Cannon from 1619 shipwreck extracted from Bermuda harbor

In an ongoing exploration project in Castle Harbour, Bermuda, archeologists have been able to extract a 17th century cannon from the remains of the English merchant ship, Warwick.

The Warwick sank in 1619 during a hurricane. According to the Royal Gazette, the ship was unloading goods and passengers, and picking up tobacco before heading back to England. This shipwreck has been explored for several years now and the project, a partnership between Bermuda Maritime Museum and the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, is about to be completed, 2012 being the last year of excavation. The explorers' website notes the Warwick had planned to stop to bring "desperately needed supplies to the struggling Virginia colony of Jamestown," but did not complete her voyage, having come into contact with the massive storm. The captain of the ship had ordered it to be anchored in Castle Harbour, hoping this act would spare the ship from the hurricane's wrath; the crew prepped the ship and lashed down the cannons. Now one of those cannons has been brought to the surface. James Davidson discovered the cannon among the ship's remains, and the artifact has now been brought to the National Museum of Bermuda's Corange Conservation Lab. The ship's remains were discovered in 1967, but the current team did not get involved until 2008; all that remains of the ship is her starboard side, reported The Warwick Excavation team. In 1619 the shipwreck belonged to the 2nd Earl of Warwick, but in accordance with modern Bermudan law, the wreckage now belongs to Bermuda National Heritage. Much had already been salvaged by officials the year after the sinking occurred. Media reports note the ship's history is believed to date back to 1588. This 2011 article in the post-gazette gives some additional background on both the Warwick's history and the excavation process. For those interested in catching a glimpse of the Warwick, USA Today reports a luxury resort in Bermuda has a special package that allows guests to dive to see the shipwreck site; the offer is good until July 24.