https://en.sputniknews.africa/202503...070890811.html
Deepwater History: Russian Archeologist Reveals How Scientists Find, Study & Preserve Shipwrecks
How much do archeologists know about what Russia's waters hide? How do they search for shipwrecks? Why is it better not to raise findings from the bottom without particular need? Sergey Olkhovsky, head of the Underwater Heritage Center of the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, spoke to Sputnik about the work of underwater archeologists.
Sputnik: Underwater archeology is a relatively young field. Apparently, it began to develop actively with the creation of the aqualung in the first half of the 20th century?
― Underwater archeology has become a separate field of research, and it is true that it has not been that long ago. Largely because until the 1960s, archeologists, usually, could not even see the objects of their research with their own eyes and were forced to rely on the stories and drawings of professional divers. This situation was changed by the invention of scuba gear and the popularization of scuba diving: in a couple of decades, scuba divers examined many shallow waters, found the remains of hundreds of shipwrecks and seriously damaged many of them in search of souvenirs. It became obvious that underwater cultural heritage, firstly, exists, and secondly, needs urgent study and protection while there is still something left on the bottom. Many coastal states began to develop their legislation, create special scientific centers and services for the protection of marine heritage, and specialized museums.
The result of these efforts was the UNESCO Paris Convention of 2001, containing the main definitions and approaches to the protection and use of underwater cultural heritage.
Sputnik: How well does Russia know what historical treasures are underwater? Or are there still plenty of blank spots?
― Russia is a party to several international agreements on the protection of cultural heritage and is obliged to identify, study and preserve it. These requirements are more or less met with regard to archeological sites on land, but the situation with underwater sites is much more complicated.
Firstly, Russian legislation still does not allow underwater archeological sites to be registered with the federal government and thus provide them with at least legal status.
Secondly, unlike many countries, Russia does not have an authorized government agency capable of studying and managing underwater cultural heritage. And even when such an agency is finally created, it will clearly need many decades to survey the colossal area of Russian waters.
Thirdly, specialists are needed to develop the underwater cultural heritage sector, and Russian universities do not teach in this field.
To summarize, the blank spots on the non-existent map of Russia's underwater cultural heritage are almost all water areas: there is no system for recording and protecting underwater heritage; archeologists have fragmentary information about hundreds of underwater objects of unclear historical and cultural significance, but no resources for their systematic study. And in this murky water, various public figures, searchers, and local historians compete for grants, organizing pseudo-scientific expeditions with noisy PR support but often dubious results.
Sputnik: So, are amateur divers a problem for science?
― Divers vary. Some work as volunteers in academic expeditions regularly and eventually become skilled specialists, while others find working "scientifically" too boring and join the ranks of, let's say, treasure hunters more motivated by searching for souvenirs or items to sell.
Sputnik: How do scientists search for shipwrecks? Is it about working with archives and old documents?
― It depends on the area of water and the period we're interested in. If, for instance, it's the Gulf of Finland and ships from the 18th–19th centuries, then we have at our disposal the archives of St. Petersburg, which contain a lot of data on what sank, where, and when.
If we need information on 17th-century Black Sea shipwrecks, it’s worth looking into Turkish archives. However, information on earlier shipwrecks in Russian waters is unlikely to be found in the archives. In any case, even if we find a description of the shipwreck location, it doesn't necessarily mean the job is done. Eyewitnesses to the event usually noted the nearest landmarks—capes, bays—and roughly estimated the distance from the ship to the shore.
In practice, this means that the search area can cover many square kilometers, and it's not even certain that any remnants of the ship have survived there. So, archival materials can point to approximate shipwreck areas, but this data is often fragmentary and mainly relates to the 18th–19th centuries. Yet, navigation in Russian waters started much earlier.
Sputnik: Are there other methods for finding sunken objects besides working with archives?
― Certainly. The simplest method of examination is a visual inspection of the seabed by a diver. To cover the entire area from different angles, even in relatively clear water, the diver would need to swim for a long time at a low altitude over the bottom along a specific path.
However, even if a whole team of divers undertakes this, it doesn't guarantee they'll find all heritage objects in the designated area. At best, they'll spot only items that rise above the seabed's surface. Anything partially or completely covered by sediment is very difficult or impossible to detect, which is why we don't consider visual inspection a sufficiently informative examination method.
To confirm the presence or absence of heritage objects in a given area, it needs to be surveyed with modern equipment and correct methodology. This involves a comprehensive approach: surveying with single-beam or multibeam sonar to create a bathymetric map, surveying with a side-scan sonar to produce a shadow graph mosaic of the seabed’s surface, surveying with a towed magnetometer to locate magnetic field anomalies, and surveying with an acoustic profiler to identify objects within the sediment layers. Materials from these surveys and the results of visual verification of suspicious objects will convincingly demonstrate the presence or absence of archeological heritage at the designated seabed area.
Sputnik: The aquatic environment is quite harsh on materials, especially wood, which was used to build ships in the past. How well-preserved are the samples that can be found today?
― In freshwater, wood can be preserved for a long time, especially if it's buried under sand or silt. It’s not surprising that most ancient ships displayed in European museums were recovered from rivers and lakes rather than seas. The preservation level of freshwater finds often allows for a full reconstruction of the original shape of the vessel. The preservation of wooden ships that sank in the sea depends on the water’s salinity and the local fauna.
For instance, the Mediterranean Sea is inhabited by Teredo navalis (commonly called the naval shipworm) mollusks, which quickly riddle any wood like a sieve. As a result, despite the vast number of shipwrecks in the Mediterranean, the majority of ship hulls are either completely destroyed or so damaged by wood borers that only eroded remains of the heaviest parts are left — too few to convincingly reconstruct the ship’s contours.
In the less saline waters of the Baltic, Black, and Azov Seas, wood borers are absent, so wooden ships may be relatively well-preserved, especially at greater depths. Finding well-preserved ships is potentially possible even in shallow waters in rare cases where the wreck was not broken by storm waves but covered by marine sediments.
Sputnik: In an optimistic scenario where the ship is in a location favorable for preservation, from which century might the objects be discovered?
― That depends on the history of navigation in a particular body of water. The oldest ships that could potentially have sunk in the Russian waters of the Black and Azov Seas date back to the 7th century BC. In the Baltic Sea, it's more likely to be Viking-era ships.
Sputnik: So, objects from Ancient Greece haven't completely disintegrated yet?
― Ships washed ashore by storms aren't something we can find anymore — they were repaired or dismantled back then. As for ships wrecked on reefs and sunk in shallow waters, over time, at best only the cargo and the bottom part of the hull remain. The most promising situation for us is when a ship sinks at a great depth, where it can't be damaged by storms, and it's outside of trawling fishing zones.
The main cause of destruction for ships lying at great depths is precisely fishing trawls, which literally scour the seabed, snagging on ship hulls and sometimes breaking them apart. So, at depths greater than 30 meters and outside commercial fishing zones, potentially well-preserved ancient Greek and later ships could be found.
Sputnik: What research is prioritized by the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences?
― Our goals extend beyond studying individual underwater objects; they are much broader. For example, we are developing the regulatory and methodological framework for underwater research in Russia and advising relevant agencies on modifying legislation. The modern requirements for the composition, informativeness, and quality of work, which we formulated and proposed to the professional community several years ago, initially drew some criticism from colleagues, but were soon recognized as an industry standard. We continuously develop this standard, taking into account new experiences and the possibilities of multidisciplinary methods. Regarding our regular expeditions, we are focused on two sites. The first is in Taman Bay—the submerged port of Phanagoria, the largest polis of the Asian Bosporus, which facilitated trade between the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, the Don, and the Kuban.
The uniqueness of the Phanagoria port lies in the fact that there are no quarries nearby, so in the 5th–4th centuries BC, tens of thousands of tons of various stone materials had to be delivered by ship from the Athenian Gulf and the coasts of Asia Minor for its construction. Our second site is in the heart of Veliky Novgorod—an ancient bridge over the Volkhov River, which connected the city's main districts and had military, trade, and even political significance.
It is highly likely that it was one of the first bridges in Ancient Rus and was constructed using the advanced European techniques of the time. In addition to regular expeditions to Phanagoria and the Volkhov, we participate in the state historical and cultural assessments of water areas before the construction of pipelines, piers, bridge supports, breakwaters, and so on. During underwater surveys, we examine anthropogenic objects and determine their cultural and historical value.
Sputnik: So it's the same principle as building on land: before constructing a building, an archeological assessment is mandatory?
― Exactly. During surveys, we sometimes find archeological objects or items, and the client faces a choice: either change the construction site's boundaries or relocate, for example, an ancient anchor outside the site or to a museum, or plan rescue underwater excavations before construction.
Sputnik: The Crimean Bridge comes to mind. Were there any interesting finds there?
― Yes, this project was one of the most extensive and prolonged. At the bottom of the Kerch Bay, right along the bridge's route, there is a massive accumulation of archeological artifacts, mostly various ceramic vessels.
These vessels were the cargo and personal belongings of ship crews that enabled trade between the cities of the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, and the European Bosporus for 1,500 years. Damaged cargo was thrown overboard during unloading, and thus tens of thousands of amphorae from wine and oil, as well as ceremonial and everyday dishes, gradually accumulated on the bottom of the Kerch Bay. The most famous find from under the bridge is a unique life-size terracotta male head, made in Central Italy in the 5th century BC. In addition to it, hundreds of valuable finds have joined the Kerch Museum's collection, vividly illustrating the Bosporus' trade links with distant regions.
Importantly, we did not excavate the entire accumulation but only small sections of the seabed where the bridge supports were later built. From these sections alone, in three years of underwater excavations, we recovered nearly 40,000 items. What other unique objects lie beneath the bridge remains a matter of speculation.
Sputnik: Were there any interesting finds in 2024?
― This year in Phanagoria, we studied the structure of the coastal part of the main city pier and recovered a large series of finds to clarify the period of its construction. However, we will need to wait for results—processing such a number of items will take several more months of work by specialists.
In Veliky Novgorod, we began excavating a new section of the city bridge this spring. Given that work in the Volkhov River can only be done during the short spring period when the water is clear, in the first year of a new excavation we typically remove the top meter to a meter and a half of sediment, and in the second or third year, we reach the earlier layers deposited during the bridge's use.
So this year, we were essentially preparing the excavation, and interesting finds from it can be expected in 2025–2026. As for recent discoveries from historical and cultural assessments, for example, in Novorossiysk Bay, a large four-fluked galley anchor from approximately the 18th century was found, and in the Kerch Strait, a military aircraft from the Second World War was discovered.
Sputnik: How effective is it to work in the northern seas? The weather conditions there are uncomfortable...
― The specifics of working in the north involve not only challenging weather but also a short navigation period. As a result, surveys often stretch over two years: in the first year, remote seabed surveys and data processing are conducted, and the identification of potential objects often has to be postponed to the following year due to approaching storm seasons or ice conditions.
Low temperatures don’t hinder the identification of objects since remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) are typically used for inspections. This increases the safety of operations and significantly speeds them up. For example, if the target objects are at depths of 20–30 meters, a diver can only safely inspect a few of them in one day. However, using a robot can allow for the inspection of dozens of targets in a day.
Sputnik: Continuing the topic of modern technology: today, digital technologies are being applied across various fields. Do you already see how artificial intelligence could be used in your work?
― Based on colleagues' experiences, artificial intelligence has not yet advanced to the level capable of addressing our tasks. There are programs that create virtual models of objects from video footage materials. There are also programs that convert shadowgraph images of the seabed into geometrically accurate models of the surface. However, no AI is currently able to distinguish archeological objects from rocks and industrial debris, and experienced professionals are still necessary for that.
Sputnik: How acutely do you feel the lack of young specialists?
― Given the limited number of regular projects and historical and cultural assessments, we usually have enough professionals. When possible, we offer internships to students participating in our expeditions.
However, for more large-scale research, many specialists will be needed, and they will have to be thoroughly trained and prepared. For this, it will be necessary to develop and approve a university curriculum, refine legislation, and update professional standards.
Sputnik: How long does it take to prepare a graduate, for example, from a history faculty, for your work?
— A master's or bachelor's degree holder in history would need one academic year for additional theoretical training and scuba diving education. After that, the graduate would need to undergo internships in several expeditions, gain experience, and choose a specialization.
Sputnik: Do underwater archeologists also work with objects raised from the depths, or do you transfer them to colleagues in laboratories?
— Very few archeologists are professionally trained to restore underwater finds, as it requires special training and ideally, a higher education in chemistry. Even certified restorers sometimes refuse to work with underwater finds, especially wooden ones, because they require the use of rare or experimental methods that do not guarantee success. Therefore, before raising anything from the seabed, it's essential to find a restorer willing to work with these finds.
The retrieved items must be placed in airtight containers, filled with distilled water, kept in the dark, and quickly delivered to a laboratory. While working in Phanagoria and Veliky Novgorod, we can raise many fragile items from the sea floor thanks to experienced restorers being literally within arm's reach.
We are mentally prepared for the fact that the restoration of underwater finds is a long process. For example, determining an effective conservation method for an iron anchor that has been lying in the sea for over a thousand years may require several years of experimentation. A large wooden artifact needs to be soaked in various solutions for one to two years to retain its shape after drying. Even an amphora that has been underwater for a long time absorbs so much salt that it might crack after drying.
So, thanks to restorers, there is a chance for not only divers but also museum visitors to see underwater finds in good condition.
Sputnik: How do you study objects without raising them? Does most of the work take place underwater?
— International approaches to the preservation of underwater cultural heritage require that objects not be raised to the surface without particular necessity, and the resources of restoration laboratories are not limitless. Therefore, as part of planned studies, we do not bring everything to the surface, only items that can provide new information about the studied object and those in good condition suitable for museum exhibition.
For example, a ship heading to St. Petersburg carrying tea sets from a well-known German manufactory once sank in the Gulf of Finland. Most of the cargo was undamaged in the shipwreck, and there are hundreds of similar vessels in the hold. Is there any point in bringing a few of them to the surface? Yes, because they can be cleaned, the marks can be identified, and the date and place of manufacture can be determined, which helps roughly establish the period of the shipwreck.
Additionally, with this information, it is much easier to search archives for mentions of this shipwreck, find the name of the ship, and identify the owner. However, raising all the tea sets to the surface is probably unnecessary, as it wouldn't provide new information, would overload restorers with work, and, in the end, a museum is unlikely to want to display hundreds of identical items.
During rescue operations, our approach is different: if the preservation of archeological items is threatened, we will raise and study all archeological materials from the seabed, even if it involves thousands of items, regardless of their condition.
Sputnik: What discovery are you most proud of over the years?
— Our best discovery is the ship of King Mithridates VI Eupator, which sank in the port of Phanagoria in the 1st century BC.
Firstly, it is the oldest ship found in Russian waters so far. Secondly, very few warships from the Hellenistic period have been found worldwide. Thirdly, we managed to reconstruct the appearance of this ship, even though almost nothing was known about the fleet of the Bosporan Kingdom.
We recognized the value of this find in time and studied it very carefully, even though it took more than ten years.
Sputnik: But such patience is what sets you apart from amateurs, who would have dismantled the ship for souvenirs by now…
— Unlike amateurs, we control our urge to grab everything. If we had hastily disassembled the ship and brought its parts out of the sea, valuable information would have been lost, and it would probably have been impossible to reassemble the hull. We left the ship where it was found and systematically studied it using all possible methods.
This site was used for the first underwater photogrammetric recording in Russia and the first mass 3D scanning of numerous underwater finds. Experts from the Kurchatov Institute studied the preserved coverings of the ship's hull and discovered that the interior was waterproofed with composite materials and the exterior was coated with a sulfurous red mixture to prevent barnacle growth.
Analysis of the wood showed that many types of wood were used in the ship's construction, including species found only in the Mediterranean. Detailed analysis of the construction and the creation of a dimensional model, conducted by leading ancient shipbuilding specialists from the University of Marseille, helped reconstruct the hull contours and identify it as a fast 16-meter single-masted sail-and-rowing ship with a single row of oars (unireme), suitable for long-distance voyages in the Mediterranean and for navigating the shallow waters of the Cimmerian Bosporus. The Phanagorian ship truly justified the efforts and time invested in its study.
Sputnik: What are your plans for the next year?
— We plan to conduct further expeditions in Phanagoria and Veliky Novgorod, as well as survey some areas as part of historical and cultural assessments. We have a feeling that we might uncover something interesting.
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