As many as 26 Spanish Armada ships are known to have been shipwrecked along the Irish coast, 19 have been identified. There are a number of reasons why so many ships were sunk here. It was mainly due to the severe storms and weather conditions.

The objects recovered from the wreck of La Trinidad Valencera by the divers and underwater archaeologists are exciting because they tell us so much about the lives of the ordinary soldiers and sailors who were part of the Armada.

The study of this wreck and the others has changed the way we think about the Armada. For example we now know that the Armada had plenty of ammunition on board based on the amount found on the various shipwrecks.

Underwater Archaeology

How do Archaeologists work underwater?

Underwater archaeology is the same as land archaeology only wetter!
A number of different surveys were done on the site of La Trinidad Valencera

Visual survey taking in physical features of the reef
Underwater metal detector survey showing a large number of metal objects. Probe survey where a 2 cm pipe connected to a pump probed the sand to work out depths and find out what lay behind the surface

Methods of Underwater Archaeology
Archaeologists make a record of the wreck and the surrounding site.

During excavation the site is uncovered. The objects are recorded on a grid. This is also used to measure the objects. The finds are labelled and later taken to the surface if possible.

The grid is very important for the divers as it helps them to have a better understanding of where they are below water, especially if the visibility is poor. It also records where the different objects have been found in relation to each other.

They also use a side scan sonar, tools such as a trowel, brushes or even a fish slice for lifting fragile objects from the seabed. An airlift or a water dredge is used for removing shells, sand etc from around the objects. The water dredge is used for more delicate work and the airlift works like a wheelbarrow sucking up the debris and discharging it elsewhere.

Archaeologists can also use an underwater note-board with plastic drawing sheets and a pencil or felt tip pens to draw the objects they find.

The objects are also drawn when they are taken to the surface. Accurate measurements are taken and the archaeologist can learn a great deal from this process.

Conservation of objects

The objects recovered from La Trinidad Valencera had been lying on the bottom of the sea for almost 400 years.

What would happen when they were taken out of the water?

Can you think what types of material would survive best in water?

You must also remember that sea water contains salt and that might affect the objects too. Many organic objects were recovered from La Trinidad Valencera such as silk, leather and wood. These items had to be treated very carefully and conserved slowly. Wooden objects taken out of the sea, if allowed to dry out, will become distorted and cracked and lose their shape.

Iron objects taken out of the water and exposed to the air will turn brown within minutes, red within hours and a few days later the object will crack and leak a brown liquid. After a few months the object will have disintegrated into a mound of rust.