The Wreck’s Discovery and Excavation
- The Mary Rose was rediscovered in the Solent in 1971.
- A massive archaeological project from 1979 to 1982 raised the ship and recovered thousands of artifacts.
Structural and Technical Analysis
- Examination of the hull showed modifications that affected stability, including the addition of heavy guns.
- The ship’s gunports, originally designed for sea battle, could let in water if opened improperly.
Possible Causes of the Sinking
Overloading and Top-Heavy Design
- By 1545, the Mary Rose had been fitted with more and heavier cannons.
- This increased her weight and raised her center of gravity, making her vulnerable to capsizing.
Open Gunports and Water Ingress
- Some theories suggest the gunports were opened while the ship was heeling in a sharp turn or due to the wind.
- Water flooded the ship rapidly through the open ports.
Maneuvering Error
- The ship may have made a sudden turn to engage the enemy or avoid fire.
- Combined with the unstable load, this could have caused her to heel beyond recovery.
Weather Conditions
- Some reports suggest gusts of wind contributed to the instability.
- The combination of wind, movement, and heavy artillery made control difficult. shutdown123