'Wrecked British ship' found off India

Wreck was found on a major trade route

By Ayanjit Sen BBC reporter in Delhi

Indian archaeologists say they have found the remains of a 18th Century ship in the Arabian Sea.

They say it is likely to be the Princess Royal - a British vessel which sank on its way from South-East Asia to Europe.

The remains were found near the uninhabited island of Bangaram in the Lakshadweep archipelago off India's western coast.

Excavations show the coral reef to be littered with chinaware and other artefacts near the hull of the ship.

Historians say the Lakshadweep islands - which lie directly on the trade route between Africa, Arabia and the Malabar coast - were a landmark for ships sailing in the Arabian Sea over the centuries.

Investigations

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Indian navy conducted underwater investigations last month near Bangaram island, more than 450 kilometres from the Indian coast.

The nature of the cargo suggests that the ship was coming from ports in South-East Asia

Alok Tripathi, Archaeological Survey of India

Though some debris from the ship has been retrieved, the archaeologists say there are no plans to bring the wrecked ship itself to the surface.

The head of ASI's underwater archaeology wing, Alok Tripathi, told the BBC that the name of the ship was found on its bell, which had been recovered.

"Debris of the ship is strewn over a huge area ranging to [a depth of] 36 metres under the sea, but some parts of the vessel may be there even deeper," he said.

Mr Tripathi, who examined the wreckage along with other divers, said the excavation team had found objects made of copper, iron, wood, glass, stone and terracotta.

He said a number of jars, bowls, dishes, wooden planks and ropes had also been found.

British stamp

He said a huge iron anchor, nearly five metres in length, and four cannons, some two metres long, had also been identified.

Most of them are still well preserved. One of the cannons seems to bear an inscription, which is being studied by archaeologists.

Divers are continuing their search

"The nature of the cargo suggests that the ship was coming from some ports in South-East Asia," said Mr Tripathi.

Blue and white chinaware found among the debris dates back to the 16th Century, he said.

Archaeologists say two different stamps are visible on a torn piece of copper sheet which was once used to cover the hull of the wrecked ship.

They say, when compared, the letters on these stamps closely resemble letters used by British silversmiths in the 18th Century - suggesting the ship was indeed British.

It is believed the ship may have sunk in rough weather or because of a navigator's fault.

Indian archaelogists hope to uncover further remains of the ill-fated vessel.