Tengrinews.kz - An international team of archaeologists has discovered a ship that sank several centuries ago on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea in Mazandaran (Iran), according to Yeni Safak.
Carbon dating showed that the wooden ship was built between 1762 and 1808. The wood of the hull, including pine and larch, probably came from the Volga-Caspian region.
The 28-metre-long vessel probably belonged to the Russian merchant fleet. It was found after the sea level dropped, revealing a sand dune. Excavations also revealed traces of repairs to the ship that were carried out later. Baskets of buckwheat were found among the cargo.
To protect against wave damage, researchers erected barriers made of sandbags and then removed layers of sand. In total, 43 layers of sediment were documented, which had hidden the ship for centuries. Unique technologies helped to study the wood, preserved in high humidity conditions, and trace its origin.
Journal of Maritime Archaeology
Iran's coastal areas along the Caspian Sea experience fluctuating sea levels caused by climate change, which leads to the exposure of cultural artifacts and shipwrecks.
The Caspian Sea is surrounded by five countries that have long used it as an important trade route.
Earlier, a silhouette resembling a sunken ship was discovered on the floor of the Caspian Sea near Aktau. The outline of the object, believed to be a submerged vessel, was spotted on Google Maps about 1.5 kilometers from Cape Melovoy. The find is remarkable in size, with an estimated length of about 70 meters and a width of 15 meters.
