A team of underwater archaeologists has located a set of 27 large cannons in the Bay of Cádiz, belonging to a 17th-century French warship. The pieces, in a good state of preservation, were discovered during an excavation focused on historical shipwrecks. The finding sheds new light on the French naval presence in the region during that period.
Naval technology and preservation of the pieces ⚓
The cannons, made of bronze and wrought iron, feature casting marks and decorations that allow them to be dated between 1650 and 1700. Their size indicates they belonged to a frigate or ship of the line. The state of preservation is remarkable thanks to the layer of marine concretions that protected them from corrosion. Archaeologists plan to apply electrolysis techniques to stabilize the metal before its public exhibition.
France armed to the teeth... at the bottom of the sea 🤿
It seems the French of the time had a curious naval strategy: dropping all the weaponry into the water to lighten the ship. Twenty-seven lost cannons are a lot of cannons. Perhaps the captain thought that if he couldn't see them, the English couldn't either. Good thing the archaeologists have now rescued them, because otherwise, someone might have tripped over them while paddle surfing.