UntitledBooks about maritime archaeological projects can be on the dry side for the uninitiated, and this one is no exception. However, this doesn't stop it being an invaluable case study for underwater archaeologists and naval historians.
The book is the culmination of 29 years' work by wreck licensee John Bingeman on the remains of an 18th century warship that had lain in the Solent for 220 years before being found in 1980. It is still there.
Bingeman, a founder-member of the Nautical Archaeology Society, obtained a protection order and set about diving the wreck. Built as a new type of 74-gun warship in France in 1747, she had been captured by the British three years later, her design forming the basis for a new generation of Invincible men-of-war.
Invincible sank off Portsmouth as part of an expeditionary force heading for Nova Scotia. Much of her equipment remained unsalvaged, and the belongings of the regiment she was carrying would be of particular interest to military historians.
Masses of material is crammed into this well-produced book, especially concerning the various artefacts recovered over 11 years.
An accompanying CD-Rom contains a spreadsheet recording details of all 11,500 bits and pieces, plus additional illustrations. The 2500 gun flints and 12,000 pieces of lead shot found are not itemised!
Don't expect a gripping narrative, but if what you want to know about Invincible isn't here, I daresay it's not worth knowing.
Steve Weinman
Oxbow Books
ISBN: 9781842173930
Hardback, 198pp, £40
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