The ancient wooden figurehead that was found by shrimp fishermen off the coast of Texel in August is definitely going to Den Oever. Before the artwork is moved, the image is fully examined. So it will take a while before ‘Barry’ will be visible to visitors.
The shrimp fishermen who found the statue during their catch named it ‘Barry’. Fisherman Victor Ayal shared the find on Twitter, which left him inundated with the reactions. The work of art has been at the bottom of the sea for at least four to five hundred years.
Archaeologist Michiel Bartels of the municipality of Hollands Kroon called the figurehead a jewel after the discovery. “The things that have been lying on the seabed of the Wadden Sea are usually damaged by sand or by shipworms that crawl there,” Bartels said in August. “But I think this one is just totally cool.”
Research into ‘Barry’
Archeology West Friesland has signed a loan agreement for the figurehead. In November, a Leiden student will pick up ‘Barry’. Then it will go to Amersfoort or Groningen for a color study. Drawings and scans will also be made to map the origin of the image as accurately as possible.
After the investigation, the figurehead in the Havenboet will be placed on the quay of Den Oever. The public will then be able to see ‘Barry’ in a closed display case. The Nautical Heritage will place a sign with a clear explanation about the figurehead.