Treasures from the sea

The end of the year is the time when archeologists complete their field studies and summarize their research. Students from the Faculty of History at Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University, who take part in archeological internships every summer, are displaying their achievements at the exhibit “Expeditions 2007: Quests and Discoveries.” This past year they took part in five field expeditions: they explored an 8th-9th-century Slavic settlement at the Kaniv Natural Preserve, completed a geological survey on Kerch Peninsula, and worked in the Sudak Fortress Museum located in the town’s harbor area. Apart from doing land excavations, the young archeologists also worked underwater. They explored an 18th-century Russian navy shipwreck (Tarkhankut Peninsula) and brought up treasures from a 13th-century Pisan ship that sank in the sea off the village of Novy Svit, near Sudak. This is Ukraine’s only expedition that deals with undersea excavations. Serhii ZELENKO, head of Taras Shevchenko University’s Underwater Archeology Center, told The Day about the particularities of underwater archeology and the significance of their discoveries.

Dr. Zelenko, what is the difference between land and underwater archeological excavations?

“Underwater explorations are subject to certain scuba diving regulations. Before diving, archeologists are briefed about how to behave underwater. They not only have to dive to a depth of five meters (the location of the Pisan ship) but also work with a spade and look for things. It is often very difficult to examine the objects that are found, especially in poorly-lit areas. During this year’s expedition, all the members of our group went underwater, but not everyone managed to see the ship, let alone bring something up. Some of the young archeologists had to do less interesting work, such as recording the found objects, describing their exterior appearance — the drawings or markings engraved on them. The students who want to take part in the underwater expedition are attending special classes, where they are learning the properties of water and how to breathe under water: in other words, they are being informed about all the things one should know in case of an underwater emergency.”

You have been exploring this ship for the past several years. What new things did you manage to raise from the seabed this year?

“A very interesting find was a large broken amphora filled with tar. The students also found a few small amphorae. On the whole, this year’s expedition was quite successful because we were lucky to find the part of the ship that held the amphorae and other merchandise that was supposed to be sold. Some items bear still undeciphered graffiti. Some of the markings on the amphorae are the letters M and F, as well as a symbol that looks like a modern-day corkscrew.

“Since this Italian vessel was a merchant ship, it was used to transport a considerable quantity of Venetian glass items of different colors — green, white, and brown. These finds are especially valuable because it is very difficult to find them on dry land. Thanks to the properties of water, the Venetian glass items have preserved their original appearance, so they did not need much chemical cleaning or processing. In addition to the glass, we recovered some wooden combs used by sailors. They are almost in pristine condition because they have been lying under a layer of sand. We also found spheroid flasks on whose surface medieval artisans had carved a grid of triangular figures, so they resemble tortoiseshell.”

What were they for?

“Our academics hypothesize that the merchants carried mercury in these flasks. Another theory is that they were used for military purposes, as grenades. They were filled to the top with fuel and thrown at enemy ships. Among our other interesting finds is a set of glazed pottery. This is practically the only collection of its kind in Europe. After undergoing necessary treatment, these cups and plates will be donated to Crimean museums.”

How did you know that the 13th-century ship was located in the waters near Novy Svit?

“The Underwater Archeology Center, which has existed at the university for about 10 years, was occasionally receiving information that amateur scuba divers were finding strange amphorae in the sea near this village. For a long time scholars could not say how they had ended up on the seabed. Then our researchers got down to business. After many surveys they determined that the ship belonged to Genoese merchants.”

Where did they get this information?

“We are 100 percent sure of this because the archival documents found on the ship show that a battle took place in 1276 near Sudak between some ships from Genoa and Pisa. There was a civil war at this time, and Italy was breaking apart into many republics that were vying for free lands. One of the ships burned down during the battle. We believe that what is now on the Black Sea bed is a Pisan shipwreck. This is also proved by the pottery that we uncovered. According to our Italian experts, its style and decoration is typical of the work of Pisan artisans. An additional factor that corroborates our theory is the coins that were found during previous explorations. Experts from the University of Lyon conducted their own examinations of these coins and determined that they date to the 13th century.

“This year we were lucky to find one more ship off Tarkhankut Peninsula. Research shows that it belonged to the 18th-century Russian navy.”

What is the historical value of the items found by your expedition?

“They give an idea of everyday life in medieval Italy, its economic development, and trade relations with Ukraine. We have acquired reliable information about the pottery commonly used during the Middle Ages; current historical films use props that have nothing to do with the real thing. In general, the underwater excavations of the Pisan and Russian shipwrecks will provide a lot of new and useful information to historians who study maritime issues as well as economic questions of that period. Our discoveries will also help some of our researchers write scholarly works and books. The students will also benefit: they had an opportunity to relax away from the urban bustle and enrich themselves with new knowledge. One day they too may make their own scientific discoveries.”