Bozburun Byzantine Shipwreck Excavation Bozburun Home, Artifact & Image Gallery, Shipwreck Site Plan

Amphoras

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	Looking up slope over the lower end of the amphora mound, early in the excavation. Most of the visible amphoras have tumbled down slope from their original positions in the hold. (slide# BK-36.21) Photo: INA.		Under the jumbled amphoras was a layer of jars still stacked in orderly rows, much as stevedores had left them nearly 1,200 years ago. Here a diver cleans out the spaces between amphoras. Small finds are often found wedged down in these spaces. (slide# BK-93.24) Photo: INA.
	Close up view of several of the stacked amphoras, show the care taken in aligning the handles, perhaps so that light lashings could be passed through them to help stabilize the cargo. (slide# BK-80.14) Photo: INA.		The last row of stacked amphoras, awaiting removal. Visible to the left is some of the ceiling (interior planking), on which the amphoras rested. They were cushioned by brushwood dunnage, some of which survives. It is probably thorny burnett, a spiny plant found throughout the eastern Mediterranean. (slide# BK-126.03) Photo: INA.
	Diver removing an amphora from an excavation unit. The jar may be raised to the surface immediately, or placed in an off-site storage area to await raising. (slide# BK-89.15) Photo: INA.		The Pen, a fenced enclosure in Sig Liman1, the bay just in front of the camp, where amphoras could be kept after cataloguing to await shipment by truck to the Bodrum Museum of Underwtaer Archaeology. (slide# BK-77.31) Photo: INA.
	An example of the most common amphora form on the wreck, which was designated Class 1. These jars are thought to come from kilns in the Crimea, on the north shore of the Black Sea. They average approximately 46 cm high, 28 cm in diameter, and have a capacity of about 13 liters. (slide# BK-95.19) Photo: INA.		An example of the most common amphora form on the wreck, which was designated Class 1. These jars are thought to come from kilns in the Crimea, on the north shore of the Black Sea. They average approximately 46 cm high, 28 cm in diameter, and have a capacity of about 13 liters. (slide# BK-95.22) Photo: INA.
	An example of the most common amphora form on the wreck, which was designated Class 1. These jars are thought to come from kilns in the Crimea, on the north shore of the Black Sea. They average approximately 46 cm high, 28 cm in diameter, and have a capacity of about 13 liters. (slide# BK-98.26) Photo: INA.		An example of the most common amphora form on the wreck, which was designated Class 1. These jars are thought to come from kilns in the Crimea, on the north shore of the Black Sea. They average approximately 46 cm high, 28 cm in diameter, and have a capacity of about 13 liters. (slide# BK-98.16) Photo: INA.
	A drawing, by Selma Oguz, of one of the Class 1 amphoras. (slide# BK-44.65) Photo: INA		An example of a Class 2 amphora. Only a handful of these were found on the wreck, distributed across the hold a little aft of amidships.  Their origin remains unknown. (slide# BK-98.29) Photo: INA.
	A drawing, by Selma Oguz, of a Class 2 amphora. (slide# BK-44.63) Photo: INA.		Of more than 700 intact amphoras recovered, 59 had their stoppers, of pine bark or clay tile sherds, still in place. The stoppers were covered with a layer of pitch to seal them in place. (slide# BK-77.08) Photo: INA.
	A pine bark stopper removed, showing the beveled edge. These stoppers are quite consistent in size, as are the mouths of the amphoras, averaging between 5 and 6 cm in diameter. (slide# BK-78.16) Photo: INA.		A selection of bark and clay stoppers, along with a wooden net float (with a hole toward one edge). (slide# BK-98.01) Photo: INA.
	Although most of the amphoras probably contained wine, at least two were full of olives (shown here are the pits) and one was full of grapes.  (slide# BK-98.34) Photo: INA.		One of the Class 2 amphoras, found in the stern, contained grapes. Over 7,000 seeds (representing over 2,000 fruits) were recovered from this well-sealed jar, as well as a few whole grapes! (slide# BK-122.29) Photo: INA.
	Many of the amphoras have graffiti scratched into them. Most of these graffiti are initials or abbreviated names, probably the names of the merchants involved in the voyage. This photo shows the letters AN, perhaps an abbreviation for Anastasios or Anthemios. This is the most common graffiti, but others represented by multiple examples are '+ (probably for Georgios) and +A3G (probably an abbreviation of Episcopos, or bishop). Most graffiti are inscribed on the shoulders, next to one of the handles. (slide# BK-98.37) Photo: INA.		Another example of graffiti. (slide# BK-95.34) Photo: INA.