The objectives of the expedition conducted in the spring of 1995 were twofold: to evaluate and identify the site based on its visible surface components and to protect it from natural elements likely to promote its erosion and destruction. Directed by Marc-André Bernier of Parks Canada, the fieldwork took place from May 22 to June 16, 1995 and lasted a total of 20 days. Twenty-one volunteer recreational divers from the North Shore took part in the project. Beforehand, they were given basic training in underwater archaeological mapping during the introductory underwater archaeology course designed by the Nautical Archaeological Society (NAS) of Great Britain (see Diver Training (1997)).
A large part of the 1995 field season was devoted to mapping the site. The resulting plan provided a clear understanding of the site's extent and made it possible to precisely locate artifacts that would be removed. Since part of the site was buried in sand, a metal detector was also used to determine its limits. One section of hull measuring at least 9 metres long by about 1.5 metres wide was identified. Artifacts and various samples were collected during the expedition. Only endangered objects were removed since it was important to keep the site and its components intact for future excavations. A surprising variety of firearms was found. For example, the 6 buttstocks examined were all different from one another. Some of the 24 guns uncovered even bore marks that were typical of initialled or made-to-order personal weapons.
The archaeologists also recovered or identified the following artifacts: 9 potsherds, including a cup, 2 wine bottles, 4 pieces of leather shoe soles, pig and cod bones, a lead oil lamp, 2 cauldrons, a dead-eye for attaching rigging lines, pieces of rigging, a pipe, some bricks, a spoon, a pewter porringer, a belt buckle, a brass ornament from a powder horn and several tools, including an axe.
 | The ear, or handle, of this porringer bears an escutcheon flanked by two dolphins. The letter "M" is clearly visible on the escutcheon, immediately above two other letters, "I" and "S" placed side by side. This pyramid arrangement was commonly used to inscribe the initials of a husband and wife. Since the "M" corresponds to the first letter of the husband's last name, his initials were "I.M." and those of his wife, "S.M." This porringer provided one of the keys to the ship's identity (see Identification of the Shipwreck). |
At the end of the excavation, close to 500 sandbags were placed at strategic locations to check erosion until the next archaeological expedition. They were intended, among other things, to protect the ship's hull. Pieces of geotextile were also spread over the site.
Conservation of Objects in the Field
The old fish farm in Baie-Trinité served as a field laboratory from 1995 to 1997. It was used by the archaeologists and especially the conservators. The building had the advantage of offering a large work area and about 20 rinsing tanks, which could be used for desalinating the objects removed from the shipwreck on a daily basis. Artifacts made from a specific material (e.g. wood, metal, glass or baked clay) or from composite materials (e.g. metal and wood), such as firearms, were treated in separate tanks.
