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CAIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS© ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS OF THE IRANIAN WORLD |
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Underwater Archaeologists Believed to have Discovered a Partho/Sasanian Ship in Persian Gulf
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14 September 2006 |
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(Click to enlarge) |
LONDON, (CAIS) -- The Iranian underwater archaeologists have discovered shipwreck of a merchant ship belonging to either the Parthian (248 BCE - 224 CE) or Sasanian (224-651 CE) dynasties, near the port of Siraf in the Persian Gulf, according to a report by the Persian Service of CHNT.
“This discovery is being made by local fishermen and undertaken by Daryā-Kāv-e Jonūb Company (Southern Sea Investigation Co.), on behalf of ICHTO with the supervision of experts from the Underwater Archaeology Research Centre”, said Hossein Tofighian, director of ICHTO’ Underwater Archaeology Research Centre.
According to the report by ICHTO, an underwater robot filmed over 40 ceramic-jars in the depth of 70 meters. The large number of the jars, which are scattered along the seabed, points out to the functionality of the sunken ship, as a merchant and was of a sizable vessel.
“The preliminary research has shown that the ship’s cargo is buried under the sediments deposited there over centuries”, he added.
Tofighian stated: “the amphora-like jars were in use in Persian Seas’ sea-commerce, which is different to their Mediterranean’ counterparts. These jars have no handle or pointed base, and so were easier to be stored on a ship”.
The conclusion of this underwater expedition will answer many questions about Ancient Iranian navigation and sea-commerce in the Persian Seas.
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"History is the Light on the Path to Future" |
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