MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Darwin's “Beagle” found off Essex

Charles Darwin vessel “Beagle” with which the British expeditionary explored much of South America helping him to draft his masterpiece about the evolution of species was found off the coast of Essex in the south of England.

A group of scientists from St. Andrew's University headed by marine archaeologist Robert Prescott confirmed this week that the remains found off Essex belong to the "Beagle".

"We did an archaeological exploration job and found many objects from Victorian times that belonged to Darwin's vessel", explained Mr. Prescott. "Later on using special radars we were able to determine the size and exact shape of the vessel". To further explore the remains sunk in the muddy river Roach estuary next to Potton island Prescott's team will be using a sophisticated technology similar to that employed to search for the space craft "Beagle 2", recently lost in a crater of Mars.

British scientist Collin Pillinger who created "Beagle 2" said that some of the capsule's instruments will be integrated to a precision camera to explore the remains of Darwin's famous vessel.

"It will be very interesting since the vessel will help us understand Darwin's travels and research which helped come up with the evolution theory", stressed Mr. Pillinger.

The 30 meters long "Beagle" was launched in 1820 in Woolwich, next to the Thames and for several years belonged to the Royal Navy. It was later converted into a hydrographic research vessel under Robert Fitzroy and in 1831 left for South America with the young and intrepid naturist Charles Darwin.

Over five years the vessel sailed several oceans finally concentrating in South America, from the Galapagos Islands to Brazil, Uruguay, Patagonia Tierra del Fuego, Chile and the Andes.

In 1836 with hundreds of annotations Darwin returned to Britain and in 1859 wrote his famous about the origin of the species, giving birth to the evolution theory that carries his names Darwinism.

"Beagle" meantime ended with the Crown's Customs Service chasing smugglers along the Essex coast and several years anchored in the Roach river. According to Mr. Prescott she was finally auctioned to junk dealers in 1870.