Ancient Shipwreck Survey and the Modern Submarine Landscape off Yalikavak, Turkey

Abstract

AbstractThe Aegean Sea has long been considered a prime location to search for shipwrecks from antiquity. An expedition in 2008 conducted surveys off the southwestern coast of Turkey in coastal waters deeper than 50 m. In addition to locating four ancient wrecks, we documented the condition of the modern landscape, which included heavy damage to the seabed and submarine features by trawling operations. A navigational boundary on the chart for this area delineates a region within which large vessels are prohibited from operating. All of the wrecks were found within this zone, but outside it very few targets were found with sonar. The modern impacts on the submarine landscape have masked potential areas where ancient sites may have once been. The scarred condition of the seafloor in large areas of the Aegean Sea is a result of trawling activity in the region. Studies of modern activities in coastal areas may help target areas in which wrecks may still be preserved today.