In 1965, diving instructor Andreas Cariolu was out in the Cypriot sea searching for sponges when he came across a shipwreck that scientists went on to call one of the most important finds in modern history.
As well as discovering the 14-metre long boat, known as the Kyrenia, over 300 amphorae, a type of ancient storage container, were also found on the seabed. Subsequent excavations between 1968 and 1969 recovered a total of 391 amphorae that contained products such as wine, olive oil , and almonds.
Since the find, scientists have worked hard to date both the amphorae and the ship, and new techniques may well have solved the problem. Evidence had suggested that the ship’s last voyage took place around 300 BC. However, this is now disputed thanks to new evidence: in a new paper, Cornell University, after using radiocarbon dating and dendrochronology, claim it was much later.
Discovery of ‘fundamental importance to the history of naval technology’
“We are excited to apply scientific techniques to date the famous Kyrenia ship to just over 2,300 years ago. It is of fundamental importance to the history of naval technology and maritime trade in the classical Mediterranean,” said lead author Sturt Manning, professor of arts and sciences in classical archaeology at Cornell University in New York.
The research team, instead of dating the ship through the contents of the amphorae, used wood samples, a twig, and animal bone to determine the true age. They found that Kyrenia’s sinking took place between 296 BC and 271 BC, with a more precise estimate narrowing it to between 286 BC and 272 BC.
“We got dates that are very close to those that archaeologists have been recently suggesting but just ever so slightly more recent,” Manning added.
Mark Lawall, a professor in the department of classics at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, told CNN that “the other part of the Kyrenia story is its window into past lives that are otherwise difficult to ‘see’ through the well-known ancient writers. The Kyrenia crew may have been a band of more marginal traders, taking up what they could, where and when they could, and hoping for a small profit at the end of the day.”
“They dealt across cultures and in doing so were part of an immensely complex network that tied all parts of the Mediterranean together. In this way we start to understand the origins of the modern, multi-cultural, inter-linked Mediterranean world”, he concluded.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
