2003 Projects

Excavations

Surveys

Post-Excavation Research, Conservation, Publication

EXCAVATIONS

Pabuç Burnu Excavation, Turkey During June and July, George Bass and Mark Polzer will finish excavating the sixth-century B.C. shipwreck at Pabuç Burnu, Turkey.  At the end of last season, the team discovered several fragments of the ship's hull.  The pieces of planking have triangular notches and ligature holes running along their edges, indicating that the ship was a sewn, or laced, vessel.  This is the first such discovery in the Aegean and represents an important find with regards to our understanding of shipbuilding in the archaic period of the eastern Mediterranean.  This season's main goals are to map and record the remaining hull timbers, search the area for more fragments, and study and conserve the material excavated in 2002.  Polzer will begin the detailed recording and study of the hull material after the excavation is completed.

Bulgarian Black Sea Project- Kiten Shipwreck Excavation Kroum Batchvarov and his colleagues from the Bulgarian Center for Underwater Archaeology will finish excavating the Ottoman-period vessel at Kiten, off the southern Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. Work continues to finish recording the extensive hull remains and more artifacts from the ship's cargo are expected to be raised.

OK Steamboat Project In 1999 the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) investigated the remains of a steamboat eroding from the north bank of the Red River a short distance from the state historic site of Fort Towson.  Subsequent investigations showed that the well-preserved wreck had machinery and hull characteristics dating to the 1830s or 1840s, and is the earliest example of a "western river steamer" to be archaeologically investigated.  The proposed 2003 project will initiate a multi-year INA-OHS effort to excavated, record, and analyze the steamer and its contents.

Monte Cristi Shipwreck Project, Dominican Republic During the seventeenth century, contrabandistas and buccaneers rampantly fueled illegal trade on Hispaniola's northern coast.  Historical evidence documenting this practice is scant; archaeological evidence is virtually non-existent.  One exception to this record may be the remnants of a vessel lying in the waters off Monte Cristi.  This wreck of a northern European merchantman appears to be our first archaeological evidence of this illicit enterprise.  Archaeological collections from contemporary sites suggest that the ship's cargo was destined for the eastern seaboard of what is now the United States- specifically the Hudson River Valley.  Certain items found in the cargo were intended for trade with Native Americans, as aspect of commerce generally not chronicled.  Continuing research for 2003 will include further excavation of the wrecksite and the conservation of artifacts in the Fortaleza Ozama Conservation Facility in Santo Domingo.

Arade I Excavation, Portugal Dr. Filipe Castro will conduct the excavation and disassembling of a probable 16th century shipwreck at the mouth of the Arade River.  This project is part of a vast study promoted by CNANS, the Portuguese national agency for underwater archaeology.

SURVEYS

Turkey Ancient Shipwreck Survey Once the excavation at Pabuç Burnu is completed, INA adjunct professor Faith Hentschel will depart with Virazon, Millawanda, and Carolyn and their INA crew to survey the Turkish coastline from Marmaris into Gökova Bay. The survey continues INA's long history of underwater surveying in Turkey, but which was interrupted last year due to the extended excavation campaign at Pabuç Burnu.

Episkopi Bay Survey As an island uniquely situated between the Aegean world and that of the Near East, Cyprus is an ideal place to explore the archaeological remains of millennia of heavy maritime commerce. This survey is investigating the extent of Cypriot contacts during the Late Bronze and Iron Ages in the area of the Greco-Roman site of Kourion, off the island's southern coast. The project is conducted in cooperation with the University of Cincinnati excavations at the Late Bronze Age site of Episkopi-Bamboula, under the direction of Dr. Gisela Walberg. Survey Director: Justin Leidwanger (jleidwa@hotmail.com)

Morocco Maritime Survey Morocco’s shores have witnessed a number of foreign cultures vying for control of its resources. Despite its prolific maritime-based history, however, the country’s waters have been minimally explored.  By diver and remote-sensing survey, this project seeks to identify underwater and coastal sites to define trends in Morocco’s maritime history and determine their connection to ancient cultures in throughout the region.  The survey is conducted in coordination with the Kingdom of Morocco’s archaeological department, Institute National des Sciences d’Archéologie et du Patrimoine (INSAP). Project Director: Athena Trakadas, athena.trakadas@natmus.dk

Santo Domingo Survey Project Numerous shipwrecks from the 16th through 20th centuries have been recorded historically in the proximity of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, due to the destructive effects of seasonal hurricanes that plague the island.  This area, void of archaeological work but conditioned to treasure salving, is primed for the onset of archaeology.  This haven of shipwrecks is one of the more promising areas to find early 16th century Iberian vessels.  The project includes a remote sensing and visual survey of the bay and coastline to the east.

Kaulon 2003 The main goal of the survey in the waters between Roccella to Badolato Marina, Italy is to explore the seafloor looking for wrecks and submersed remains of buildings, belonging mainly to the Greek age.  In the area of interest one city flourished in antiquity: the Greek Kaulonia.  This colony had centuries of uninterrupted trade, history, cultural and commercial relationships from about the 7th century B.C. until its destruction in 389 B.C. by the Syracusian Dyonisos I.

Southern Albania Submersible Survey The 2003 survey is the logical continuation of the 2000 Albania Reconnaissance Project conduct by INA.  Through survey by divers and INA's submersible Caroline in selected regions, we hope to learn the location of potential shipwrecks.  The project will mark the first year of what we hope to be an ongoing project of shipwreck discovery and excavation in Albania in collaboration with the Albanian Ministry of Culture and the Butrint National Park.

POST EXCAVATION RESEARCH, CONSERVATION, AND PUBLICATION

Denbigh Civil War Blockade Runner, Galveston, Texas The Denbigh is the only Civil War blockade runner to be excavated in the Gulf of Mexico and one of just a few that have been investigated anywhere.  The Denbigh was hailed as a pinnacle of achievement in British maritime engineering, design, and construction. This ship became the last blockade runner to clear a Confederate port.   Goals for 2003 include publication of the findings and the conservation of the artifacts.

Cais do Sodre Ship Timber Project, Lisbon, Portugal In conjunction with the Centro Nacional de Argqueologia Nautica e Subaquatica, (CNANS), INA and Texas A&M University will continue recording the timbers of this ship with the goals of reconstruction, modeling, and publication.

The Galley Kadirga Project The Kadirga, or the excursion galley of the Ottoman Sultans on display in the Naval Museum in Istanbul, is the only authentic galley in existence and is the world's oldest surviving historic vessel.  The vessel is assumed to date to the mid-17th century based on an inscription found on its stern cabin and thought to name Mehmed IV (1648-1687).  Limited secondary evidence and recent research, however, suggest an even earlier date for its construction.  The primary focus of our continuing analysis of the galley is aimed at generating accurate and comprehensive lines drawings, construction plans, and a detailed documentation of the various renovations and restorations the vessel has undergone during its long service life.

Uluburun shipwreck: Conservation and study for Publication During 11 years of excavation from 1984 to 1994, some 20 tons of cargo, shipboard objects, and personal possessions were recovered from the Uluburun shipwreck.  Concentrated conservation efforts over the last eight years have resulted in the cleaning and stabilization of nearly three quarters of the material excavated.  Before a meaningful and detailed analysis can be conducted for the final publication, all of the excavated artifacts have to be conserved completely, reconstructed, measured, drawn and photographed.  The Uluburun shipwreck is considered to be one of the most important Bronze Age sites ever discovered and is regarded among the ten great archaeological finds of the past century.  Most goods recovered from the shipwreck are unique and have greatly enhanced every aspect of Bronze Age archaeology of the Mediterranean from Homeric studies to metrology, and from ship construction to refinements of Bronze Age chronology.

Mombasa Shipwreck Excavation Due to the completion of the Mombasa Shipwreck Excavation, preparations for the final publication of the Mombasa Shipwreck Excavation are taking place.   This portion of the research phase will correlate the results of the completed excavation and assimilate those results into a database.   This project will make available a database (integrating all drawings and photographs) which will be used by researchers and final publication contributors as well as encourage continuing positive contributions.