An iberian ship for the Atlantic: shipbuilding, life aboard and Angra port of call in 16th and 17th centuries

The city of Angra (Azores, Portugal) was an important pot of call in the 16th and 16th centuries and in the Angra bay several shipwrecks have been identified. This project was focused on the study of one of the best preserved wrecks, the Angra D, and the understanding of shipbuilding techniques, the life aboard, ship organization, the conditions of Atlantic navigation and the port of Angra.

In the excavations of the site, many artefacts - ceramics, glasses, metals, leather – as well as mammal and fish remains were found. Abundant parts of the ship’s wooden structure were also recovered, the study of which was the task attributed to CIBIO-InBIO. This was mainly a wood anatomy task, directed to the identification of the wooden species and wooden types used in shipbuilding.