The Most Ancient Intact Shipwreck Found To Date

[Nick Harbud]

It's in the Black Sea and you read about it here.

[Imperial Dave]

that is a tremendous find. Fantastic condition

[Patrick Waterson]

And it confirms that merchant ships, at least as of the 4th century BC but presumably also some centuries earlier, given the vase details, used oars.

[Erpingham]

And it confirms that merchant ships, at least as of the 4th century BC but presumably also some centuries earlier, given the vase details, used oars.

Some merchant ships at least.  Given the way this type is shown in vase paintings it would be interesting to see how many benches they counted on a real one.

[Jim Webster]

From what I remember there should be a lot more, as the Black Sea has bizarre conditions, a deep layer without oxygen?

[Mick Hession]

From what I remember there should be a lot more, as the Black Sea has bizarre conditions, a deep layer without oxygen?

Yes, the report I read says they found lots of stuff in the search area, including a 17th century Cossack fleet.

Cheers
Mick

[aligern]

The goddess, La Roberts, brightened all our mornings by telling us that the de oxygenated layer in the Black Sea would not support many of the organisms that cause the decay of sunken timbers. Unfortunately the timbers would apparently be too feeble for the ship to be brought to the surface ( it is a very long way down!).
Roy

[Erpingham]

The depth should keep it from the attentions of looters at least.

[Andreas Johansson]

From what I remember there should be a lot more, as the Black Sea has bizarre conditions, a deep layer without oxygen?

Word of the day: euxinic, adj, (of water) lacking oxygen and rich in sulfide.

From a Greek name of the Black Sea, Pontos Euxeinos "Hospitable Sea".

Euxinic conditions are rare in the modern world, the Black Sea being the most notable example, but has been widespread in the oceans at some points in geology history.

[Dangun]

No obvious reason why it sank either?

Rudder still in place.
Mast still erecting.
No obvious hull punctures.
And there looks to be an oar lying across the deck despite the boat having sunk for 2km.
Odd.

[Erpingham]

We can probably rule out icebergs.

[RichT]

Capsize is always most likely, especially with narrow ships. Down to some combo of strong wind, badly stowed cargo or sailing error.

[Nick Harbud]

No obvious reason why it sank either?

Rudder still in place.
Mast still erecting.
No obvious hull punctures.
And there looks to be an oar lying across the deck despite the boat having sunk for 2km.
Odd.

This should not come as any surprise.  I mean, over two millennia later the Royal Navy came up with the K-Class submarines.  Of the 18 built, 6 sank - 1 of them spontaneously at its moorings in Portsmouth Harbour. 

[Erpingham]

It's an open boat.  It could easily, as Rich said, have gone over if it had gone beam on to a heavy swell or just been swamped by heavy waves.

[Imperial Dave]

or overladen....