Most items found in ancient shipwrecks show signs of the ravages of water, time and ocean critters. Wood and metal objects may hold up a little better, but fabrics are fragile and are usually consumed by the watery elements. One remarkable dress survived the odds. The archaeological miracle dates back to the 1600s and represents a fascinating tale of endurance.
The silk gown is now on display at the Kaap Skil Maritime and Beachcombers Museum on Texel Island in the Netherlands. Divers explored a wreck near the island in 2014 and found the dress buried in the sand. To protect the location of the shipwreck for further study, the museum waited until this week to unveil the find.
The dress, woven from silk with a floral pattern, is complete and seems to have belonged to a noblewoman. The museum dates it back to the first half of the 17th century. Read more.