visit the Amtec Co-op website describing the work carried out by Damian and other
experts in ancient materials, technology and conservation.
Archaeological Diving Unit (ADU)
www.adu.org.uk
Provides detailed information on the work of the ADU, including the field methods and equipment used. Also includes information on designated historic wrecks, UK wreck laws and guidance notes for divers and archaeologists.
Nautical Archaeology Society
www.nasportsmouth.org.uk
The Nautical Archaeology Society is a non-government organisation formed to further interest in our underwater cultural heritage. Its website includes information about society membership and projects, training and courses, publications and underwater archaeology news.
Mary Rose Trust
www.maryrose.org
Built between 1509 and 1511, the Mary Rose was one of the first ships able to fire a broadside, and was a firm favourite of King Henry VIII. The ship sank accidentally during an engagement with the French fleet in 1545. Her rediscovery and raising were seminal events in the history of nautical archaeology. As well as providing information about the Mary Rose, its history and life on board, the website provides information on the Mary Rose Trust's educational activities and Mary Rose Archaeological Services Ltd.
National Maritime Museum
www.nmm.ac.uk
Website of the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, including its Collections Online.
Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology
www.hwtma.org.uk
The Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology promotes interest, research and knowledge of maritime archaeology and heritage in Great Britain, with core activities concentrated in the counties of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and the adjacent south coast areas. Its website has details of its research work and other projects, including educational initiatives such as lectures, seminars and publications.
If a mile is 1,760 yards, or 5,280 feet, what is a nautical mile?
6,076 feet
What is the nautical term meaning that something is at right angles to the keel of a boat, but not on the boat?
Abeam
It's often said (almost certainly wrongly) that the phrase, 'cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey', originated on board ship. What is the brass monkey supposed to be, according to this account?
A frame for storing cannonballs
Nautically speaking, what is a 'fluke'?
The end of an arm of an anchor
The phrase 'over a barrel' has a nautical origin. What was the barrel?
A cannon barrel
British naval vessels used to be rated according to the number of cannons on board. How many cannons did a 'first rate' vessel have?
At least 100