A schoolboy's chance discovery of wooden ship ribs on a remote Orkney beach led archaeologists and local volunteers to identify a 250-year-old shipwreck as the Earl of Chatham, a former Royal Navy frigate.
The vessel, which played a role in the siege of Quebec during the Revolutionary War and later served as a whaler, was uncovered after a storm swept away sand on Sanday Island. Scientific analysis and community research were key in solving the mystery of the wreck, which had remained hidden for centuries. The find highlights the rich maritime history of the Orkney Islands and the value of community involvement in archaeological discoveries.
The shipwreck's identification sheds new light on Britain's naval and whaling past.
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