2400-Yr-Old Ship Found in Pristine Condition Amazes Archaeologists; Claim It's 'World's Oldest Intact' Shipwreck
Shipwrecks carry within themselves a history lasting several empires and centuries. Analyzing such wrecks requires a lot of precision because experts often fight against several natural factors. In 2018, experts discovered a shipwreck in Europe that stunned them with its preservation, stated BBC. The structure was buried underneath the Black Sea, some 80km off the Bulgarian city of Burgas.
The most noteworthy aspect of this finding was that the researchers determined it to be the oldest intact ship they had examined. Experts claimed that the structure was 23 meters long and its design was similar to the ships illustrated on the ancient Greek wine vases. The team found a lot of resemblance between the structure and the Siren Vase by Siren Painter in the British Museum. The vase features Odysseus, the Greek Hero, strapped to the mast of his ship as he travels past three sea nymphs whose tunes were believed to push sailors to their deaths.
Researchers were pleasantly surprised after examining the condition of the shipwreck. It was exceptionally preserved despite possibly being around 2,400 years old. "A ship surviving intact from the classical world, lying in over 2km of water, is something I would never have believed possible," said Professor Jon Adams, the principal investigator with the Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project (MAP), the team that made the find, stated The Guardian. "This will change our understanding of shipbuilding and seafaring in the ancient world."
Experts noted that the ship's rudder, rowing benches, and even the content of its hold were well-preserved. "It's like another world," Helen Farr from the expedition shared, stated BBC. "It's when the ROV [remote operated vehicle] drops down through the water column and you see this ship appear in the light at the bottom so perfectly preserved it feels like you step back in time." On investigation, researchers concluded that the reason the ship is in such an excellent condition even after so many years is because of anoxic water.
Anoxic water does not contain oxygen, which slows down the decaying process and also prevents robbers from reaching the ship. "It's preserved, it's safe," Farr added. "It's not deteriorating, and it's unlikely to attract hunters." Researchers believe that the ship moved between the Mediterranean and Greek colonies during its heyday. The team had to take the help of two underwater robotic explorers to analyze the structure. The explorers managed to bring a sample from the ship for carbon dating. Furthermore, the data garnered through the explorer was used to create a 3-D image of the ship.
To correctly identify the origins of the ship, researchers would need to go back to the site. "Normally we find amphorae (wine vases) and can guess where it's come from, but with this, it's still in the hold," Farr explained. "As archaeologists, we're interested in what it can tell us about technology, trade, and movements in the area." The structure was found among a collection of 60 shipwrecks found by this team. The collection was diverse, containing a 17th-century Cossack raiding fleet, Roman trading vessels, complete with amphorae, a ship from the classical period, and many more, stated The Guardian.