Submitted by Lindsay Brophy on Fri, 26/10/2018 - 14:57

Has anyone lost their ship recently?

Archaeologists have discovered what they believe to be the oldest intact shipwreck on the ocean floor of the Black Sea. The Greek merchant ship was discovered by the Black Sea Maritime Archaeological Project 2km below the surface and approximately 50 miles off the shore of Bulgaria. It is believed that the ship has been lying there for more than 2,400 years.

What is really impressive about this shipwreck is how intact it is after nearly 2,500 years. A lack of oxygen at that depth has ensured that the ship has remained incredibly well preserved. The contents of the hold, rowing benches and the rudder were still in good condition.

At 2,000km below the surface, it is no surprise that it has only just been discovered. Beyond the reach of divers, archaeologists had to use remote operated vehicles to reach it. As of yet the ship’s cargo is unknown and the team will need more funding to revisit the site. However, they are optimistic that this find will tell us a lot about the technology and trade movements around the time of its sinking.