When it sank this ship became a time capsule preserving hundreds of artifacts providing valuable confirmation of the complex trade activity of the region in the Bronze Age. Information about ancient trade routes, the ship’s origin and the precious commodities it carried are carefully documented in The Second International Symposium “Cities on the Sea” in Nicosia, Cyprus 1994.
Underwater Archaeology
Underwater archaeology opens valuable windows into the past, but there are enormous challenges. Sites may be difficult to access and dangerous. Even with specialised diving equipment, the length of time available at certain depths is limited. Sediments or algae in the water cause poor visibility.
Underwater sites are also subject to movement by sea currents. The Ulubrun wreck was partially buried beneath sediments. Exposed structures were eroded, and hundreds of pottery items were broken up and scattered. Metal objects were corroded leaving the original artifacts in a very fragile state. In spite of these drawbacks, the Ulubrun wreck has revealed one of the largest collections of Bronze Age trade goods found in the Mediterranean.
The Shipwreck
Of Canaanite or Cypriot origin, the ship had probably set out from Ugarit in Syria. From the large amounts of copper ingots it carried in its cargo, the ship had called in at Cyprus and was sailing in a north-westerly direction keeping close to Turkey’s southern coastline making for the Aegean.
Likely the ship met with difficulty trying to steer round the cape. It drew perilously close and was dashed against the rocks by a sudden southerly squall. It sank to a depth of 44 -52 metres just 60-70 metres east of Cape Ulubrun, near the Bay of Antalya, Turkey. It finally settled on a steep rocky slope.
The ship was about 15-16 metres in length and its bow, indicated by the presence of two large stone anchors, lay at the deeper end. Six large pithoi (storage pots) lay on the southern side in the direction the ship listed after it struck the sea bed.
Wreck Diving for a Treasure Trove
According to INA Quarterly More than 22,000 dives over a ten year period were made. The result was the discovery of a rich treasure trove: Ten tons of copper ingots in various forms including the oxhide shape and at least a ton of tin ingots. 149 Canaanite amphoras, one full of glass beads and the others with olives and terebrith resin from the pistacia tree - a luxury commodity.
There were 175 coloured glass ingots, black ebony wood from Africa, an ivory elephant tusk and hippo teeth, tortoise shells and ostrich eggs. Gold and silver jewellery of Canaanite origin included medallions, pendants and a gold pectoral in shape of a falcon with outstretched wings. From Egypt there was gold, electrum, silver, steatite and a gold scarab inscribed with name of Nefertiti. There were drinking cups in the shape of rams’ heads, duck-shaped ivory cosmetic boxes with hinged wing covers, ivory trumpets and votive idols including a bronze and gold female figurine – royal tributes from one king to another? www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/alasiya.htm
Three pithoi contained Cypriot pottery - oil lamps, vases, ceramic bowls and pitchers. Most of the copper and bronze vessels had corroded - only handles and rims remained. Weapons and tools included arrow heads, spear heads, daggers, short swords, sickles, awls, chisels, axes, whetstones, sets of bronze and stone weights shaped as sphinxes, bulls, ducks, frogs or lions, two pairs of pans for pan scales and twenty-four stone anchors.
Foodstuffs included almonds, pine nuts, figs, olives, raisins, wine, safflower, black cumin, coriander, pomegranates. There was fishing tackle (lead net sinkers, netting needles, fish hooks, fish spear, a bronze trident) and personal jewellery, cylinder seals and weapons.
The cargo is thought to be an official dispatch of enormous riches in raw and crafted materials. The personal items found indicate there were Mycaenean officials aboard probably accompanying the precious cargo to its final destination.
Helena Petridou - I lived the first twenty-one years of my life in Dorset – in Thomas Hardy country and thus began my great love for literature. Upon ...
