Deep in the Mediterranean Ocean lie clues to an ancient civilization and its open water trading systems. When Nauticos identified a 200 B.C. vessel buried in the depths of the Mediterranean Ocean in 1999, they found evidence that challenged long held assumptions that ancient sailors lacked the navigational skills to sail lengthy distances across open waters. SeaWord intends to return to the site in the to conduct further research on this historical wreck site. See Discovery of a Deep Sea Ancient Shipwreck on the Nauticos website for more information on this amazing discovery.
Ancient Wreck Program Goals:
• Relocate the ancient shipwreck(s)
• Non-intrusively map its position
• Identify the age, condition, nationality, type, and cargo of each of the shipwrecks
• Collect data supporting the theory that deepwater shipwrecks are archaeologically more complete than their shallow water counterparts
• Build educational and scientific discovery programs surrounding the investigations of the Ancient Wreck sites
Stages of Exploration:
• High-resolution side scan sonar survey of each shipwreck
• A mosaic will map each of the shipwrecks and all objects external to the hull remains.
• Generate a precise hydrographic map of each of the sites and the surrounding areas.
• Collect digital sub-bottom data throughout the area to accurately map the geological environment on which each of the shipwrecks rest.
• Create a stereo photo-mosaic of the entire site.
• Although the research design is complex, all of the tasks to be performed will use off-the-shelf tools available in the commercial and government arenas.
• All of the tooling and sensors specified in the research design are available commercially and almost all of them are available to lease.
• This allows for many opportunities for maritime industry companies, individual donors, and students to take part in this exciting opportunity.
We are hoping that teachers can participate on this expedition and create a curriculum based on the
experience and the learning provided by the voyage.
Teachers could also host an online class, with a live webcast, to share the information and teach students around the world about the ancient wreck and the exploration.
The possibilities for providing unique educational opportunities are limitless and are still being defined.