Four cannons and an unknown journey – what did they find? Runde in 1731?

Diving at Runde in 1731

Shortly after the Round Discovery was made in 1972, it was discovered that it was the remains of the Dutch ship Akerendam that had sunk at Runde in March 1725. Local historian Ivar Myklebust in Ørsta could tell about minutes from court hearings in 1726 concerning the shipwreck and the subsequent search and salvage the previous year.

In the period after that, until its discovery in 1972, there was little attention paid to the shipwreck. In popular culture, the legend of the "Borja", a ship from the Spanish Armada that was said to have sunk at Runde .

Recently, another local historian, Tor Myklebust (no relation to Ivar), has come across a protocol from September 1731 from Molde customs that discusses search and salvage at Runde this year.

To our knowledge, this has not been part of the history of the Runde discovery. It appears that it was Weinwich, the agent in Bergen for the Dutch East India Company, who contracted the mission. He was also responsible for the salvage in 1725.

A brigantine (small schooner) led by Captain Frazer (Fresser) from Edinburgh arrived Runde in the summer of 1731. The ship was equipped for diving and a search was carried out, probably in the same area where Akerendam sank six years earlier. More advanced equipment may have been used this time, such as a diving bell.

A number of objects made of iron and other metals were salvaged. Furthermore, four iron cannons were taken up. These were described as quite "good for the sea".

Can cannons be so corroded and "worn out" after only six years at sea?

Akerendam is said to have been equipped with 40 cannons, all of which were located and accounted for by the Bergen Maritime Museum in the years after the Rundefunnet was made. Could the four cannons come from another previously sunken ship? Borja?

Can a new chapter be written in the saga of Rondagollje?

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Written by: Lars Golmen

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