In February 2024, a significant archaeological find occurred on the island of Sanday in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. A storm exposed the remains of a wooden shipwreck, prompting a collaborative investigation by archaeologists, scientists, and local historians to uncover its identity.
Through dendrochronological analysis, which examines tree ring patterns to date wood, researchers determined that the ship was constructed from timber felled in southern England during the mid-18th century. This finding narrowed down the search to British vessels from that period.
Further research revealed that the ship was originally the 'HMS Hind,' a 24-gun Royal Navy frigate built in 1749. The 'HMS Hind' participated in significant military engagements, including the sieges of Louisbourg and Quebec in the 1750s and served as a convoy escort during the American Revolutionary War in the late 1770s. In 1784, the vessel was decommissioned and sold, subsequently being renamed the 'Earl of Chatham.' It was repurposed as a whaling ship, undertaking Arctic expeditions to hunt Greenland Right whales. The ship completed four Arctic whaling seasons before being wrecked in the Bay of Lopness off Sanday in March 1788. Remarkably, all 56 crew members survived the incident.
The discovery of the 'Earl of Chatham' highlights the rich maritime history of the Orkney Islands and underscores the importance of community involvement in archaeological research. The recovered timbers are currently preserved in a freshwater tank at the Sanday Heritage Centre, where they are accessible for public viewing and further study.