Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project facts for kids
The Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project (MAP) is an exciting research project. Its main goal is to find, record, and study ancient remains hidden deep in the Black Sea. This project is led by experts from the University of Southampton. It gets its funding from the Expedition and Education Foundation.
Besides looking for old shipwrecks, the international team also studies how the water level in the Black Sea has changed over thousands of years. They want to understand how these changes affected the people who lived around the sea long ago.
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What is the Black Sea Archaeology Project?
The Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project, or MAP for short, is like a giant underwater detective mission. Scientists and archaeologists from different countries work together. They use special equipment to explore the very bottom of the Black Sea.
Exploring the Deep Black Sea
The project's main focus is on the deep parts of the Black Sea. This area is special because its deep waters have very little oxygen. This lack of oxygen helps to preserve ancient objects, like wooden ships, much better than in other seas. It's like a natural time capsule!
How They Find Ancient Treasures
To find these hidden treasures, the MAP team uses advanced underwater robots. These robots can dive very deep, sometimes kilometers below the surface. They have cameras and other tools to map the seabed and spot anything interesting. When they find something, they carefully document it with photos and measurements.
Discovering the World's Oldest Ship
In 2018, the MAP team made an amazing announcement. They had found the oldest mostly complete shipwreck ever discovered! This ancient ship was resting on the seabed, about two kilometers (more than a mile) below the surface. It was a truly incredible find.
A Ship from Ancient Greece
Scientists used a method called radiocarbon dating to figure out the ship's age. They found it was about 2,400 years old, dating back to around 400 B.C. This means the ship sailed during the time of ancient Greece! It was a trading ship, likely carrying goods across the sea. The ship looks very similar to vessels shown on ancient Greek pottery from the same time period.
What is Radiocarbon Dating?
Radiocarbon dating is a scientific way to find out how old something once living is. Things like wood, bones, or plants have a tiny amount of a special kind of carbon called Carbon-14. This carbon slowly decays over time. By measuring how much Carbon-14 is left, scientists can calculate how long ago the plant or animal died. It's a bit like a natural clock!
Why is This Project Important?
The Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project is very important for several reasons. First, it helps us learn more about ancient civilizations and how they lived and traded. Finding well-preserved ships gives us a direct look into the past.
Second, the project also teaches us about the history of the Black Sea itself. By studying how water levels changed, scientists can understand past climates. This helps us learn about our planet's history and how it might change in the future. The discoveries from MAP help us piece together the puzzle of human history and our environment.
