2007 SEASON
 

Our team returned to Kızılburun for the third field season in June 2007 to continue excavating the ancient Roman marble carrier. Since four of the eight column drums were relocated in the 2006 season, our attention was given foremost to continuing this process. The month of June was devoted to moving the Doric capital and remaining four drums. Taking the utmost care to preserve any remains beneath the drums, a new technique of harnessing the drums was implemented in order to reduce intrusion to the substratum and control the drums' final resting spots. In July, once these large marble pieces had been moved to an off-site location, we began excavating the remains that had been buried beneath the drums.
 

Although wooden remains were discovered beneath the drums, their role in the construction of the ship is difficult to determine on account of the degree of degradation and level of excavation. For the most part, the remains were friable and fragmented, with little continuity between pieces, but nonetheless indicated longitudinal and traverse timbers. Under one drum, the remains were contiguous, indicating a pattern of thin planking atop thicker beams, and future excavation may uncover further remains as suggested by plank impressions on the underside of the beams. It is tempting to assume that we have excavated the hull of the ship with ceiling planking, frames, and hull planking, but the traditional mortise-and-tenon fasteners were not found between the planking. Unfortunately, the season ended before excavation could verify the presence of any remaining wooden remains.

Even though the majority of the conspicuous wooden timbers had been excavated and raised during the 2007 season, the remains which still lie buried are the key to unlocking the ultimate question of the ship’s construction.