Abstract
On 28 April 1656, the Vergulde Draak was shipwrecked on the Western Australian shore after it struck a reef north of the present-day town of Seabird. This article presents the results of an investigation in the vicinity of the wreck site to identify any potable water resources for the sustenance of the 68 survivors. From historical documents it is known that hardly any provisions could be rescued from the ship, so the survivors were reliant on finding water on land. There is no surface water in the immediate vicinity of the wreck. The chemical characteristics of three intertidal springs, as well as the Indian Ocean, were documented. Enough freshwater discharged from two of the three springs to cause a decrease of the salinity and pH, and an increase of the temperature, of the ocean water over a distance along the shore of 100 m. The chloride concentrations of the springs ranged between 3 and 6.5 g/L, and the shipwreck survivors might have resorted to drinking this brackish water. It is also possible that they collected rainwater or tried to dig a well in the dunes, where slightly brackish groundwater was found during the present study. Only future archaeological discoveries can provide certainty, but, albeit suboptimal, the beach offered at least some water resources for a survivor camp.
Résumé
Le 28 avril 1656, le Vergulde Draak a fait naufrage sur la côte ouest de l’Australie après avoir heurté un récif au nord de l’actuelle ville de Seabird. Cet article présente les résultats d’une enquête menée à proximité du site de l’épave afin d’identifier toute ressource en eau potable pour la subsistance des 68 survivants. D’après des documents historiques, on sait que presque aucune provision n’a pu être récupérée du navire, de sorte que les survivants devaient trouver de l’eau à terre. Il n’y a pas d’eau de surface à proximité immédiate de l’épave. Les caractéristiques chimiques de trois sources intertidales ainsi que de l’océan Indien ont été documentées. Il apparaît que le débit de deux des trois sources suffisait à provoquer une diminution de la salinité et du pH, et une augmentation de la température, de l’eau de l’océan sur une distance de 100 m le long du rivage. Les concentrations de chlorure des sources variaient entre 3 et 6.5 g /L, et les survivants du naufrage auraient pu avoir recours à cette eau saumâtre. Il est également possible qu’ils aient recueilli l’eau de pluie ou tenté de creuser un puits dans les dunes, où des eaux souterraines légèrement saumâtres ont été trouvées au cours de la présente étude. Seules les découvertes archéologiques futures peuvent fournir une certitude, mais, la plage a offert quelques ressources en eau pour un camp de survivants, même si ce n’était pas la solution optimale.
Resumen
El 28 de abril de 1656, el Vergulde Draak naufragó en la costa de Australia Occidental después de chocar con un arrecife al norte de la actual ciudad de Seabird. En este artículo se presentan los resultados de una investigación realizada en las proximidades del lugar del naufragio para identificar cualquier recurso de agua potable para el sustento de los 68 supervivientes. A partir de los documentos históricos se sabe que apenas se pudieron rescatar provisiones del barco, por lo que los supervivientes dependían de encontrar el agua en tierra. No hay agua de superficie en las inmediaciones del naufragio. Se documentaron las características químicas de tres manantiales intermareales, así como del Océano Índico. La descarga del agua dulce de dos de los tres manantiales fue suficiente para provocar una disminución de la salinidad y el pH, y un aumento de la temperatura, del agua del océano en una distancia a lo largo de la costa de 100 m. Las concentraciones de cloruro de los manantiales oscilaban entre 3 y 6.5 g/L, y los supervivientes del naufragio podrían haber recurrido a beber esta agua salobre. También es posible que recogieran agua de lluvia o intentaran cavar un pozo en las dunas, donde se encontró agua subterránea ligeramente salobre durante el presente estudio. Sólo los futuros descubrimientos arqueológicos pueden aportar certeza, pero, aunque no sea óptimo, la playa ofrecía al menos algunos recursos de agua para un campamento de supervivientes.
摘要
1656年4月28日,Vergulde Draak撞到了今天的Seabird镇以北的珊瑚礁,在西澳大利亚海岸失事。本文介绍了在沉船地附近进行的调查结果,以确定用于维持68名幸存者生存的饮用水资源。从历史文献中得知,几乎没有任何物品可以从船上营救出来,因此幸存者只能依靠在陆地上寻找水。沉船地附近没有地表水。记录了三个潮间带泉水以及印度洋的化学特征。从三个泉水中的两个泉水中排出的大量淡水会在沿海岸100 m的距离内引起海水盐度和pH值的降低以及温度的升高。泉水的氯化物浓度在3至6.5 g/L之间,沉船幸存者可能会饮用这类微咸水。他们也有可能收集雨水或试图在沙丘中挖井,在本研究中发现该处的水是偏微咸。只有将来的考古发现可以提供确定性结果,尽管不是最佳选择,但是海滩至少为幸存者营地提供了一些水资源。
Resumo
Em 28 de abril de 1656, o Vergulde Draak naufragou na costa oeste australiana após atingir um recife ao norte da atual cidade de Seabird. Este artigo apresenta os resultados de uma investigação nas proximidades do naufrágio para identificar quaisquer fontes de água potável para a subsistência dos 68 sobreviventes. A partir de documentos históricos, sabe-se que quase nenhuma provisão pode ser recuperada do navio, de modo que os sobreviventes dependiam de água encontrada em terra firme. Não há água superficial na vizinhança do naufrágio. As características químicas de três nascentes intermarés, assim como do Oceano Índico, foram documentadas. Água doce suficiente é descarregada de duas das três nascentes para provocar uma diminuição da salinidade e do pH, e um aumento na temperatura, da água do oceano em uma distância de 100 m ao longo da costa. As concentrações de cloreto nas nascentes variaram de 3 a 6.5 g/L, e os sobreviventes do naufrágio podem ter recorrido a essa água salobra para beber. Também é possível que eles tenham coletado água da chuva ou tentado escavar um poço nas dunas, onde o presente estudo encontrou água ligeiramente salobra. Apenas descobertas arqueológicas futuras poderão confirmar, mas, embora aquém do ideal, a praia fornecia pelo menos alguns recursos hídricos para um campo de sobreviventes.
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Acknowledgements
Special thanks goes to Bob Sheppard for sharing his knowledge of the area and his indispensable help with the fieldwork. We would also like to thank UWA students Ross Bertinshaw, Jayden van Beek, Corey Walsh and Steven Wells, as well as Kimberlee Adams, Zac Sheppard, Ian McCann and Thomas Whitley. Thanks goes out to Pauline Treble for sharing her knowledge of the palaeoclimate of the study area.
Funding
We acknowledge the generous support for this project from Australian Research Council (Linkage Project LP130100137) and from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Canberra (2014 Dutch-Australian Cultural Heritage Initiatives scheme).
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Post, V.E.A., Salmon, U. & van Duivenvoorde, W. The intertidal springs near the Vergulde Draak 1656 wreck site, Western Australia: hydrogeological characteristics and archaeological significance. Hydrogeol J 28, 2071–2084 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02173-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02173-3