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S E P T E M B E R 15th
& 16th |
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The past two days we have been combining the search for
new wrecks with the investigation and recording of the two new wrecks found on the 14th of
September. Arda left early on the morning of the 16th, with some important business
to take care of in Istambul. We put several dives on the two little coves west of Sarpedere Koyu with no results, only a couple of broken amphoras and another stone anchor stock found alone, no shipwrecks. Still we thouroughly covered a large area, and we are pretty sure that there are no shipwrecks there. We can concentrate our attention elsewhere. Further investigation of the wrecks #98A, a byzantine amphora carrier, and #98B, whose only remains are ballast stones used to lower its center of gravity, found on the 14th, was highly informative. The byzantine wreck broke violently on to the rocks. As a result the containors are very broken and damaged. No complete amphoras can be seen in all of the surface covered by the remains of the wreck (6m x 6m approx.). The concreted fragments lay on a rocky slope from 8m to 16m depth, maybe continuing under the seagrass. The amphoras date from the 5th to 7th century AD. Necks of the same amphora type are found in two sizes on the wreck, together with some small pottery. |
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After taking a good look of the byzantine wreck, Tufan and Berta swam to #98B wreck or ballast stone wreck. On the way, one can see pottery of many different kinds but not enough to constitute another sunken ship. While single amphoras found unerwater are interesting to look at, they don't necessarily indicate the presence of a shipwreck. The achor stone that Yasar found the other day was made in a rudimentry manner. | |
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 The ballast stones expand in a very
large area. It was a huge boat! Between the rounded stones, during a carefull
dive, one can see many fragments of pottery and amphoras. A Rhodian amphora may be
dated between the 2nd century BC and th 1st century AD.We were also back at the Tektash ada area and dive on the Classical wreck to take more images. Yasar, Arda and Jevon dove around the island to check the area. Nothing archaeological was found. Investigation of the shallows around the cove between the island and the point where the wreck is located show no pottery or archaeological remains. |
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Berta |
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C O N T A C T U S A T v i r a z o n @ d i v e t u r k e y . c o m |
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