Act. 4.2 Exploring a Sunken Ship’s Hull

This picture shows a depiction of a sea monster, one of the perils faced by explorers. European seamen of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries had many reasons to fear a long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. Violent waves, frequent fogs, and strong winds tested the courage of even the bravest of sailing crews. Additionally, because their ships were dependent on favorable winds to propel them, sailors feared being caught in the doldrums, where they might drift hopelessly for several weeks. Probably the worst fear of all was the unknown. Sailors did not know what hardships lay ahead of them, exactly how to get to their destination, or how long it might take them. As a result, a number of superstitions developed about the ocean. Many tales described terrible creatures, gigantic enough to smash any ship and devour its crew. Other suggested that the sea to the south was boiling, and that it might be too hot for Europeans to live there. Despite all of these fears, several European expeditions ventured across the vast Atlantic starting in 1492.

This picture shows three divers investigating a shipwreck This picture shows three divers investigating a shipwreck. Excavating the contents of a sunken ship is an expensive and time-consuming process. The site is first divided into squares using water-resistant tubing. This creates a grid-like map, which allows archaeologists to carefully record the exact location of every object they find. Once an object's location has been noted, it is brought to the surface for further study. Bulky objects, like storage jars and cannons, often are raised by using baskets attached to balloons or other special equipment. Excavation can last anywhere from a few weeks to several years.

Answer the following questions in complete sentences: Which artifacts show what the trip on an explorer’s ship might have been like? Explain your choices. Which artifacts show what an explorer might have expected from his trip? Explain your choices. Which artifacts show where the ship originated? Where it had explored? Explain your choices. What do you think were the top five motives (reasons) fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Europeans went on voyages of exploration? Explain your answers.