Sailing off the Coast of Crimea in Antiquity and Middle Ages: the Results of Research of the Underwater Archaeological Expedition of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Sevastopol State University

Abstract

During underwater archaeological investigation in the water area of Sevastopol, a joint expedition of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Sevastopol State University discovered two unique underwater objects. Near the settlement of Balaklava, as a result of exploration using side-scan sonar, the shipwrecks were located, which date back to the 11th — 12th centuries AD Further studies of these deep-water objects (their depth is 85—86 meters) were carried out using a Remotely Operated Vehicle. Well-preserved fragments of wooden structures of ships were found, as well as, on one of the ships, a cargo consisting of amphorae.