OPERATION LUNE: TECHNOLOGY AT THE SERVICE OF HISTORY

At the beginning of October, the DRASSM archaeologist's dream took shape: finally exploring the mythical wreck of the Moon with exceptional technological means, in collaboration with the Navy and with Dassault Systèmes. The goal, to bring back enough information to be able to model the wreck in 3D, and to finally discover the secrets of "The hidden wreck of the Sun King. "

PERMIT VIRTUAL DIVES

The difficulty of access to the wreck hitherto prevented the researchers from exploiting the precious information hidden on board the Moon. The goal of the campaign, in addition to directly accessing the site for a few days with the help of the Navy's diving suit, was also and above all to bring back enough material to reconstruct the site in 3D: the advantage, then be able to work without constraint, without technical limit, so that archeologists, historians, cartographers, can visit the wreck of the Moon without diving! This modeling will also make it possible to better prepare possible real dives on the site in the future. One could also imagine that it would also allow the use of teleoperated robots, which could more easily collect the objects to be reassembled. And what is done today on the Moon, a real experimental excavation, could then open the way to other projects: whether in the Mediterranean or elsewhere, many historically important shipwrecks remain unexplored, lack of means of access .

A MYTHIC SHIP FOR ARCHEOLOGISTS

The ship of the Sun King is for archaeologists, since about 20 years, a reference, a goal. Discovered by chance by the submarine Nautile 1993 off Toulon, a first expertise had been conducted with Ifremer, but its depth made it inaccessible for a complete search, and specialists continued to dream of one of the most wrecked important and the best preserved in the world for this period of our history: it sank in a few minutes, bringing with it nearly a thousand men, all its artillery, and all the equipment that could carry a warship of the 'time. For specialists, a wealth of information, a unique testimony that will finally become accessible.

INDIRECT VICTIM OF PEST

In poor condition, the ship returning from the Algerian coast is denied access to the port of Toulon: it is feared that it will bring the plague, and it is forced to remain in quarantine near the island of Porquerolles. The boat is taking on water from all sides, but an expert sent on board the judge able to "still go around the world!" “A sea crash quickly proves the opposite. According to the testimony of the Duke of Beaufort, cousin of the king who crosses the ship on his way back from Algiers, “The Moon sank like a block of marble”. A hundred men will succeed in reaching Port-Cros, where the majority will die of hunger: there will be in all only about twenty survivors according to historians.

A DOCUMENTARY IN DECEMBER ON ARTE

More than three centuries after the sinking, the wreckage finally becomes accessible. To the researchers, of course, but also to the public, since a documentary was shot by Grand Angle Production during the mission. Large means, "lighting" robots, 3D cameras: the film of 90 minutes, directed by Pascal Guérin, will be released on Sunday 9 December at 20h45 on Arte. And eventually, a website dedicated to The Moon could also allow the public to view the wreckage in 3D.

Text: Isabelle Croizeau