World's oldest intact shipwreck discovered at bottom of Black Sea after 2,400 years

Tom Powell23 October 2018

The oldest intact shipwreck ever discovered has been found at the bottom of the Black Sea.

Archaeologists said the 23-metre vessel, thought to be ancient Greek, has lain undisturbed for more than 2,400 years.

It was salvaged by British scientists about 50 miles off the coast of Bulgaria, as part of the Black Sea Maritime Archaeology project.

“A ship surviving intact from the classical world, lying in over 2km of water, is something I would never have believed possible,” Professor Jon Adams, the principal investigator, told the Guardian.

“This will change our understanding of shipbuilding and seafaring in the ancient world.”

Discovery: the ship's mast and rudders are still intact
Black Sea Maritime Archeology Project

The ship’s mast, rudders and rowing benches are thought to have been preserved so well due to a lack of oxygen in the Black Sea. Even the bones from monkfish eaten by sailors remained intact on the deck.

Carbon dating suggests the ship is a trading vessel from around 400BC. Its design has only been seen previously on the side of ancient Greek pottery such as the ‘Siren Vase’ in the British Museum.

Scientists first spotted the ship lying on its side at the bottom of the sea using a remote-controlled submarine in 2017.

Classical ships had previously only been seen intact on the side of ancient Green pottery, such as the Siren vase in the British Museum
The British Museum / Trustees of the British Museum

Dr Kroum Batchvarov, who worked on the project, told Sky News: "It is an incredible find. The first of its kind ever."

"We even have the coils of line, of rope still as the bosun [ship’s officer] left them in the stern when the ship went down.”

The shipwreck was found half buried by sand at the bottom of the Black Sea
Black Sea Maritime Archeology Project

The researchers reportedly said they intended to leave the ship where it had been found, although a small part was taken to the University of Southampton for carbon dating.

It is one of more than 60 shipwrecks uncovered by the project, during a three-year mission to explore the depths of the Black Sea.

Other finds include Roman trading vessels and a 17th century Cossack raiding fleet. A two-hour documentary about the Black Sea project was due to be aired at the British Museum on Tuesday.

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