A late 16th or early 17th century wooden, carvel-built shipwreck is partially exposed at Goodwick Sands. The wreck was first reported by a member of the public in May 2012, and subsequently visited by Dyfed Archaeological Trust (DAT report in Arfordir Coastal Heritage, 2012-13: 8-10). The site was re-visited by the RCAHMW on 05/11/2021 as part of the CHERISH project and was found to have a similar exposure to that seen in 2012. Further RCAHMW visits took place on 04/03/2022 during which a photogrammetry survey of the wreck was completed (links below), and on the 05/07/2023 to undertake a probe survey as a means to assess the likely extent of the buried remains. Two further RCAHMW site visits were conducted in August and November 2025 for the purpose of timber sampling, and to better understand the constructional features of the wreck.
Archaeological Description
The wreck lies in a shallow pool of water, within a generally flat, sandy foreshore. It is orientated roughly west/east over a length of 14.3m, and a width of 4-5m. The coherent hull extent can be traced for a length of 13m, with a further buried area of timbers located at the western end of the wreck, outboard of the coherent structure. The wreck is characterised along its northern side by a curve of exposed frame ends and associated outer-planking and ceiling-planking. To the south of this, are a line of degraded timber ends. The western end of the site is slightly more scoured and has the remains of plank hood-ends indicating a definitive 'end' of the ship, at present it is not clear if this is the bow or the stern. The probe survey conducted by the RCAHMW in 2023 indicates that with the exception of the buried timbers at the western end of the site, there is no further material around the wreck. The same survey demonstrated a depth of sediment in the middle of the site of up to1.25m, under which there is further wooden structure. The timber-ends along the southern side of the wreck have a gentle curve to their alignment and are interpreted as cross-beams (rather than posts along the centreline of the original vessel). As such, the original ship is heeled over on one side, with a large proportion of that side preserved within the sediment.
The cross-beams comprise two large squared timbers and nine smaller ones. The two larger beams are 140-150mm square and 1.8m apart. In the context of the original ship structure, these cross-beams seem likely to be the beams forming a cargo hatch within the deck of the ship. A further eight posts, three to the west, and five to the east, are 110-120mm square, on 0.5-0.6m centre-to-centre spacings. A ninth post, is located to the north of the eastern large cross-beam. A plank edge, c. 1" (254mm) thick, was recorded on the southern side of the two large cross-beams, in the location consistent with decking in the original ship. The end of a probable lodging knee was also located within the sediment on the eastern side of the eastern larger cross-beam.
A line of frame ends is exposed in a curve along the northern side of the wreck, with associated outer-planking and ceiling planking. The exposed material on the northern side of the wreck is very degraded and subject to heavy teredo (shipworm) infestation, making it impossible to measure frame dimensions or discern their disposition. A frame from the western end of the site was sampled in November 2025 which was 5.5" (140mm) sided and 5" (125mm) moulded. Treenails for securing outer-planking were preserved that were 1.25" (32mm) diameter, with plain heads, and spaced at 4"-5" (100-125mm) intervals along the frame.
All of the outer-planking recorded in this area and at the western end of the site (below) was carvel-laid, with no evidence of clinker fastenings. Outer-planking in the midships area of the wreck was sampled in November 2025, and was 8.5" (216mm) wide and 1.5" (38mm) thick. At the western end of the wreck a section of a hood-end plank was sampled in November 2025, which was 13" (330mm) wide and 1.5" (38mm) thick. This had been fastened to the stem/stern post with iron nails at c. 5" (c.125mm) intervals. Only the holes from these remained, indicating a c. 0.25" (6-7mm) square shaft, with recessed heads on the outboard side of the plank. The strake below the hood-end plank was a wale, 5" (125mm) wide, and 3" (76mm) thick, that had been secured with a wooden treenail 1.25" (32mm) diameter. A further outer-plank was sampled in November 2025 from the south-western part of the wreck, interpreted as generally being within the 'upperworks' of the original ship, due to its location above the line of cross-beams. This plank was 7.5" wide, 1" thick, and retained a single treenail 1.25" diameter. The butt-end of the plank was preserved, including the hole for an iron nail with a c. 0.25" (6-7mm) square shaft, and a recessed head on the outboard side.
Dating
The vessel was sampled by University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) for dendrochronological analysis in 2016 in advance of proposed development (since abandoned) in the area. The samples included both framing and plank elements but did not produce a secure date. A further sub-sample, originally from a frame sample taken in 2016, was analysed in 2025 by Swansea University using oxygen isotope dating. This method proved successful and returned a felling date for the parent tree of AD 1588-1624. The practice in wooden shipbuilding of working timbers while 'green', soon after felling, means that the vessel was probably built within, or shortly after, the AD 1588-1624 date range.
The wreck was revisited in August and November 2025 to enable a further 14 timber samples to be recovered for species and dating analysis with the objective of refining the date of construction of the ship. Samples of frames, outer-planking and ceiling-planking were recovered, along side several smaller unidentified timber elements.
Summary Interpretation
Goodwick Wreck 1 is the remains of a relatively small carvel-built wooden ship from the late 16th or early 17th century. Such vessels are rare within the archaeological record of Wales, and the wider archaeological record of Britain and Ireland. Its size indicates a potential original use as a trading vessel engaged in local, coastal or trans-Irish sea trade. The wreck is interpreted as lying on its side and is buried to a depth of at least 1.25m in some places. As such, there is with potential for a significant spread of the original ship to be preserved, spanning from the lower hull to the upper-works above the waterline. The latter is rarely preserved within the archaeological record. The exposed material is subject to decay from biological organisms, physical erosion and chemical processes. However, buried material exhibits good levels of preservation.
Sources Include
Bale, R.J., Davies, D., McCarroll, D., Nayling, N., Loader N.J., 2025. Dendrochronology Report: Goodwick Wreck 1 framing timber. Unpublished interim report for RCAHMW.
Arfordir Coastal Heritage, 2012-2013. J. Meek and M. Bell. Dyfed Archaeological Trust. https://heneb.org.uk/archive/dyfed/arfordir/reports/arfordirreport2012-13.pdf
RCAHMW site visit, 05/11/2021, 04/03/2022, 05/07/2023, 11/08/2025, 06/11/2025.
RCAHMW photogrammetry survey, PGS_2022_019, 04/03/2022. View here: https://skfb.ly/p7QYZ
J. Whitewright, RCAHMW, November 2025
CHERISH PROJECT 2017. Produced with EU funds through the Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme 2014-2020.