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Uluburun Shipwreck
Discovered in 1982 at 8.5 kilometers south east of Kas, Uluburun ship draws our attention because of its age, its finds and its so called Royal cargo. This was a Bronze Age ship dating to 14th century with a cargo of copper ingots and various objects originating from different parts of ancient world. Discovered at 45 meters depth by a sponge diver Mehmet Cakir, Uluburun wreck was one of the most difficult ships to excavate because of the great depth of the wreck. First dated to Early Bronze Age by the Turkish archaeologist, Uluburun wreck was excavated by Institute of Nautical Archaeology and Texas A&M University starting from 1984. Uluburun Excavations lasted 11 summer campaigns during which 22.400 dives were accomplished by the underwater archaeologist under the direction of Cemal Pulak. Uluburun ship laid on a steep slope having its stern at 44 meters depth while its bow at 52 meters. Even some of the artifacts tumbled down to 62 meters. This was a ship constructed in shell first technique in cedar.
The ship's major cargo was mainly raw material and items of trade such as 10 tons of Cypriot copper, in the form of 318 flat, four handled copper ingots. Each ingot weighted nearly 23 kilograms. In addition to four handled ingots, there are 31 two handled ingots, flat ones, bun ingots. One of the most interesting items discovered on the ship was a ton of pure tine ingots with unknown origin. Copper and tin discovered on this ship would make 11 ton of bronze that would be enough to make weapons for whole army. Another important cargo was 150 glass ingots, earliest intact ones ever discovered. The ship also was carrying a ton of terabit resin from pistachio trebintus, which was used during the religious rituals for incense burning. The ship had also manufactured goods such as Cypriot pottery, discovered in two large pithoi9 storage jars). the Egyptian seals, statues of Egyptian divinities and luxurious objects make us accept there were group of important people on the ship or ship was carrying a Royal Cargo including golden bracelets, necklaces, rings from the jewelers from Egypt and Canaan. Rare ebony logs, transported from tropical Africa, amber beads from north, elephant and hippopotamus teeth from again from Africa indicate the richness of the cargo, carried in this specific ship. Among the fascinating finds of the shipwreck, we can mention the seal of Egyptian queen Nefertitiy, who was the wife of Pharaoh Akheneton. That is the only surviving gold seal of queen. Another object worth mentioning is the oldest book. This kind of books are mentioned by Iliad. It is made of boxwood and ivory and beeswax and stylus was used for writing. Visitors also enjoy the animal shaped weights, largest zoomophologic weights including a sphinx, cows, bulls, lions, ducks, frog and a housefly. A tiny but very special weight shows a cowherd knelling with tree of his calves. cylindrical seals, swords, glass ingots. The story of the ship which archaeologist suggest: The ship departed from the Syrian coast and called at Cyprus where porters brought 350 copper ingots, mined at the famous copper mines of the Island. This copper cargo nearly weighted ten tons. There was already one ton of tin on the ship. These copper and tin ingots were enough for making bronze weapons for a great army. The ship was also carrying resin in hundred jars or incense burning. The destination of the ship was not precisely known but it was probably sailing towards the Hittite lands. The gold covered statute of the Goddess was protecting patron divinity of the ship. A great number of musical instruments, discovered on the ship indicates they were probably rituals and dances performed for goddess. These were ivory trumpets, bronze cymbals, lutes of tortoise shell. Fishing nets, animal shaped weights are remarkable objects discovered at the site. People were well armed on the ship. Discovery of great number of swords, maces, bow and arrows, spears indicate that they were ready for all kind of attacks. When the ship was at Uluburun area, it was drawn towards the shore because of very strong wind and hit the rocks and sank. George Bass and his team dated Uluburun wreck to 14th century B.C. This was confirmed by the tree-ring analysis of log which was used as cargo or fire wood and the date was 1316 BC. Mycenaean Pottery and gold seal of Nefetiti also confirm the date. It is suggested that this seal was on the Uluburun ship and among the golden, silver and electrum objects not during her ruling years but later. For the jeweler who owned all these jewellery, the weight of the gold was important. Examining the artifacts originating from different parts of the world, archeologist try to understand the origin of the ship and the nationality of the crew. Ascertaining it is little problematic. Syrian, Assyrian and Cassite seals discovered at the ship does not mean the merchants came from those lands. It is known that ruler of ancient times sent a collection of seals to each other. Although it does not tell us exact nationality of the people, most of the cargo came from the Syria-Palestinian coast and Cyprus. One of the most interesting studies to ascertain the nationality of ship and its crew was examination of stone anchors of the ship. These are types of anchors used in Aegean and cost of Israel.
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