1986 expedition

The third Queensland Museum expedition was another national effort, funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments, and again under the leadership of the Queensland Museum's Maritime Archaeology Curator, Ron Coleman. Archaeological direction was by the West Australian Maritime Museum's Graeme Henderson, and co-direction by the Queensland Museum's Assistant Maritime Archaeology Curator, Peter Gesner. The expedition team was assisted by international volunteers from the UK-based youth adventure training organisation "Operation Raleigh". This was the largest expedition to the wreck to date, involving 37 divers, 17 ships' crew and 20 OR staff and volunteers ("venturers").

Objectives

Systematic excavation within the grid system was continued. In a six week period in October and November 1986, an extensive trench, encompassing grids 61 to 74, was erected and excavated.

Photogrammetry again featured significantly as a project during this season*. Several features of the preserved hull were shown prominently on a photomosaic of the excavated trench. Among the features clearly delineated on the photomosaic were the starboard edge of the sheathing, the starboard cant frames, inner planking, a lower deck lodging knee, a lower section of the mizzen mast, as well as several bolts used to fasten the deadwood to the keel. These bolts were considered a clear indication of the starboard heel of the hull. Upon measurement, the angle was found to be 34° (i.e. 34° off the vertical).

* McCafferty 1988. Bulletin AIMA Vol.12.1, 51ff

View graphic of site plan of the 1986 trench based on photo-mosiac . The graphic will open in a new window.

Findings *

Compared with the 1984 season, a similar diversity of artefacts was retrieved. Spanning areas within the confines of the hull remains, grids 69 to 74 contained a greater proportion of personal possessions. This was especially apparent in grids 69 and 70, where a cluster of artefacts was found that had been deposited on top of the (lower) deck planking, in an area that corresponded approximately with the aft-most cabin on the starboard side of the lower deck. This cabin was possibly assigned to the Pandora's second lieutenant (Robert Corner).

The timbers (outer planking and cant frames) uncovered in grid 71 during the 1984 season were re-exposed. More timbers were exposed in adjacent grid squares; grids 68 and 70 were particularly revealing in that they contained the wreck's first identifiable timbers, among which, a lower deck lodging knee, cant frames and ceiling planking.

Most importantly, grid 68 revealed the top edge of the uppermost run of starboard sheathing. This indicated that, in the starboard quarter, the hull was preserved from slightly above the waterline down to the keel. The sides of the hull along the port quarter in grid pair 73 and 74 were not exposed as remaining timbers and plank from the port side were obscured under sheets of crumpled sheathing.

Plots of artefact distribution in grids 61 to 74 revealed a similar deposition as the plots recorded during the 1984 season (i.e. greater concentrations of artefacts occurred closer to the starboard edge of the hull remains). This clustering was especially obvious against the inboard edge in grids 69 and 70. This suggested that, as the vessel disintegrated, objects in the wardroom and the second lieutenant's cabin had fallen onto the deck, clustering against cabin partitions or against the starboard side of the hull.

786 artefacts were retrieved (MA 1000-1790) over nearly six weeks of diving, compared with 256 in 1983, and 283 in 1984 (MA 500-778). Almost half of the 1986 collection came from grid pair 69 and 70.

Comparison of the artefact plots obtained during the 1986 and the 1984 seasons revealed differences between clusters from inside and outside the hull remains. The clusters found inside the hull remains were predominantly small and light, or were very large and heavy (e.g. cannon). Conversely, artefacts lying outside the hull were mainly ship fastenings or furnishings, such as heavy bolts, the bulkhead fireplace and a sandstone water filter (MA 1041). The latter had probably been installed in the great cabin on the upper deck.

The main difference appeared to be according to artefact type. The small, light artefacts found within the hull could predominantly be classified as personal possessions or as professional equipment-most probably belonging to the Pandora's officers. As far as the heavy artefacts within the hull remains were concerned-in particular the cannon-their deposition was easily explained: because of their weight, it was evident they had simply dropped down as the upper and quarter deck timbers weakened or disintegrated. They settled on top of, or next to, clusters of objects that had been kept in the spaces or cabins on the lower deck.

This also explained the dense cluster of artefacts found immediately around the cannon retrieved during the 1983 season, which appeared to have dropped from the upper deck onto an artefact cluster mainly containing surgeon's equipment (apparently the surgeon's cabin).

The ship fastenings and cabin furnishings from the upper deck-in particular the fireplace and the water filter-appeared to have been deposited outside the hull remains because of the starboard heel of the hull. Both the fireplace and water filter were most probably fitted in the "great cabin" on the upper deck; thus, with the disintegration of bulkheads it is likely they rolled across the upper deck and came to rest against the starboard side of the hull. Subsequently, when the hull's topsides disintegrated, they both dropped out of the exposed upper deck onto the seabed. The water filter may even have been installed on the quarterdeck.

The fireplace's position can be considered as particularly revealing, as it was found directly on top of the stock of the anchor which was dropped "underfoot" before the Pandora foundered. The level of the stock can also considered significant as it should be assumed to indicate the level of the seabed at the time of the wreck. The keel apparently came to rest between 10 and 11 metres from this anchor.

As far as smaller, lighter artefacts from upper deck levels were concerned, their apparent dearth outside the hull remains was not so easily accounted for. Several scenarios were considered. Most likely, they were dispersed by currents from the disintegrating hull; alternatively they have deteriorated completely. The fact that some small and light material was found clustered around the bulkhead fireplace may be an indication that large objects from the upper deck level acted as barriers, trapping some of the small and light material and thereby preventing them from being dispersed-possibly well offsite-by currents. Another possibility is that they have been swept under the stern of the hull where they were subsequently trapped by the final collapse of the starboard quarter. Excavation under the hull remains, especially under the transom, would determine whether this had been the case.

* See Gesner, 2000 (Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, Cultural Heritage Series, Vol.2) and Gesner, 1988 (ALMA Bulletin Vol 12.1 (27-36).