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Published Jul 6, 2022

The Wreck of the Mary Rose

Dive into the riveting history of the Mary Rose, King Henry VIII's ill-fated flagship, and discover how its rediscovery and excavation unearthed treasures that forever altered our understanding of Tudor naval life and 16th-century English society.
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  • Salvage

    The recovery of the Mary Rose was a monumental task, marked by significant technical and logistical challenges. explains that the ship could not simply be lifted from the seabed due to its fragile state, which required a specially designed steel cradle and airbags to safely raise it. This operation, conducted in 1982, was a historic event, even broadcasted live and attended by Prince Charles 1.

    The Mary Rose was an incredible discovery and its salvage and recovery are one of the greatest feats of underwater archaeology in history.

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    Once raised, the ship was transported to Portsmouth, England, where it faced new challenges in preservation 1.

       

    Preservation

    Preserving the Mary Rose after its recovery was an intricate and costly endeavor. details the extensive process, which included keeping the wooden hull moist and cold to prevent disintegration. From 1994 to 2016, the ship underwent treatment with polyethylene glycol to replace water in the wood, followed by a controlled drying phase 1.

    Preserving the hull of the ship turned out to be much more difficult and expensive than just raising it out of the water.

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    Today, the Mary Rose is displayed in the Mary Rose Museum, offering insights into 16th-century maritime life 1.

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