A wonderful find by Polish marine archaeologists in Crimea

During the research conducted within the framework of the Polish-Ukrainian archaeological project – Crimea Project, marine archaeologists managed to find 23 anchors, the oldest of which dates back to Byzantine times from around the 7th century. The discovery was made in the area of Cape Aju-Dach on the southern coast of Crimea.

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These were the first works carried out at the site. However, their result confirms how important and frequented these waters were. Both in ancient and more recent history, Crimea was an important point on sailing maps. Since 2007, archaeologists associated under the aegis of the Crimea Project have been exploring its waters and uncovering the hitherto unknown history of this magnificent place.

“We explored the eastern and southern parts of the Cape and, tentatively, the western section. The most abundant finds turned out to be in the small bay of Panairt, where we came across 16 anchors or their fragments and a treasure of lead rings, which are probably the remains of a special net”. – said Magdalena Nowakowska, from the Department of Ancient European Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Warsaw.

Among the artefacts found, in addition to anchors, are amphorae, flasks and tiles. Three worked stone blocks were also discovered, along with the remains of ropes. According to researchers, they undoubtedly represented the cargo of sunken ships. This thesis seems to be confirmed by the sonar examination of the seabed, during which other objects, which were most probably stone blocks, were located.

“Unfortunately the weather conditions did not allow us to confirm these speculations,” – Nowakowska continues.

The Black Sea was a strategically important sea in the past. Apart from many trade routes, during which stormy weather took the more unlucky ships to the bottom, many battles and sea skirmishes were fought here, as a result of which subsequent ships found the end of their journey at the bottom. Some mysteries have lain under water for more than 2000 years and are now slowly emerging from the darkness of history before Polish archaeologists.

You can read more about Crimea Project in our article of 14 November 2010. in which we presented the project, its aims and objectives.

Source: naukawpolsce.pap.pl
Photo: Crimea Project