Research design

In 1994, a rationale for Stage 2 of the Pandora Project was formulated in a management plan, written by the Museum's Curator of Maritime Archaeology, Peter Gesner. Stage 2 was devised as a series of five major excavations to focus primarily on the stern and bow sections of the wreck-both areas were known to contain objects reflecting the personal lives and professional activities of a crew on a late 18th century British warship in the South Pacific.

Archaeological excavation there was expected to reveal evidence of "real life" material culture, objects in daily use during a period in British history which was undergoing far-reaching social and economic change-i.e. during the so-called "commercial revolution" which had given rise to a consumer society in Britain from around 1740, and was a pre-condition for the Industrial Revolution.

Analysis of the personal possessions and professional equipment used by the Pandora's crew presented an archaeological means to interpret the tastes and requirements of a typical late 18th century British naval crew. The artefact assemblage would provide useful evidence to assess to what extent seafarers-sub-cultural groups, also described as fringe dwelling groups-participated in, or were susceptible to, the same economic, social and cultural changes influencing other strata of late 18th century British society.

Methodology

Consolidating the excavation techniques and perfecting the artefact recovery procedures developed in the 1980s during the Pandora Project's exploratory expeditions (Stage 1), the excavation plan for Stage 2 envisaged five major seasons of excavation, primarily in the wreck's bow and stern sections

In 1995, it was thought that upon completion of three major seasons (1996-1998) in the stern area, a fourth season (1999) would see excavation start in the bow section; and perhaps also to begin on the area under the wrecked hull's stern, where it is was considered likely that objects that had toppled off the disintegrating upper deck would have been deposited.

A fifth season (2000) would continue in the bow and also envisaged a preliminary probe in the midship section. Here the expectation was to recover a representative sample of the items carried in the Pandora's holds (i.e. items reflecting the Pandora's nautical technology). Although information on this type of material was known to be of interest to nautical archaeologists and historians of science and technology, it was not given the same priority as the objects reflecting the Pandora's social fabric and crew's day-to-day life, known to be located predominantly in the stern and bow sections.

There were several good reasons to prioritise. One was because other, very comprehensive archival and printed sources about 18th century nautical technology existed; there was therefore less urgency to work amidships. It was felt that a small sample of material from the midship section would provide the desired information about nautical technology.

Another reason for prioritisation was the expense of fieldwork and conservation. It was estimated that at least A$3 million (in 1995 figures) would be needed to carry out a consecutive series over five excavation seasons (1996-2000) and to provide for conservation and curation. Also to provide for extensions of temporary staff contracts for several years beyond 2000, to continue assisting the Museum's Maritime Archaeology section with their stewardship, analysis, development and interpretation of the Pandora collection.