Bacàn 2, 1420s
Country: Italy
Place: Near the inlet to the Venetian lagoon, close to the island of Sant’Erasmo
Coordinates (approximate): 45.4344, 12.4171
Type: Probably a marano (marrano), a flat cargo carrier with two lateen sails
Identified: No
Dated: 1420s, by radiocarbon dating of wood samples
Beam: Unknown.
Keel Length: Unknown.
Length Overall: Unknown.
Number of Masts: Unknown.
History of the wreck
Two wrecks were found near the inlet to the Venetian lagoon during archaeological monitoring of the canal management works, and were inspected between 2004 and 2010 under the Magistrato alle Acque-Consorzio Venezia Nuova and the Superintendence for the Archaeological Heritage of the Veneto (Medas 2012b: 78; Medas 2012a: 115-117).
Bacàn 2 was identified in 2006, with a stone cargo like that of Bacàn 1, and became part of the same monitoring and excavation project in 2009-2010. Most of the work concentrated on Bacàn 1; Bacàn 2 was only excavated to a limited extent in the last season, in 2010 (Medas 2012a: 117-118). Both ships are thought to have been marani (marrani), flat cargo carriers with two lateen sails, heavily loaded with stone, lost while trying to enter the channel in heavy seas (Medas 2012a: 124).
See also the fiche of Bacàn 1 (Med286), found nearby.
Description of the site
The wreck lies near the lagoon inlet, on the edge of an ancient channel. Cross currents caused by the canal works and nineteenth- and twentieth-century jetties left no stratigraphy, and the site was scoured and reburied repeatedly (Medas 2012b: 79, 82). After recording, the wreck was covered with geotextile, welded mesh and sandbags and left in situ (Medas 2012a: 117-118).
Cargo
Stone slabs.
Ballast
Not reported.
Anchors
Not reported.
Guns
Not reported.
Iron concretions
Not reported.
Hull Remains
Less was recorded than for Bacàn 1, but the remains suggest a similar construction (Medas 2012a: 122).
Keel, keelson and mast step
The keel is rectangular and much thicker than that of Bacàn 1, with rabbets for the garboards. Too little of the ends survives to say anything about the posts (Medas 2012a: 122). The keelson is not reported.
Frames
The frames are similar to those of Bacàn 1, with floor timbers of the same size and slightly larger futtocks, which act as half-frames butting against each other over the keel (Medas 2012b: 81-82).
Planking
The surviving planks suggest a thickness and a hull shape similar to Bacàn 1, with a flat floor and a round bilge (Medas 2012b: 81-82).
Ceiling, thick stuff, and wales
Not reported.
Caulking
Not reported.
Size and scantlings
No measurements are given; the keel is described as much thicker than that of Bacàn 1.
Wood
Not reported; wood samples were used for radiocarbon dating.
Bibliography
Medas, S. 2012a. [Full reference to be completed.]
Medas, S. 2012b. [Full reference to be completed.]
Bendig, C. 2021. [Full reference to be completed.]