"Seaman Swan" Offers Insight into Sailor's Life

Submitted by Milica on Mon, 2004-09-27 15:04
The remains of a crewman of Oliver Cromwell's ship, discovered off the coast of Scotland, show that the sailor "had the body of a trapeze artist" and probably worked in the rigging.

Analysis of the bones of "Seaman Swan," the name given to the remains of a crewman of Cromwell's ship, shows that the man was surprisingly fit despite evidence of rickets.

"We deduce from that, that he engaged in rhythmic, balanced work: hauling ropes, setting sails, doing all the kinds of things that sailors do," said Dr Colin Martin, an archaeologist at the University of St Andrews.