Deepest Wreck :: essays research papers

A deep-sea salvage company claims to have discovered the deepest antiquated shipwreck invariably found- a 2,300-year-old Greek affair vessel found nearly cardinal miles under the surface of the Mediterranean. The discovery of the shipwreck between the classical trading totalitys of Rhodes and Alexandria adds to the collection of evidence that is challenging the long-held theory that ancient sailors lacked the navigational knowledge and skill to sail large distances across open water. It is believed that they were restricted to adjacent the coastline during thier trips. Four other possibly ancient wrecks were discovered nearby. In the jump out of 1999, the deep-ocean exploration firm Nauticos Corporation conducted a survey in the eastern Mediterranean in an attempt to locate an Israeli submarine that had mysteriously disappeared in the area 31 years before. Their sonar system detect five closely spaced clusters at a depth of just about 10,000 feet on what is known as the H erodotus Abyssal Plain. Visual inspection of these clusters with a remotely operated vehicle revealed five shipwrecks of possible archaeological significance. There was yet enough time to permit the collection of a detailed icon and sonar imagery of only one site. This information was sent to the bring in of Nautical Archaeology (INA) at Texas A&M University to determine the ships line of work and importance. The shape of several amphoras or containers from the site date back to the close of the third century B.C. or the beginning of the second century B.C. reservation this the deepest ancient shipwreck yet discovered. Despite its depth, the site is typical for an ancient shipwreck. The vessel came to rest on the bottom and eventually flipped over onto its attitude. As its wooden hull lost structural integrity, the ships view flattened out under the weight of the containers that had tumbled over it. The opposite side of the hull was held upright, unburied by the containers o r sediment, succumbed to erosion and decay, and were mostly stinky away. This wrecks amphora cargo forms a mound approximately 80 feet long and 50 feet wide and tapers in height and width from the center of the ship to the bow and stern, or front and back. At least sixsome or more types of wine amphoras have been identified, including containers from the islands of Rhodes and Kos, there may be as many as 2,500 containers present at the site. The ships bow area or the front area of the ship, can be identified by the presence of at least five antecede anchors.