Gleams of the depth

We feel so tiny and helpless in our boat on this angry water. We are all soaked under the heavy rain. Merciless wind hasn’t given us any respite. Now we’ve lost another sail torn by the wind. We cannot control the helm anymore. The storm and big waves are pushing our boat toward the reefs. I think the worst is inevitable, we won’t be able make it this time. The only way to survive is to jump in the water and swim across to the sandy beach. Now the rudder is broken, we hit the rocks. The boat is leaning toward its side.
I think that’s what the captain was experiencing 1600 years ago just before losing his boat. And now our team of 17 is looking for the wreckage of the same boat.

The objects surrounding the shipwreck could provide some very crucial data to archaeological science. We don’t want to cause any damage by getting too close to the seabed so we keep a safe distance. Various types of amphoras can be seen including carrot-shaped ones, Yivli and Tombul, all in an area of about 150-200 metres square. I also spot some amphoras 30 cm in height, which look similar to alabastrons (little teardrop bottles) but a little bigger. They are made of clay, and as far as I know, very rarely found. My depth gauge is indicating 31 metres.

The shipwreck zone covers to a depth of 25 to 35 meters. I ascend a little to have a better view of the area. There are 3 anchors sitting 5 to 10 metres apart. Watching from a higher point is a good way to understand the wreckage as a whole. We stop following the routine that we’ve been practicing since the beginning of the dive. All of us are moving around with no orientation as if we are caught in a whirlpool. Our bottom time is reaching the limit.

Gokhan Ture, feeling we have found enough, gives the signal to get back to the 20^th century through a time tunnel. But I did not know that I’m about to live through some very happy moments of my life. Little further away I notice something matte green half covered with sand trying to glisten with the weakened sun light at a depth of 30 metres. I remove the sand with my hands and realize that this is raw glass weighing about 2-3 kg! Using my light, I try to get Mr. Ture’s attention to point out this unbelievable finding. But he is busy taking pictures of a much bigger piece of raw glass he’s already found.

I can recall all the work done for the glass carrying wreck at Serçe Limani. That shipwreck was brought to the sun light after years of hard work. The local fishermen have been calling the location of the wreck Sirça Limani, possible due to all the glass that ship had in its cargo. Over the years, the name of shipwreck site has been transformed to Serçe Limani. Some parts of this glass producing and carrying ship were recovered and reassembled. Today, it is exhibited in the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. All the work done on that shipwreck by the dedicated people will now help us understand the findings of this new discovery. And maybe what we found now will help explain some other unknowns. Someday after all this research we may be able to explain another important part of the human history, called “Glass Road”. (Glass trading was an important part of the trading history. By naming this trade route as “Glass Road” and bringing this road to day light, we may come across some very interesting conclusions.)

Most of the amphoras found are yivli carrot-shaped and the raw glass has heterogeneous structure. Based on this information the shipwreck may be dated to 300-400 AD. However, at the same wreckage site, there are also type “T” anchors that are dated older than 300-400 AD, and some stone anchors dated to centuries BC. It may be concluded that there must be more than one shipwreck at this site. Therefore, we need to collect a lot more data to be able to correctly date the shipwrecks. This will require many dives and some extensive research at this site.

After our ascend to the surface, it is the 20^th century again. I cry out with joy to give our victorious news to the team members on the boat: “We found a shipwreck guys!” All of them are screaming with joy and cannot hear my joke: “But it’s too old, useless…”
The sample artifacts recovered over the last 2 years of our exploration here have been handed over to Hatay Museum. When these items of our cultural heritage are exhibited, we will be able to leave some permanent traces to the next generations.

Translation: Hakan Küpesiz