Guernsey Roman Shipwreck

• The Guernsey Roman Shipwreck nicknamed the ‘Asterix’, was found in the entrance to St. Peter Port Harbour in Guernsey.
• It was raised between 1984-1987. The vessel’s Timbers were restored at the Mary Rose Trust in Portsmouth.

Description

• The vessel dates from c.280 CE and caught fire and sank in the harbour entrance. This occurred during the Crisis of the Third Century (235-284 CE), when the Empire fragmented between rival contenders.
• It was a Roman Cargo vessel, built as a sea-going ship, and probably traveled from port to port along the coast. Although it was built 300 years later, it fits the description by Julius Caesar of Gallic vessels he encountered during the Gallic Wars.

Construction

• It was constructed of oak around 280 CE, in the Gallic Celtic style, by nailing Oak Timbers to approximately 40 oak Frames using iron nails without joints. Mediterranean vessels were built skin first.
• It was 72-82  feet (22-25m) long with a beam of  20 feet (6m), had a gunwhale height of 10 feet (3m), and it had a flat bottom.
• The single mast was located one third distance from the bows and had a height of approximately 43 feet (13m).
• The Finds indicate the possible existence of a small cabin in the stern, roofed with tiles.
• It also had a Bilge Pump with Bronze bearings.
• The food remains suggest that the vessel had a crew of three men.

Cargo

• It carried a cargo consisting of blocks of Pitch made from tree resin which has preserved a few items, including the Bilge Pump and Pottery from Germany and North Africa. However, the rest of the cargo appears to have been removed prior to the fire.
• One possibility is that the vessel was already empty, and deliberately anchored or run aground then set on fire and sunk, in order to block the harbour entrance.

Museums

• Fort Grey Shipwreck Museum.
  • Located in Fort Grey, Rocquaine Bay, St Peter’s, Guernsey.
  • The vessel is located temporarily in a building next to Guernsey Pearl, near to Fort Grey Shipwreck Museum.
  • The main timbers can be seen through a viewing window, next to a description of the vessel.
• Guernsey Museum
  • Located at Candie Gardens, St. Peter Port, Guernsey.
  • Guernsey Gallo-Roman Ship Finds from the vessel are in the Museum.

Guernsey Museum