Zanoni 1867: an experimental construction

Abstract

The loss of the Zanoni in South Australian waters in 1867 is intriguing for a number of reasons. Why did a vessel only sixteen months old capsize in the reasonably sheltered Gulf of St Vincent? With all crew surviving and furnishing the South Australian Government with a good description of its location, why were the Marine Board and other searchers unable to find the wreck? For archaeologists the Zanoni is a rare representative of a 'composite' constructed vessel, and it is currently the only example of this type of nineteenth- century construction to have been found in Australian waters in relatively good condition. From artefacts recovered from the site, it is also apparent that the possessions and equipment of the crew are still on board as they were unable to save anything when the barque capsized and sank during a storm. The material evidence of ships' crews is often difficult to distinguish in the archaeological record, and the Zanoni offers a rare chance to study aspects of shipboard life in detail.