Poole Museum is now displaying items recovered from the Mortar Wreck, the earliest English medieval shipwreck to be identified, first found off Studland in Poole Bay in 2020.
The exhibition follows a seven year regeneration of the museum and brings together finds uncovered by Bournemouth University maritime archaeologists.
The wreck was originally spotted by local charter boat skipper Trevor Small on the edge of the Swash Channel. Maritime archaeologists from Bournemouth University carried out a series of dives to investigate the site and raise material to the surface. Project lead Tom Cousins said the cargo now on display reflects two decades of work carried out by the university’s archaeology team.
Archaeology students at the university had the chance to dive the wreck as part of their degree. They used the site to develop underwater survey skills and gain experience in scientific diving during fieldwork training.
The display includes Purbeck stone mortars once used for milling grain and two Purbeck marble gravestone slabs preserved in good condition. Poole Museum Collections Officer Joe Raine said the museum was pleased to receive the artefacts and share the story of Purbeck stone trading and medieval shipping.
Further research shows the vessel was a clinker-built ship constructed from Irish oak felled between 1242 and 1265. A Time Team episode to be released on Saturday 29 November will follow the discovery, analysis and preparation of the finds now on show at the museum, presented by Derek Pitman who worked with the excavation team.
The Mortar Wreck exhibition is now available for visitors at Poole Museum.
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