A schoolboy's chance encounter with wooden ribs protruding from a remote Orkney beach led to the identification of a 250-year-old shipwreck as the Earl of Chatham, a former Royal Navy frigate.
Archaeologists and local volunteers combined scientific analysis with historical research to solve the mystery, revealing the ship's storied past, including its role in the siege of Quebec and later as an Arctic whaler. The wreck was uncovered after a storm swept away sand on Sanday Island in February 2024. This discovery highlights the value of community involvement in archaeology and sheds light on Britain's maritime history.
The find has sparked renewed interest in the region's rich nautical heritage.
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