Details
The Kyrenia ship, a Greek merchantman built around 315 BC and sunk off the north coast of Cyprus 294
size=2>–291 BC, was excavated between 1967 and 1972 under the direction of Michael Katzev. The importance of this ship lies in the extraordinary state of preservation of the hull, allowing great insights into ancient shipbuilding, and in the cargo it was carrying. Its hold was full of Rhodian transport amphoras and its cabin pottery was also mostly made on Rhodes, which was probably its home port. Its trade route ran between Rhodes, Cyprus, the Levant, and possibly Egypt. This first of a planned multi-volume publication includes a detailed history of the excavation of the ship, as well as the most important objects for determining the date of its sinking. These include the primary cargo, transport amphorae, with four different types from Rhodes; fewer examples from Samos and the Cyclades (Paros), and possibly northern Greece, Cyprus and the Levant. The Rhodian amphora stamps date the shipwreck to between 294 and 291 BC. The second most helpful dating material comprises vessels and utensils (cups and saucers, cooking pots and grills, serving bowls and spoons, water jars and pitchers) used by the crew. For most categories, four examples were found, suggesting a crew of four. Scientific analyses show that the majority were again made in Rhodes. Seven bronze coins were recovered, five of which were minted in the name of Alexander the Great and one in the name of Ptolemy I in Cyprus. Together, these objects document not only the date of the sinking but also give evidence of the probable Rhodian home port and trade route of the Kyrenia ship’s final voyage.
size=2>–291 BC, was excavated between 1967 and 1972 under the direction of Michael Katzev. The importance of this ship lies in the extraordinary state of preservation of the hull, allowing great insights into ancient shipbuilding, and in the cargo it was carrying. Its hold was full of Rhodian transport amphoras and its cabin pottery was also mostly made on Rhodes, which was probably its home port. Its trade route ran between Rhodes, Cyprus, the Levant, and possibly Egypt. This first of a planned multi-volume publication includes a detailed history of the excavation of the ship, as well as the most important objects for determining the date of its sinking. These include the primary cargo, transport amphorae, with four different types from Rhodes; fewer examples from Samos and the Cyclades (Paros), and possibly northern Greece, Cyprus and the Levant. The Rhodian amphora stamps date the shipwreck to between 294 and 291 BC. The second most helpful dating material comprises vessels and utensils (cups and saucers, cooking pots and grills, serving bowls and spoons, water jars and pitchers) used by the crew. For most categories, four examples were found, suggesting a crew of four. Scientific analyses show that the majority were again made in Rhodes. Seven bronze coins were recovered, five of which were minted in the name of Alexander the Great and one in the name of Ptolemy I in Cyprus. Together, these objects document not only the date of the sinking but also give evidence of the probable Rhodian home port and trade route of the Kyrenia ship’s final voyage.
Table of Contents
List of figures and tables
Preface
Susan Womer Katzev
1. Introduction
1.1. IntroductionSusan Womer Katzev1.2. Dedication to Michael and Susan W. Katzev from excavation membersHelena (Laina) Wylde Swiny with contributions from David I. Owen, Robert K. “Chip” Vincent, Stephen J. Scheifele, Owen Gander, and Robin C. M. Piercy1.3. Thanks to LainaSusan Womer Katzev1.4. In thanks to all who helpedSusan Womer Katzev with Helena (Laina) Wylde Swiny and Robin C. M. Piercy
2. The excavation
2.1. How it beganMichael L. Katzev† [assembled by Susan Womer Katzev and Mary C. Sturgeon]2.2. Kyrenia shipwreck remote sensing analysisJeremy N. Green2.3. Kyrenia Ship data2.3a. Labeling excavation objectsHelena (Laina) Wylde Swiny and Susan Womer Katzev2.3b. Data explanation: creating the amphora plansHelena (Laina) Wylde Swiny and Susan Womer Katzev2.3c. The Kyrenia Ship ApplicationThomas Myette2.4. Evidence for Octopodia activity on the wreck siteHelena (Laina) Wylde Swiny and Susan Womer Katzev
3. Amphoras
3.1. The transport amphorasMark Lawall3.2. Observations on amphora distributionHelena (Laina) Wylde Swiny and Susan Womer Katzev3.3. Analysis of resins from the Kyrenia ShipCurt Beck† and Dorreen J. Ossenkop3.4. Tales from taphonomic amphoras: marine biofouling as interpretive ecological tool on wreck-site formationCarlos Jimenez, Katerina Achilleos, Antonis Petrou, and Louis Hadjioannou3.5. Wreck site formation process: the wse of bryozoansKaterina Achilleos, Carlos Jimenez, and Antonis Petrou
4. Goods of the crew
4.1. The goods of the crewAndrea M. Berlin4.2. Graffiti on the ship’s ceramicsHelena (Laina) Wylde Swiny, Susan Womer Katzev, Alan Johnston, Christopher Rollston, and Jo Ann Hackett4.3. Wood identifications of objects in Volume INili Liphschitz†4.4. Plotting shipboard life: observations from the find spots of objects related to life on board the Kyrenia ShipHelena (Laina) Wylde Swiny and Susan Womer Katzev
5. Ceramic analyses
5.1. Neutron Activation Analysis of ceramic samples from the Kyrenia ShipMichael D. Glascock and Leslie G. Cecil5.2. Petrographic analysis of the ceramics from the Kyrenia ShipYuval Goren5.3. Organic residue analysis of pottery recovered from the Kyrenia ShipJoseph A. Palatinus with Ruth F. Beeston5.4. GC-MS analysis of contaminated Kyrenia Ship ceramic samplesVic Garner† and Holley Martlew5.5. Organic residue analysis of ceramic vessels from the Kyrenia Ship: searching for past contentsLisa Briggs and Léa Drieu
6. Coins
6.1. The coinsPaul W. Keen
7. Conclusions
7.1. Summary closing wrap-up: what’s to come in Volumes II and IIISusan Womer Katzev
Glossary
