Mariposa B, early 16th century
Country: Italy
Place: Beachfront known as “La Mariposa”, near Alghero, north-western Sardinia, 60 m from Mariposa A
Coordinates (approximate): 40.5790, 8.3129
Type: Unknown; round ship of axial construction, similar to Mariposa A
Identified: No
Dated: Early sixteenth century; first thought slightly later than Mariposa A, but the two ships may have sailed together
Beam: Unknown.
Keel Length: Unknown.
Length Overall: Unknown.
Number of Masts: At least one; a mast step lies on the keelson amidships.
History of the wreck
Mariposa B was exposed by a violent storm in the spring of 1989, after the excavation of Mariposa A had begun along the beach called “La Mariposa”, near Alghero (Riccardi 1999: 279-280). It lies 60 m from Mariposa A. A preliminary excavation in 1990 uncovered more than 100 m² to collect dating evidence, and a total excavation began in 1994, with a possible recovery of the hull in view (Riccardi 1994: 134; Gavini 2013: 77).
The ceramics are of Ligurian and Pisan origin, with an achromatic pitcher of a type used in Spain for cooling water by evaporation, from the area of Córdoba and Málaga (Gavini 2013: 79). Mariposa B was first thought to be slightly later than Mariposa A, but more recent publications conclude that the two ships may have sailed together (Riccardi 1999: 282). The origin of the ceramics does not necessarily indicate where the ships were built.
See also the fiche of Mariposa A (Med297).
Description of the site
The wreck lies in shallow water a few metres from the beach. The ship settled almost on an even keel, so the hull survives on both sides beyond the turn of the bilge.
Figure 1. Site plans of the Mariposa B (above) and Mariposa A (below) wrecks (after Beltrame 2002: 385).
Cargo
Ceramics of various qualities, including the Spanish achromatic pitcher, large quantities of rope, unidentified leather, two bronze compasses in the stern, a fine fishing net, pieces of a sail and the remains of several firearms (Riccardi 1994: 134; Gavini 2013: 79).
Ballast
Not reported.
Anchors
Not reported.
Guns
The remains of several firearms were found (Riccardi 1994: 134).
Iron concretions
A gudgeon was found concreted to the sternpost (Riccardi 1994: 135, fig. 8).
Hull Remains
Mariposa B was built on an axial structure, with a keel, a round stem and a straight sternpost raking 80° from the keel. A section of false keel was noted toward the bow, following the curve of the stem (Virgilio Gavini, pers. comm.). The remains of a gudgeon concreted to the sternpost suggest a stern rudder (Riccardi 1994: 135, fig. 8).
An unusual feature is a circular hole through the hull several metres forward of the sternpost: a log with a hole through its centre was laid horizontally between the after Y-timbers, the planking was shaped around it, the hole was covered in pitch, and two wooden plugs were driven and caulked at its ends (Gavini and Silvetti 1999: 154-155). It was first related to quarter rudders abandoned in favour of the stern rudder, but the abrupt widening of the Y-timbers above the log would have prevented a quarter rudder. A similar feature exists on the eighteenth-century Dramont H wreck (Joncheray et al. 1993: 50). The hole was probably used to haul the vessel ashore, which may explain its position at the forward end of the deadwood, a strongly reinforced area; holes through the keel were used for this purpose on earlier Yenikapı vessels (Pulak 2018: 262).
Keel, keelson and mast step
The recessed keelson was bolted through the floor timbers to the keel. The mast step, amidships on the keelson, has two rebated mast partners on either side joined with dovetailed tenons; wedge-shaped chocks on the keelson form the mortise. No buttresses are visible on the site plan or in photographs. The square shape of the step is unusual, similar to the purported Woolwich ship (Riccardi 1994: 134, 136, fig. 9; Salisbury 1961: 85-86, fig. 1; Philip and Garrod 1983: 88-90, fig. 1).
Frames
The frames include two overlapping master floor timbers hook-scarfed to the futtocks, the overlap reinforced with four iron nails driven through and clenched (Virgilio Gavini, pers. comm.). The floor timbers are roughly square, except at the ends, where a rising is used to form the entrance and run. The room-and-space is two or three times the width of a floor timber (Riccardi 1994: 134, 136, fig. 9).
Planking
The planking is similar to that of Mariposa A, with the same thickness and half-log wales alternating with the upper strakes (Riccardi 1999: 281). Each plank is fastened with one iron nail and one or two treenails per frame.
Ceiling, thick stuff, and wales
Bilge stringers on each side cover the lower frame overlaps, and ceiling runs longitudinally between them and the keelson (Riccardi 1999: 281). Toward the stern, a lower wale (massane) runs from the sternpost toward midships (Riccardi 1994: 135, fig. 8).
Caulking
The hole forward of the sternpost was covered in pitch and its plugs were caulked (Gavini and Silvetti 1999: 154-155).
Size and scantlings
Sternpost raking 80°; room-and-space two or three times the width of a floor timber; planking as on Mariposa A (3-3.5 cm).
Wood
Not reported.
Bibliography
Beltrame, C. 2002. “Investigating processes of wreck formation.” [Full reference to be completed.]
Gavini, V. 2013. [Full reference to be completed.]
Gavini, V. Personal communication.
Gavini, V., and Silvetti, [initial not given]. 1999. [Full reference to be completed.]
Joncheray, J.-P., et al. 1993. [Full reference to be completed.]
Philip, [initial not given], and Garrod, [initial not given]. 1983. [Full reference to be completed.]
Pulak, C. 2018. [Full reference to be completed.]
Riccardi, E. 1994. [Full reference to be completed.]
Riccardi, E. 1999. [Full reference to be completed.]
Salisbury, W. 1961. [Full reference to be completed.]
Bendig, C. 2021. [Full reference to be completed.]