Interesting finds in 17th century wreck

By Gamini Mahadura

Around a hundred ships have been sunk in the sea between Galle and Hikkaduwa, according to UNESCO’s Asia Pacific Oceanic Archaeological Centre.

The skull of a female

It has identified as many as 26 places as ideal for research around the Galle port area. The centre is in charge of training divers and its first venture that came under scrutiny and research is located in close proximity to the Galle port. The research was on a ship that sank in 1659. The vessel belonged to the British East India Company since 1641 and named ‘John & Thomas’. Later it was christened as ‘Blessing’ and sent to Java and used for transport there.

In 1652 there was trade between the English and the Dutch and subsequently this ship and other ships were acquired by the Dutch East India Company which gave it a new name, ‘Avondster’. The ship was later utilized in the transport of butter, rice and oil to Ceylon and also transport of cinnamon and arecanuts to the Coromandel coast from here.

It is chronicled that the ship hit a rock after breaking its moorings while anchored in Galle harbour. It reportedly sank on July 2 ,1659 and was covered in sand to a height of around 12 metres. It remained in the sea bed for 343 years till it was located a kilometre off the Galle port.

Many items were found in the sunken ship. Among them were artillery shells, a beer goblet and pipes for smokers. Chief among the finds was the skull of a female. The discovery of the skull was a cause for concern as there was no record of any danger to passengers on the ship at the time the vessel sank.