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First discovered nearly 30 years ago, the wreck of a ship that sank in Salcombe Bay, Devon, in 1633 has now been comprehensively re-examined in this new British Museum volume. On its discovery, the ship was found to be carrying a remarkable cargo, including more than 400 Moroccan coins, as well as large amounts of gold jewellery. While the sheer wealth of the discoveries led to speculation over whether it might be associated with a more marauding crew, recent research, as this book details, has discovered that it is actually the wreck of a Dutch ship named the Dom van Keulen, which was en route to Amsterdam from Safi in Morocco when it was lost during a storm.
This book provides a snapshot into life on board an early 17th-century trading vessel, analysing in depth some of the more intriguing finds from the wreck, including the gold objects but, perhaps more importantly, more everyday items as well. It also delves deeper at points, providing new insights into how this one shipwreck reflects the wider economy of the period.
REVIEW BY KK
From Morocco to the Coast of England: the story of the Dom van Keulen and its remarkable cargo
Venetia Porter and David Parham
British Museum, £40 or free eBook
ISBN 978-0861592388
