Maritime archaeologists at Bournemouth University have analyzed a 13th-century shipwreck found off the coast of Dorset in southern England, shedding light on the trade networks that supported the construction and decoration of many of England’s medieval religious monuments.
The 13th century was a period of relative peace and stability in medieval England, during which many large-scale construction projects, such as Salisbury Cathedral, were undertaken. Despite this, little is known about the medieval trade networks that facilitated these projects, largely due to the scarce archaeological evidence of cargo shipping.
“Thousands of tons of cargo were shipped daily around the shores and rivers of England during this period,” says Tom Cousins from Bournemouth University, the lead author of the research. “Although wrecks and shipping losses were common, very little archaeological evidence of the ships and trade networks survives.”
The wreck site on the seabed: A) the stone mound; B) mortars; C) grave slabs; D) articulated hull timbers (photographs A & B by Tom Cousins; C & D by Dan Pascoe). Photos courtesy Antiquity
To address this gap, Cousins analyzed one of the few known medieval shipwrecks in English waters from this period. Discovered in 1982, the wreck was only identified as a significant find in 2019 and designated a historic wreck in 2022. The results of the study have been published in the journal Antiquity.
The ship was found to have been transporting Purbeck stone and marble, a type of dark-colored limestone from southern England that can be polished to resemble marble. These qualities made it highly desirable for decorative use in cathedrals and for producing high-status objects such as grave slabs and mortars, examples of which were found in the wreck.
This ship was operating during the ‘golden age’ of Purbeck Marble, with construction projects such as Westminster Abbey ordering entire shiploads of the stone. It is believed that almost every English ecclesiastical building constructed between 1170 and 1350 incorporated Purbeck marble.
Location of the wreck, towns and geology associated with the medieval Purbeck stone industry. Image courtesy Antiquity
Importantly, the grave slabs found in the wreck had not yet been polished. The ship may have been en route to a large construction project or specialist workshops in London where the polishing could take place. This suggests that large, multi-stage trading networks existed in medieval England, facilitating the distribution of Purbeck stone.
The process of sourcing, transporting, and working this marble would have provided jobs for many people—from quarrying in Purbeck, Dorset, to shipping across rivers and coasts, and finally to processing and installation in castles, abbeys, and churches.
Simplified site plan of the wreck. Image courtesy Antiquity
Therefore, this medieval wreck offers a unique opportunity to examine not only the logistics of 13th-century shipping but also the livelihoods of many different people during this relatively poorly understood period.
“While the loss of the ship would have been devastating at the time, today the Mortar Wreck provides a unique opportunity to investigate a key period in European history,” concludes Cousins. “By studying the remains of the Mortar Wreck, we can learn more about technology and trade in the 13th century, as well as the activities of sailors and traders, their lives, and their environment.”
The article, “The Mortar Wreck: a mid-thirteenth-century ship, wrecked off Studland Bay, Dorset, carrying a cargo of Purbeck stone,” by Tom Cousins, appears in Antiquity. Click here to read it.
Maritime archaeologists at Bournemouth University have analyzed a 13th-century shipwreck found off the coast of Dorset in southern England, shedding light on the trade networks that supported the construction and decoration of many of England’s medieval religious monuments.
The 13th century was a period of relative peace and stability in medieval England, during which many large-scale construction projects, such as Salisbury Cathedral, were undertaken. Despite this, little is known about the medieval trade networks that facilitated these projects, largely due to the scarce archaeological evidence of cargo shipping.
“Thousands of tons of cargo were shipped daily around the shores and rivers of England during this period,” says Tom Cousins from Bournemouth University, the lead author of the research. “Although wrecks and shipping losses were common, very little archaeological evidence of the ships and trade networks survives.”
(photographs A & B by Tom Cousins; C & D by Dan Pascoe). Photos courtesy Antiquity
To address this gap, Cousins analyzed one of the few known medieval shipwrecks in English waters from this period. Discovered in 1982, the wreck was only identified as a significant find in 2019 and designated a historic wreck in 2022. The results of the study have been published in the journal Antiquity.
The ship was found to have been transporting Purbeck stone and marble, a type of dark-colored limestone from southern England that can be polished to resemble marble. These qualities made it highly desirable for decorative use in cathedrals and for producing high-status objects such as grave slabs and mortars, examples of which were found in the wreck.
This ship was operating during the ‘golden age’ of Purbeck Marble, with construction projects such as Westminster Abbey ordering entire shiploads of the stone. It is believed that almost every English ecclesiastical building constructed between 1170 and 1350 incorporated Purbeck marble.
Importantly, the grave slabs found in the wreck had not yet been polished. The ship may have been en route to a large construction project or specialist workshops in London where the polishing could take place. This suggests that large, multi-stage trading networks existed in medieval England, facilitating the distribution of Purbeck stone.
The process of sourcing, transporting, and working this marble would have provided jobs for many people—from quarrying in Purbeck, Dorset, to shipping across rivers and coasts, and finally to processing and installation in castles, abbeys, and churches.
Therefore, this medieval wreck offers a unique opportunity to examine not only the logistics of 13th-century shipping but also the livelihoods of many different people during this relatively poorly understood period.
“While the loss of the ship would have been devastating at the time, today the Mortar Wreck provides a unique opportunity to investigate a key period in European history,” concludes Cousins. “By studying the remains of the Mortar Wreck, we can learn more about technology and trade in the 13th century, as well as the activities of sailors and traders, their lives, and their environment.”
The article, “The Mortar Wreck: a mid-thirteenth-century ship, wrecked off Studland Bay, Dorset, carrying a cargo of Purbeck stone,” by Tom Cousins, appears in Antiquity. Click here to read it.
In 2022, this medieval wreck was given protection by the British government. Click here to read more about it.
Top Image: The three grave slabs observed on the wreck from the photogrammetry of the site (scales are 1m) – photo courtesy Antiquity
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