An international team of divers unearthing all kinds of treasure from a shipwreck on the Goodwin Sands brought up the biggest find so far this week.
Based on a excavation ship docked on the harbour arm in Ramsgate, the team of marine archaeologists has been discovering objects hundreds of years old at the Rooswijk wreck site, and piecing parts of Europe's trade history together in the process.
The Rooswijk was a Dutch East India Company ship and sank off the Kent coast in January 1740.
It was on its way to East Asia packed with silver ingots and coinage for a spice trade deal. But it didn't make it very far, quickly running into sandbanks at the ship swallowing and ever changing Goodwin Sands.
It was known that the ship sank, as goods washed up on shore the day after.
There are said to have been 250 people on board - most were lost and there was no one left to tell the story.
But the Rooswijk was rediscovered at the end of the 90's and the rich material being brought to surface is helping archaeologists reveal stories of Europe's global trading history.
The shipwreck site is now protected and is managed in a joint operation by Historic England and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands. Marine archaeologists have been diving throughout the summer, unearthing exposed artifacts, saving them from the treacherous conditions off the Kent Coast.
"We use airlifts to suck up the sands so we can excavate," said project leader Martijn Manders. "We can tell stories about the ship and about where people were living and how they were living."
So far, the project has help identify 11 of those on board, one of them being the Captain Daniel Ronzieres. It has also helped piece together important facts about the silver trade in the 18th century.
Mr Manders added: "Silver in Europe was cheaper than silver in Asia. So taking silver with you could earn you money.
"People were smuggling money, so on board we had silver which was smuggled and official silver, for the spice trade."
It's a high risk site, as the sands move quite regularly. When the sand moves and parts of the shipwreck become exposed, divers are confronted with an urgent task and time is of the essence.
How does it happen?
The divers use large square frames which act as an excavation barrier and it also helps keep them orientated. Connected to the deck with 'umbilical cords,' the underwater treasure hunters recover objects from the wreck and take them to a warehouse in Ramsgate.
The pieces of history are then stored in large conservation tanks filled with seawater. Everything is recorded and photographed and then taken to a facility in Plymouth where assessments and analyses take place.
The find in 360
This immersive footage captures the find on board the Terschelling excavation ship.
There are around 250 Dutch East India Company shipwrecks all around the world and only a third have been found, according to Historic England. This is the first time a Dutch East India Company wreck has been excavated or researched on this scale.
Marine archaeologist Mark Dunkley says the Rooswijk site is very important as shipwrecks of trade in situ are rare. Excavation work normally takes place on ships which were on their way back from the East Indies.
"We can expect to find finds associated with that trade in progress as well as the personal that unfortunately died when the Rooswijk sank in that storm in 1740," Dunkley said.
John Glen, Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, said: "The shipwrecks around our coastline are amazing snapshots of Europe's seafaring and naval history and it is important that we study them while we can.
"The Rooswijk excavation will help recover and protect extraordinary artifacts and I am particularly pleased that members of the public can see this important work in action."
The finds will be taken back to The Netherlands but the team hope to leave some in Ramsgate at the Maritime Museum.
Marine archaeologists and divers are keen for those wanting to find out more to head down and meet them. Guests can also view some of the finds at the open days over the coming weeks.
The team also offers crash courses in Marine Archaeology and 3D photography for anyone aged ten and above. The dates and information on booking can be found here .