2000 year old Shipwreck Skeleton

2000 years ago, tragedy struck a merchant ship sailing to Rome. Researchers think a storm smashed the 40 metre long ship against the rocks of a steep cliff. The boat broke up near a Greek island and sank in a violent wrecking event.

People were trapped below decks. Now the bones of one shipwreck victim have been salvaged from the watery graveyard.

Hello Friends,

In August 2017, investigators wrote about a rare find at a shipwreck site located a short boat ride from the Greek island of Antikythera. Buried beneath pieces of broken pottery and sand, they uncovered a partial skull with three teeth, two arm bones, several rib pieces and two femurs, all belonging to the same person.

It’s unusual for ancient remains that are thousands of years old to be preserved underwater for such a long period of time. Typically the remains of drowned victims are swept away, or more gruesomely, the bodies are eaten by sea critters or decompose on the ocean floor.

The next step for the excavation team at the Antikythera site is to obtain permission from the Greek authorities to extract DNA from the bones. Further studies may confirm the gender, ancestry and geographic origins of the person who died on the wreck.

source: www.adelaidenow.com.au

The Antikythera shipwreck was originally discovered by sea sponge divers in 1900. Artifacts recovered from the sunken ship include jewelry, marble, glassware, coins, statuettes, weapons and amphora.

The archaeological site is also known for the recovery of the Antikythera Mechanism, which some people claim is the world’s first known computer. The corroded bronze device has interlocking gears to show the passing of time, and the celestial movements of the sun, moon, stars, and planet.

Watch the video on the skeleton uncovered at the ancient Antikythera shipwreck.

You can read more about the Antikythera project here

Enjoy your weekend,

♥ Ashlyn

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

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