Chrétienne K

Country: France

Place: Antheor, near Pointe des Sardinaux, on the rocky coastline

Type: Merchantman

Identified: Not identified by name

Dated: First half of the sixteenth century, per a 2008 revised dating sequence; a ceramic find was originally associated with Fréjus manufacturing of the late seventeenth century

Length Overall: Estimated 20-30 m

History of the shipwreck

Much like Pointe des Sardinaux, the rocky coastline and shallow reefs of Antheor, France, are a hazard to passing ships. Archaeologists have frequently visited this location, discovering shipwrecks as early as 1947. Among the hulls encountered, a lone anchor was found in the 1970s and subsequently used as a local dive destination; it still rests 41-42 m deep, half buried in sediment with its other fluke extending up. In March 1992, divers located a bronze breech-loading cannon nearby, prompting a further survey for hull remains. The after section of a ship and iron concretions were identified five days later, providing the impetus for an archaeological study (Lopez et al. 1994, 113).

Beginning in April, investigators spent 30 days cataloging the exposed finds and recording the surviving hull timbers. The team experienced great difficulty at the site due to high winds on the surface and surge on the seafloor. Archaeologists identified two other anchors nearby and recovered several breech blocks, a helmet, a fragment of an arquebus barrel, a sword hilt, and balance scales (Lopez et al. 1994, 119-20, 127).

Ceramic finds included bowls, jars, and jugs, with one jug having a twisted handle. Archaeologists originally associated this artifact with Fréjus manufacturing of the late seventeenth century, but excavations of a workshop in 2008 provided a much more reliable dating sequence. Based on these new findings, the Chrétienne K wreck was placed in the first half of the sixteenth century (Lopez et al. 1994, 128-9; Amouric and Vallauri 2007, 57; Amouric et al. 2016, 16).

Description of the site

Limited remains from the hull survive, owing to the little sand that covered the timbers (10-20 cm) and the strong current on site. Divers were also instructed by the survey permits not to disturb the wood, so recording of key features was minimal (Lopez et al. 1994, 113, 120).

Cargo

No cargo is described in the source text. Two additional anchors were found nearby, along with several breech blocks, a helmet, a fragment of an arquebus barrel, a sword hilt, and balance scales. Ceramic finds included bowls, jars, and jugs, with one jug having a twisted handle (Lopez et al. 1994, 119-20, 127-9).

Hull Remains

Keel

The keel was identified running along the center axis, with rabbets cut along its upper edges for the garboard. No remains were located for the bow or amidships, and the sternpost was gone, with only fragments of the rudder found nearby (Lopez et al. 1994, 120, 122).

Frames

Floor timbers overlapped with futtocks to create the frames, but these timbers are not scarfed together; instead there is an overlap, a tapered overlap, or a recess carved into the floor timber to accommodate the futtock. Each overlap is fastened with two round iron fasteners driven through and clenched on the opposite side. Scantlings suggest both floor timbers and futtocks are relatively square. Floor timbers are spaced slightly more than their average width and bolted to the keel (Lopez et al. 1994, 120, 122).

Planking

Surviving elements of the garboard and planking suggest they averaged 20 cm in width and were fastened to the frames using two or three iron nails per station (Lopez et al. 1994, 122).

The hull suggests a flat floor and round bilge amidships, and investigators believe the ship was 20-30 m in overall length.

Size and scantlings

Estimated overall length: 20-30 m. Floor timbers and futtocks are relatively square in section. Garboard and planking averaged 20 cm in width.

References

Lopez, [initials not given], et al., 1994. “L'épave post-médiévale Chrétienne K”

Amouric, H., and Vallauri, L., 2007.

Amouric, H., et al., 2016.