More than a century after it sank to the ocean floor, scientists have discovered one of the most perfectly preserved shipwrecks in history. The HMS Endurance, the lost ship belonging to Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, was found last weekend at the bottom of the Weddell Sea at a depth of approximately three kilometres.
The ship was crushed by sea ice in 1915, and Shackleton and his crew were forced to make a quick and daring escape before the vessel sank to its watery grave. The wreckage had not been found despite many previous attempts, due to the harsh and hostile conditions often found on the ice-covered Weddell Sea.
A Hallmark Discovery for Marine Archaeology
“Without any exaggeration, this is the finest wooden shipwreck I have ever seen, by far,” marine archaeologist Mensun Bound, who is on the discovery expedition, told BBC News. “It is upright, well proud of the seabed, intact, and in a brilliant state of preservation.”
The 144-foot, three-mast ship was found about six-and-a-half kilometres from the last position that was originally recorded by Captain Frank Worsley. The expedition team used a South African icebreaker to cut through the sea ice, and then deployed underwater vehicles called Sabertooths, fitted with high-definition cameras and scanners, to comb the predetermined search area. After two weeks of searching, the team finally located the wreck on Saturday, which just so happened to be the 100th anniversary of Shackleton’s funeral.
An Extraordinary Tale of Survival
Shackleton’s 1914-16 attempt to become the first person to cross Antarctica via the South Pole failed – he never set foot on the continent. The 28 crew members were forced to abandon ship when the boat got trapped in the Weddell Sea ice and began to get crushed by an ice floe. After months spent in makeshift camps on the ice floes, the group set off in lifeboats for the inhospitable Elephant Island. Shackleton and five others then made an extraordinary open-boat journey, rowing more than 1,300 kilometres to reach South Georgia. Shockingly, no lives were lost in the months-long ordeal.
Shackleton và năm người khác sau đó đã thực hiện một hành trình phi thường bằng thuyền hở, chèo hơn 1.300 km để đến Nam Georgia. Điều đáng kinh ngạc là không có sinh mạng nào bị thiệt mạng trong thử thách kéo dài nhiều tháng.
Preserving the Wreck for Future Study
In a news release, the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust outlined how they located the wreck, emphasizing that “nothing was touched on the wreck” and “nothing retrieved.” British historian and broadcaster Dan Snow, who accompanied the expedition, stated that the wreck is protected by the Antarctic Treaty and the team had no wish to tamper with it.
The remarkable discovery of the HMS Endurance is a true hallmark in marine archaeology, providing a rare and invaluable glimpse into the past. The exceptionally well-preserved state of the wreck offers unparalleled opportunities for further study and understanding of this historic expedition and the challenges faced by Shackleton and his crew. This finding is a testament to the perseverance and determination of the expedition team, and a reminder of the enduring spirit of exploration that defined the Heroic Age of Antarctic Discovery.
