Turkish archaeologists map country's sunken heritage

Harun zdas, project manager and assistant professor of Underwater Archaeology at DE said "The lost underwater history of the Aegean and Mediterranean" project is the first of its kind ever to be carried out by a Turkish university.

The project, which began in May has already located over 20 shipwrecks, eight underwater ruins, and six sunken locations dating back to the Ottoman era.

"Our goal is to find the sunken heritage of our country. So far we dived to 15 sunken areas between Anamur and Izmir. We came across many sunken places in the gulf of Gkova," said Prof. zdas.

He said some 12 scientists have been assigned to the project including archaeologists, biologists and geophysicists.

The Piri Reis Research Ship and the Bodrum School Ship are being used for the studies, and diving permission granted by the Culture Ministry has allowed researchers access to restricted zones, he said.

Upon completion of the project, the data will be published in geography books mapping the sunken history of Turkey, he added.

He said presently the studies are being carried out at a depth of 20-40 meters underwater.

"Findings we discovered in Alaati belong to 5 BC. The ones in Gkova belong to the Hellenistic and Roman period. We focus on the commercial route of old times. We are planning to carry out a project in the Black Sea after the Aegean and Mediterranean," said Prof. zdas.

"Underwater remains provide important information about the life in the past, as well as about geological changes. The remains reveal the changes in the water level of the Aegean and Mediterranean. We can also find information about construction technologies employed. So far we have found plates, tiles and different cargo ships," he said. (ANI)

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