1984 expedition
Exploratory archaeological fieldwork continued in November 1984, carried out by a team similar in composition to the 1983 QM team. It was led by the QM's Maritime Archaeology Curator Ron Coleman, and archaeologically directed again by the Western Australian Maritime Museum's Graeme Henderson.
Objectives
A systematic approach to excavation was adopted. The site was divided into grid squares, each measuring 2 x 2 metres. The grids consisted of rigid aluminium angle-line lengths, fitted over vertical aluminium grid reference poles; each grid was cut, mitred and welded to form exact 2 x 2 metre squares. "Sleeved" over four vertical poles, the grid squares could be bolted to each other on any side; thus allowing for pairs extending along the site's X-axis or Y-axis. No more than five grid pairs were set up at anyone time; for instance, grids 1-10 or 5-14. These squares were used as fixed reference areas, and acted as a focal point for the excavation teams; each team generally "adopting" one or two grids for a number of days to excavate in.
As excavation progressed toward the centre of the site and closer to the assumed edge of the hull remains, increasing concentrations of artefacts were uncovered in grids 31-34 and 47-52. Once again all artefact clusters were located in the top sediment layer (i.e. excavation did not go deeper than 0.5 metres into the sediment).
View graphic of the 1984 site plan Grid. The graphic will open in a new window.
Findings
Excavation started in grid 1 and-as grid frames were added to grids 1 and 2-systematically moved along the site's Y-axis.
Although grid pair 1 and 2 lay at least 12 metres to the south-east of the assumed edge of the hull remains, it had deliberately been selected as the starting point because allowance had to be made for the known starboard tilt of the hull. It was assumed that this tilt would have caused deposition of artefacts well outside the preserved starboard edge of the hull as objects toppled out of the disintegrating upper deck levels. Also taken into consideration was the effect of tidal currents, which may have swept artefacts from the hull, depositing them well away from the hull.
Among the objects located directly to one side of the wreck remains was a bulkhead fireplace (MA 780), which was uncovered lying directly on top of the anchor adjacent to the stern post. The fireplace's location was considered an important clue in the analysis of the hull's disintegration sequence.
The 1984 season demonstrated that artefact retrieval within the grid squares was a useful approach. Artefact plots revealed progressively larger concentrations closer to the assumed edge of the hull remains. Most importantly, the expected outline of the stern section of the wreck was confirmed in grid 71, where the first of the Pandora's surviving timbers were uncovered on the last day of excavation-they were later identified as ceiling, frames and outer planking.
250 stereo pairs were taken, covering 1000 square metres of the wreck site.
In addition to the completion of this (stereo) photography coverage that had been started during the 1983 expedition, the 1984 team was able to complete a shallow seismic survey across the entire site. Using 3.5 KHz sub bottom profiling equipment, this survey was conducted by consultants Dr David Johnson and Kevin Hooper from James Cook University's Geology Department.
This seismic survey delineated a "tapering, tubular object beneath the site" and concluded that "while it is possible that this object represents buried coral growth or fallen reef blocks, it is most likely to be the remains of the ship now covered by surficial sands up to 4 metres deep".