The Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project

Transcription

1 The Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project Years of sea faring history revealed deep in The Black Sea Subsea Operations Conference Haugesund 8th August 2018 Audun Brandtzæg MMT Norway

2 AGENDA Project background, sponsors, involved partners and Universities The main goals for the expedition Some historic background for the ambitous title of year of sea faring history 3 years project, vessels, tools etc. Some spectacular samples/results out of the year of sea faring history in the context of well known historical facts Comparison of mapping methods Recoveries of samples The documentary... Possibly a teaser if time remains

3 MMT founded in 1976 Offices in Gothenburg, Sweden Haugesund, Norway and Banbury, UK Reach Subsea AS Founded 2008 Office in Haugesund, Norway and Houston, US MMT and Reach COOPERATION SINCE 2013 Joint operation of 4 x DP2 vessel for survey and light construction

4 - Black Sea MAP (Maritime Archeaological project) 3 year project - Founded by Hans and Julia Rausing Trust - Project managed by EEFE (Education and Expedition foundation) - Documentary produced by BSF (Black Sea films) premiere at broad casters Survey inspection work 2016 / 2017 carried out by MMT and Reach Subsea - Scientific work carried out by international universities

5 Project performance in co-operation with the Bulgarian authorities in territorial and economic zone of Bulgaria

6 Main goals for the 3 year scientific expedition The primary goals are to carry out maritime archaeological investigations in Bulgarian waters of the Black Sea in order to map the submerged cultural heritage of Bulgaria, thus contributing to the building of the prehistoric and historic environmental record of human activity in this region Specific goals are to: /mob coordinator - Reconstruct the submerged landscapes on the Bulgarian Shelf - Locate, map and record any evidence of pre-historic and historic human activity such as settlement and industry in the submerged areas - Locate, record and interpret remains of maritime connectivity including shipwrecks and associated infrastructure

7 The Black Sea The historical coastline has been approx 100 meter deeper than todays level Anoxic and aggressive environment at deep water Very little oxygen mix into deep water slow degration of organic materials Perfect conditions for preservation of ship wrecks How was the landscape submerged? Fast? Or Slowly?

8 2.500 Years of sea faring history revealed deep in The Black Sea Greek and phoenician trade Byzantine and Vikings... Roman trade routes Ottoman Empire

9 Vessels used 2016 Stril Explorer 2017 Havila Subsea

10 2016 Stril Explorer Surveyor Interceptor for surveys Supporter for inspections

11 2017 Havila Subsea Surveyor Interceptor for surveys Schilling HD for inspections

12 High speed high precision Kystdesign Surveyor Interceptor Dual head dual swath MBES Sub Bottom Profiler Chirp Sidescan sonar 1600/600kHz 3-5 CATHX Ultra HD still cameras+flashes Laser bathymetry integrated

13 Local SROV Mobilisation in «non-killingøy environment»

14 Map showing the project area of coverage in Bulgaria. Water depths predominantly at the approx. 100 meters shelf. Some survey work performed down to meters.

15 In operation

16 Educational outreach programme involving groups of 8 students onboard during the expedition

17 Unplanned Boat to Boat Transfer of the Bulgarian president

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21 Drawing from a carved relief Genoa, Italy and illustration of a similar ship Marco Polo Born 15 september 1254 in Venice/Italy, Deceased 8 januari 1324 in Venice/Italy

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23 The radiocarbon date provided a calibrated age of cal. AD (95.4% probability

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25 The initial age estimate for the vessel was 1 st -2 nd century AD. The radiocarbon date provided a calibrated age of cal. AD

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28 Ulysses/Odysseus wanted to hear the Sirens' song although he knew that doing so would render him incapable of rational thought. He put wax in his men's ears so that they could not hear, and had them tie him to the mast so that he could not jump into the sea. He ordered them not to change course under any circumstances, and to keep their swords upon him and to attack him if he should break free of his bonds. Siren Vase currently at the British Museum, depicting Odysseus voyage. Such vases were produced in Athens between 480 to 470 BC.

29 Radio carbon dating estimate for the latest dating of the wood samples of cal. BC (95.4% probability) and probably cal BC (68.2% probability). This therefore suggests that the wreck was most probably constructed during the 4 th century BC.

30 The radiocarbon date provided a calibrated age of cal. AD (95.4% probability), suggesting that this wood sample is mid 2 nd to 4 th century A EM2040 SROV CATHX Laser bathymetry SROV CATHX Photogrammetry SROV The radiocarbon date provided a calibrated age of cal. AD (95.4% probability), suggesting that this wood sample is mid 2 nd to 4 th century AD (see Figure 8).

31 Ceramic samples

32 Wood samples

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34 Documetary of the Black Sea project in 2018 Videos, teasers

35 THANK YOU! Head Office: MMT SWEDEN AB Sven Källfelts Gata 11 SE Västra Frölunda, Sweden Phone: +46 (0) UK Office: MMT (UK) LTD 2A Banbury Office Village, Noral Way Banbury, Oxon, OX16 2SB, UK Phone: Norway Office: MMT NORWAY AS Haraldsgata Haugesund, Norway Phone: +46 (0)