Arqueometalurgia de un sitio de naufragio del siglo XVIII: la corbeta de guerra HMS Swift (1770), Puerto Deseado, provincia de Santa Cruz (Argentina)

CIARLO, NICOLÁS C.

Archaeopress

Lugar: Oxford; Año: 2014 p. 226

978-1-4073-1228-6

This book presents the research results carried on the metallic artifacts from the sloop-of-war HMS Swift (1770), lost off Puerto Deseado (Santa Cruz province, Argentina). The shipwreck was found by local divers in 1982 and it has been subject of archaeological study since 1997, under the direction of Dolores C. Elkin (PhD, Argentinean National Research Council and National Institute of Anthropology). In particular, this study was framed in the research line of the ship technology and their social context. The research on the metallurgy of the site was defined by an interdisciplinary perspective, across two scientific specialities: 1) Historical Maritime Archaeology, focused on the study of human past activities related to aquatic and intertidal/foreshore contexts ―the maritime navigation has a highlighted place―, and for which written and other historical sources are available; and 2) Archaeometallurgy, that deals with the study of past knowledge and practices associated with the production, distribution, use and discard of metals ―usually by means of methods, techniques and analytical specific knowledge borrowed from other scientific fields, such as Materials Science, Chemistry and Engineering. The main goal of this work was to contribute to the current knowledge of the British metallurgy during the second half of the 18th century, especially regarding maritime craft by means of the analysis of a sloop-of-war. This was accomplished fulfilling four more specific aims: 1) typological (functional) and physico-chemical characterization of a wide sample of artifacts; 2) analysis of technical features of these objects, such as design, alloys, manufacture methods and, from the latter, their operability and specificity to the maritime environment; 3) examination of evidence related to transitional or novel technologies, repaired artifacts and recycling processes; and 4) articulation between the analyses data of the HMS Swift artifacts, the available historical sources, and the information from other archaeological and historical researches (on other contemporaneous shipwrecks). The studied artifacts belong to several categories: ship equipment ―related to the anchoring, pumping, and steering systems―; rigging components; artillery and personal weapons; furniture; utensils related to food and kitchen; clothing and uniform accessories; and some personal belongings. The macroscopic characteristics were examined, and recorded by means of photos and scaled drawings. A sample (about 22 % of the collection) for microstructural and chemical analysis was selected. The characterization was done by applying the following analytical methods and techniques: light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXRS), wavelength dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDXRS), and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF). The data from this study have allowed to obtain new information, and discuss some aspects, related to the ship?s technology and the artifacts used on board. The latter show a wide range of alloys and technical skills ―related largely to the different mentioned categories. Particularly, those which have a special relevance regarding the ship?s navigability, are technically complex ―in terms of knowledge, materials and personnel involved in its production― and have a notable specificity related to the environment (e.g. a relatively good resistance to marine corrosion). The macro and microstructural registered features are consistent with those of the chronological and socio-cultural context under study. Likewise, according to the available technology ―broadly defined―, the materials and thermo-mechanic treatments analyzed would have been coherent with the functional requirements of the artifacts. A few pieces have innovative features, some of which have been used as base for further technological developments.