The shipwreck is Hellinistic in
origin, most probably dating rfom the end of the third century BC or the beginning of the
second century BC. The cargo was largely amphora that contained wine. Two Rhodian amphoras
are clearly present near the anchor stocks at what would have been the bow of the ship.
 |
Fig. 2: Bow area of the shipwreck
with an anchor stock, collars and Amphora.
|
There are very few known wrecks from this time period and none of these are in such an
excellent state of preservation. The shape of the wreck site is typical of ancient ships
from this period. The amphoras form a more or less ovoid mound, having been stacked in the
hold as many as three layers deep, and tapering longitudinally and vertically with the run
of the hull of the ship. We estimate the vessel to be approximately 20 meters long.
 |
Fig.3: Ancient anchors similar to
the type used on this vessel.
|
The bow is clearly
identifiable given the presence of at least four anchors. Anchors of the period were
comprised of wooden shafts and flukes, and lead stocks and fluke supports, or
"collars" (Fig. 3). There are at least four collars and three anchor
stocks all still oriented as if they were laying on the fore deck of the ship which was
the usual position while underway. The most clearly visible stock protrudes from the
sediment at a steep angle, and is judged to have a length of at least 2 meters and weight
of several hundred pounds. It is not uncommon to find 6 or more anchors on a wreck site
from this period, as the anchors required continuous repair and were often lost during
deployment.
 |
Fig. 4: Cooking cauldron amid the
amphora. The world's longest deployed sediment trap. There is at least one
intact serving bowl and two intact pitchers typical of the period.
|
The stern of the ship is
demarcated by the paucity of ceramic material, and the hodge-podge of amphoras, some part
of the cargo and others possibly to the crew provisions. There is also a scattering of
cooking ware, or coarse pottery commonly found in the galley, which was located in the
stern of these vessels
 |
Fig. 5: Ballast stone located
between the main cargo area and the crew area.
|
The presence of ballast stone
just forward of the stern area indicates that the bulk of the cargo was loaded in the main
hold forward of the galley on top of the ballast stone (Fig. 5). The galley was
separated from the cargo area by both the cooking hearth brickwork and a strong bulkhead.
As the wooden structure of the ship deteriorated the cargo would tend to spread and
settle, in this case more toward the bow and sides than the stern, partially exposing the
ballast stone
