Oldest Greek shipwreck found in the Black Sea

The diving season of 2018 has come to a close and it seems we are being flooded with ever more news about shipwrecks discovered all over the Mediterranean.

This time, a Greek shipwreck from 400 BC found intact at the bottom of the Black Sea is making headlines. It was located some 80 km off the Bulgarian city of Burgas.

  [Picture from Archaeology New Network, Credit: BLACK SEA MAP/EEF EXPEDITIONS]

Using the latest technology, an international team of scientists is mapping the floor of the Black Sea. So far over sixty shipwrecks have been discovered, ranging in date from the Roman era all the way to the 17^th century.

At the close of the 2017 season, however, another trading vessel from the Greek Classical period was spotted and it is now confirmed that this is the oldest intact shipwreck in history. Scientists are very excited about this find, particularly since it shows such a close resemblance to the design used on Greek pottery and more precisely to the “Siren Vase” exhibited at the British Museum. It could be established that the ship is 23 meters long and elements like the rudder, the rowing benches and the cargo are still intact.

                   [Picture from Archaeology News Network, Credit: Werner Forman/UIG via Getty Images]

Originally the “Black Sea MAP” project got underway to study the changes in the environment off the Bulgarian coast, including the impact of sea-level change after the last glacial period. In the process said ship was located at a depth of 2,000 meters where the waters of the Black Sea are free of oxygen and where organic material is easily preserved for thousands of years.

At this depth, the shipwreck is rather safe since it is beyond reach of modern divers and treasure hunters. Next step will be to examine the cargo in detail as amphorae can tell us more about the traded goods and the ports that were called at but this will require extra funding, of course.