The Cargo

The cargo of the ship consisted of a few hundred "olive jars". Jars of this kind have been found in many different shipwrecks, usually Spanish, but also on terrestrial sites all over the world.⁶ The jars were not always used for olives or olive oil. The jars in BZN 10, for example, contained a mixture of what may be benthonite earth and urine. This kind of mixture was used in the processing of wool.⁷ The jars are preserved extremely well; even the organic baskets are left and the corks are still in their place, thanks to the soft and protecting soil of the Wadden Sea (picture 6). A few well-preserved oak casks in the wreck contained grapes and small fish bones. Another part of the hull, in the bow, had been reserved for pinewood boxes with schist slates of different shapes. At the site, there are also cooking gear, earthen- and stoneware, and nine iron canons with gun-carriers. The earthenware found on the surface of the wreck is dated between the 12th and the 19th century. This shows how dynamic the Wadden Sea and its currents are. Most of the earthenware, however, is from the second half of the 17th century and originates from northern Germany. It's local red earthenware, not to be used in trade. The mixture of finds from different origin and different periods is more a rule than an exception on shipwrecks in the Wadden Sea. Unused clay pipes marked EB and dated in the last quarter of the 17th century are found on at least four different shipwrecks in the Burgzand area, thanks to the high dynamics of tidal movements.⁸

During the valuation, a seed of a Central or South American palm (Orbigyna spec.) was found in the wreck (picture 7). How does a nut or seed like this end up in a shipwreck in the Wadden Sea? The first and obvious reason can be that the seed got to this place on the BZN 10 and sank with the ship. However, during valuation the site was not disturbed, and the seed was found on the sand surface. Orbygina nuts do have the ability to travel thousands of miles by ocean currents and it is possible that it drifted as far as the Wadden Sea. But there can also be another reason. Other Orbynina nuts, like the seed of the Cohune palm (Orbygina cohune), were shipped in World War I to England for the production of charcoal filters for gas masks. Was this also the case for this one? It will be difficult to find out the truth about this little nut. Striking however is the fact that two other Orbigyna nuts have been found in two different Dutch shipwrecks from the second half of the 17th century. These nuts clearly belong to the wrecks. What was the purpose of bringing these seeds into Europe? Hopefully one day we will know.

6. Olive jars of this type are found in the San Diego-wreck, The San Esteban (1554) and the Trinidad Valencera (1588).

7. The white paste still has to be examined.

8. Duco (1993). Even Roman ceramics are found on 18th century shipwrecks.