Pieces from a 155-year-old shipwreck washed ashore on a Victorian beach with archaeologists planning to rebury the fragments.
Works are currently underway to excavate and rebury the decorative hull fragment from the shipwrecked Amazon which washed ashore at Inverloch, on Victoria's southeast coast.
The archaeological team have already completed a recording of the hull fragment using photogrammetry equipment and recovery but reburial depends on weather, Heritage Victoria Senior Maritime Archaeologist Peter Harvey said.
"Water tides and tables dictate when and where we can relocate it, so once these conditions are favourable we will rebury it a little further up the beach near the shipwreck site where there is lower wave action," he said.
While the archaeologists wait for perfect conditions the hull will be washed with sea water and temporarily stored in a purpose-built saltwater bath near the beach.
"This is a common method to temporarily store washed up shipwreck timbers away from the marine environment, and Parks Victoria rangers will regularly monitor artefact's condition," Mr Harvey said.
More works are expected to be carried out over the next few months as the archaeologists remove, store and recover any other wreckage material that may wash up.
The Amazon, was built in 1855 and was involved in cargo trade between the United Kingdom, Australia and South America.
It set sail in December 1863 bound for Mauritius carrying salted meats on what was due to be its final journey but ran aground after a storm on the Bass Strait.
There are 600 recorded shipwrecks in Victoria and it is an offence to enter, anchor, fish trawl or dive in a protected zone without a permit and people can be fined more than $7500.
Australian Associated Press
