Chalk Barge Bed Rotherhithe

sketchfab

The remnants of an ancient chalk barge bed lie exposed on the Thames foreshore, near the bustling docks of Rotherhithe, London. Dating back to the 18th century, these remains reveal a crucial role played by chalk in protecting ships from damage at low tide. The soft chalk material served as a cushion, preventing the underside of boats from scraping against the rough foreshore. Today, a later layer of hard material lies on top, slowly eroding to expose the chalk beneath. Amidst this archaeological treasure trove, discarded ship nails and metal fragments are scattered about, a testament to the busy maritime past. Captured through 167 photographs taken in February 2020 with a Sony a6000, these images were meticulously processed using Reality Capture software.