|
| Bedwell Bay Mystery Wreck (November 1, 1999) |
|
 In 1994, the UASBC conducted research and produced a scale drawing of the Bedwell Bay Mystery Wreck as part of a report entitled Vancouver's Undersea Heritage. Author David Stone wrote that, based on the material record, the wreck was probably one of the few remaining examples of a historic turn of the century sealing schooner.After the legislated end of the pelagic seal trade in 1911, many schooner owners either cashed in on government compensation, or converted their vessels to steam power for the halibut fishery. When we surveyed the wreck in 1994, we found no evidence of propeller, engine, or boiler. However, onsite investigations indicate the rudder design as consistent with a powered vessel.  In 1997, we identified the propeller shaft's stuffing box during the fieldwork component of one of our NAS 2 courses. This discovery verified our assessment that the vessel was powered but was subsequently converted to sail. We intend to determine the identity of this potentially historic vessel and to undertake a comprehensive survey of the wreck. The survey component will be a test case for our recently acquired "Site Surveyor" direct measurement survey software. "Site Surveyor" uses a grid system to surround a wreck site. Each point on the wreck is plotted using measurements from at least four different datum points. In addition to being able to measure length and width, the program will also allow us to use depth measurements, thereby producing a three-dimensional site map.The 3D functionality of the program serves far more than aesthetic purposes. Many plan view drawings are unable to accurately depict the placement of a wreck, especially if the wreck lies in a gully or on a sloping seabed. By using depth measurements we can account for measuring inaccuracies caused by seabed slope. We can also create site maps indicating the precise placement of artefacts onsite, even if they lie at angles difficult to depict in plan view.  We also plan to conduct environmental data sampling tests. Environmental testing onsite will attempt to gather quantitative information to assist in the prediction of factors related to wreck site deterioration. Hopefully, it will be the beginning for a comprehensive database of information and a crucial part of BC's underwater archaeological record. Work on the project started on July 31, 1999. We began to layout a temporary gridwork around the wreck. This will eventually be replaced with a permanent grid of concrete reinforcing bar to aid trilateration. We will post updates to this page as they occur. 11 September 1999 - We discovered a large area of worm castings downslope from the wreck. Since the hull of the mystery wreck is upside-down, it is entirely possible that whatever superstructure the wreck had fell off the hull when she was turning turtle, probably close to the surface. The worm castings are all that remain. Based on the location of the worm castings, the wreck was probably rolling to port as she sank. We installed four control points running down the keel of the vessel.30 October 1999 - In addition to the existing four points on the keel of the vessel, we installed ten pieces of 3/8" concrete reinforcing bar around the perimeter of the wreck to serve as control points. The re-bar are coated with white anti-fouling paint to aid visibility in the murky conditions. The silt/clay sediment is very deep, over one meter in places, so we will probably have to reinforce some of the re-bar with a grout base. Our 27 November expedition will concentrate on gathering redundant measurements of the distances between control points so we can start plotting the wreck in the new year. Resources Underwater Archaeological Society of British Columbia |
| [back to top]
Copyright 2004 Benthic Canada. All rights reserved. Click here for terms and conditions. Comments, questions, suggestions? Click here to send us feedback. |