Ancient Shipwreck Found Off Israel’s Coast Reveals Mysterious Blend of Christian and Islamic Symbols—What Secrets Could It Hold?
This differed greatly from the “skeleton-first” construction popular during the fifth and sixth centuries, in which the strakes were fastened to the reconstructed frames, instead.
University of Haifa, Institute for Maritime StudiesIt’s been generally believed that the transition between Byzantine and Islamic rule across seventh and eighth centuries limited Eastern Mediterranean commerce. The ship’s cargo challenges that notion.
“This process of ‘transition in ship construction’ has been one of the main topics in the history of shipbuilding for about 70 years, and some issues have remained unanswered,” said Cvikel.
“Therefore, each shipwreck of this period holds a vast amount of information that can shed further light on the process.”
Unfortunately, the global COVID-19 pandemic has put a temporary halt on the ongoing excavation of the site. The university’s Institute of Maritime Studies and its ambitious team of doctoral and master’s students have had to put the project on hold. Fortunately, they’re all well aware of what’s left to be done.
“We still need to uncover the rear part of the ship, where presumably the captain lived,” said Cvikel. “We also need to carry out more analysis on many of the findings, including the amphorae, their content, the everyday objects, such as the cookware, and the animal bones.”
While this mandatory research break is surely quite frustrating for experts and onlookers alike, there’s no doubt their analysis will eventually resume. In the grand scheme of history — and this ship’s 1,300-year-long slumber in the sea — what’s another few months, really?
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