The Black Sea served as a geographical expanse that witnessed the passage of pirates, Greeks, Byzantines, Ottomans, Cossacks and Venetians. The waters of this region, located between modern-day Turkey, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Russia, played a vital role in facilitating the exchange of goods and products between influential empires and potentially even served as a channel for the illicit slave trade and trade. There are many sunken ships in the Black Sea along the history.
In this article we are going to tell you which ships have sunk in the Black Sea throughout history.
Sunken ships in the Black Sea
As anticipated, there would occasionally be cases where a ship would succumb to the relentless force of a storm. However, the details surrounding the fate of both the ship and her crew will remain a mystery.
The unique chemical composition of the Black Sea floor allows for the preservation of organic matter, which has resulted in numerous shipwrecks are remarkably preserved as a tangible testimony of a history that spans from the 9th to the 19th century.
In the typical scenario, wood deteriorates rapidly when exposed to salt water. However, the unique chemical composition of the seafloor in this particular area allows for the preservation of organic material. As a result, numerous ships resting on the ocean floor remain remarkably intact, providing vivid testimony to a historical narrative spanning the 9th century to the 19th century.
Until then, no sunken ships had been seen in the Black Sea. It was also unexpected that someone would run into them. However, a fortuitous international expedition, led by the University of Southampton (England), He found 41 of these ships and captured detailed photographs of them.
Rodrigo Pacheco Ruiz
The lucky person who saw the submerged ship was none other than Rodrigo Pacheco Ruiz, a distinguished expert in maritime archaeology. Completely speechless at the sight before him, he stood in awe of the absolute magnificence of the ancient ship that had rested peacefully at the unfathomable depth of 300 meters for almost two millennia.
At that depth and at its age, the ship retains the intricate marks left by the hammer and chisel, as well as the carefully wound ropes and ornate wood trim. This is a remarkable discovery, as such meticulous details have never been documented before.
In reality, the true objective of the scientific expedition focused on investigating the effects caused by climate change. Specifically, the team set out to determine the rate at which the Black Sea, previously a simple lake during the Ice Age, was flooded with water. This research is of great relevance, since a part of current Bulgaria was submerged under the sea.
Marine archaeologist Rodrigo Pacheco Ruiz was speechless when he discovered a vessel that had been unchanged for 1.800 years, hidden 300 meters deep. The sheer magnificence of the ship left him in awe.
As temperatures continue to fluctuate and glaciers rapidly disappear in mountainous regions, as well as in Antarctica and Greenland, it is reassuring to have a clear understanding of the remaining time available to devise alternative strategies in coastal regions.
Salt water expansion
In a time long past, approximately 12.000 years ago, a remarkable event occurred when rising Earth temperatures caused the Mediterranean Sea to expand its salty water. This expansion caused the invasion of the Black Sea through what is today called the Bosphorus Strait. As a result, the Black Sea acquired a different chemical composition. Its upper layer contains the vital oxygen brought by the mighty rivers of Europe that flow into it. However, in the depths of this body of water oxygen is absent, creating an environment devoid of life due to anoxia. Curiously, this lack of oxygen preserves the matter, preventing it from undergoing oxidation.
The voyage was embarked with extraordinary instruments designed to map the depths of the ocean. A pair of immensely powerful vehicles, equipped with state-of-the-art 3D cameras capable of capturing even the most minute details, allowed the meticulous reconstruction of the studied terrain.
Surveyor Expedition
A remarkable underwater device known as the Surveyor Interceptor surpasses the speed of traditional underwater vehicles. Equipped with geophysical instruments, high-definition cameras, lights and a laser scanner, this mechanical creature looks like a creation from the realm of science fiction.
Throughout the investigation, he successfully reached an unprecedented depth of 1.800 meters, maintaining a speed of more than 6 knots and covering a remarkable distance of 1.250 kilometers.
The expedition had a completely different goal in mind, but then, out of nowhere, ships emerged from the bottom of the sea like flowers, an astonishing sight that seemed to be a gift from the depths of time.
Professor Jon Adams, esteemed founder and director of the Center for Maritime Archeology at the University of Southampton, embarked on the scientific vessel Stril Explorer, fully committed to exploring the world in pursuit of seemingly insurmountable missions.
“In our quest to understand the impact of rising water levels on human populations residing along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, we find ourselves grappling with challenging questions about the timing, speed and consequences of this phenomenon. ”
The main objective of the project was to carry out geological investigations to identify submerged land surfaces on the current seabed of the Black Sea. This involved collecting samples, analyzing them, determining their age, and reconstructing the region's prehistoric environment. Unexpectedly, during these geophysical investigations, we came across a remarkable discovery: sunken treasures in the form of ancient ships. “While these ships were an interesting asset, our primary focus remained on paleoenvironmental study. "It's really amazing how well preserved these ships are due to the oxygen-depleted conditions below 159 meters in the Black Sea," Adams explained.
By employing cutting-edge 3D recording technology designed specifically for submerged structures, stunning images have been successfully captured without causing any disturbance to the seabed. This innovative methodology has catapulted to the forefront of world experience in this field, since no one had ever achieved such complete models of sunken vessels at these deep depths.
The Bulgarian maritime platform is the sole focus of the mission, indicating the possibility of numerous additional unexpected revelations.
Among the 41 vessels discovered, some date back to the XNUMXth century, during the reign of the Byzantine Empire in the area. However, there were also ships sent by Ottoman sultans and merchants, as well as Venetian sailors who frequently traded in this region and fell victim to its treacherous storms.
Among the collection of boats There are boats dating from the 1800th, XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, as well as one from the year XNUMX.. By examining pottery styles, anchor types, and mast designs, archaeologists can determine the specific time period and location of each ship's departure.
According to Professor Adams, it is impressive to witness a ship that Marco Polo would have easily recognised, as it reminds us of the prominent trading activities of the Italians in the Black Sea during the Middle Ages.
Equally notable is the method employed to reveal these submerged riches to the public eye. Using 3D photogrammetry software, which is a technique for acquiring maps and plans through photographs, a set of thousands of images was meticulously created. This complex process allows for the creation of a comprehensive digital model, which can then be examined and analyzed from various perspectives.
The underwater vehicles took full advantage of their extraordinary capabilities 24 hours a day. This way, They successfully discovered a fleet of ships spread over a vast expanse of 2.000 square kilometers. And this is just the beginning of your extraordinary journey.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the sunken ships in the Black Sea and their characteristics.