Oldest Ship Wreck Found in Black Sea

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SUMMARY

The oldest shipwreck, discovered in the Black Sea at a depth of 2 kilometers, is remarkably preserved due to the anoxic conditions of the water. Detailed carvings and coils of rope found on the wreck confirm historical depictions of ancient Greek ships. The ship's mast is located toward the bow, and efforts are underway to digitize the wreck to prevent further internal decomposition caused by bacteria. This discovery highlights the rich history of maritime cultures and their trading practices, underscoring the transient nature of civilizations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of anoxic environments and their effects on preservation
  • Familiarity with ancient Greek maritime history
  • Knowledge of archaeological digitization techniques
  • Awareness of the significance of cultural trading practices in history
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the methods used in underwater archaeology for preserving shipwrecks
  • Explore the historical significance of Greek shipbuilding techniques
  • Learn about the impact of anoxic conditions on organic materials
  • Investigate the role of trade in ancient civilizations and its archaeological evidence
USEFUL FOR

Historians, archaeologists, maritime enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the preservation of ancient artifacts and the study of early trading cultures.

BillTre
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Guardian story here.
The ship was protected from decomposition by the Black Sea's lack of oxygen in its deeper layers (found 2 km deep).
I saw a picture of this somewhere else that showed detailed carvings on some wooden parts as well as several coils of rope.
It is taken as confirmation that an image on a vase was a decent depiction of the Greek ships of that time.
The mast is toward the bow.
 
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I heard on the radio that they were digitizing the wreck because the timbers have decomposed internally over time due to bacteria embedded within the wood and to lift it would be a mistake that would destroy it.

In another story, they mentioned archeologists have uncovered evidence of trading between cultures at 320,000 years ago.

https://www.iflscience.com/plants-a...n-innovation-and-trading-to-320000-years-ago/

Comparing the two, you realize that civilizations of which we have no knowledge have risen and fallen hundreds of times and the only legacy we have are outlines of sites, shards of pottery and such and our stories passed from generation to generation until we finally wrote them down. Very sobering.

Thanks for the sharing.

Jedi
 
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