Ancient Kyrenia Ship 2of6 Αρχαίο καράβι της Κερύνειας

Divers worked in 6-person teams, for 40 minute diving sessions.

Communication between divers and ancillary staff on the diving pontoon was possible due to a special air-filled bell-system invented by Dr Katsev.

Initial tasks involved clearing sea vegetation in the area of the wreck. The surface layers were loosened using a long pipe fed with air, and then a very long tube which functioned somewhat like a vacume cleaner was used to clear sand, mud and vegetation.

Archeological excavation, involves careful charting of the area being excavated, and large 3 x 3 metre areas covered an overall area of 10 x 28 metres. Each item found was chartered in terms of its location in the overall grid, and items were tagged. Twice a day the area was documented using a specially devised 2-camera recording system which would produce a 3 dimensional mapping which could show the size of objects found.

43 Amphorae were then moved to the surface after 23 centuries underwater. These were thought to have contained up to 40 kilos of wine. 10,000 well preserved almonds were also found in some of the amphorae.

The project generated great international interest, and Cyprus president Archbishop Makarios is shown visiting the diving platform.

More than 400 amphorae were recovered from the wreck. The distinctive style of different amphorae showed where that cargo had originated from. They are shown being taken up the steps and into Kyrenia Castle for storage and safe-keeping. Dr Katzev explains that some would have contained wine or olive oil, and the overall volume of each amphorae would have been recorded with the makers' initials on the handles of each container.

The location of each item found was plotted in the workspace within the castle. The findings are of interest not only to Cyprus but the international community generally, providing a unique insight into the classical Greek culture and that of the broader eastern mediterranean.

Once the amphorae had been removed, ranged in neat rows of three along the keel of the vessel a total of 23 millstones were found, made of volcanic rock and bearing Greek letters. They were not matching pairs, which led to the conclusion that these were leftovers from a past cargo, kept as ballast.

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Tags:

• Ancient Kyrenia Ship
• Αρχαίο καράβι της Κερύνειας
• Κερύνεια
• Kyrenia
• Cyprus
• Michael Katzev
• underwater
• archaeology
• diving
• Mediterranean
• Universirty of Pennsylvania
• Archbishop Makarios