Scientists have finally managed to learn the story of a ship that ran aground off the coast of England 350 years ago and has been a great mystery since its discovery, announced the government’s heritage protection agency Historic England.

A ship discovered in 2019, nicknamed the “Unknown Wreck of Eastbourne”, and found near this town located in the southeast of England, has been identified as the “Klein Hollandia”, a Dutch warship that was sunk by a surprise attack by the English in 1672. reports Agerpres.

The shipwreck, located at a depth of 32 meters, was identified by a team of researchers from Historic England with the help of Dutch colleagues in collaboration with experts in underwater archaeology.

“The condition of the wreck is excellent and can give us a lot of information about how 17th century Dutch ships were built and the activities on board,” Historic England said in a statement.

According to the British agency, scientists discovered “a large part of the wooden hull, cannons, Italian marble slabs and pieces of Italian ceramics” under the water. The researchers analyzed them to identify the craft.

Anglo-Dutch wars

The “Klein Hollandia”, which fought in all the major battles of the Second Anglo-Dutch War of 1665-1677, sank with a cargo of marble slabs used in the construction of houses.

The ship was sailing from the Mediterranean and heading for the Netherlands when it was attacked and seriously damaged by an English squadron.

After the captain was killed in action, the English boarded the Klein Hollandia but drowned along with the Dutch sailors when the ship sank, Historic England reported.

A surprise attack would have triggered the Third Anglo-Dutch War, part of a series of conflicts, mainly naval, fought between 1652 and 1784 following trade and colonial conflicts.